U.S. creates counter-terrorism bureau

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A new counter-terrorism bureau in the United States will counter the al-Qaida narrative through effective diplomacy, a government official said.

The U.S. State Department unveiled its Bureau of Counter-terrorism at a Washington press briefing.

Daniel Benjamin, a State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism issues, said the bureau's jurisdiction will cover everything from police training to countering the al-Qaida narrative through what he described as "counter-terrorism diplomacy."

"The bureau will lead in supporting U.S. counter-terrorism diplomacy and seek to strengthen homeland security, countering violent extremism, and build the capacity of partner nations to deal effectively with terrorism," he said.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday during a briefing at the Defense Department that the U.S. military was "turning the page" on 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. A leaner U.S. military, he said, would strengthen its presence in the Asia Pacific.

The military sea change follows budget reductions for the Defense Department. Obama maintained, however, that the U.S. military budget remains larger than roughly the next 10 countries combined.

On the counter-terrorism front, the U.S. president struck a triumphant tone.

"We've decimated al Qaida's leadership, delivered justice to Osama bin Laden and put that terrorist network on the path to defeat," he said.