Washington • Now that Osama bin Laden is dead and his body buried at sea, war critics say the United States should begin withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan and refocusing the fight against terrorism.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, says the surgical strike on bin Laden's Pakistan compound Sunday vindicates Chaffetz' call two years ago for more human and electronic intelligence and fewer soldiers on the ground.

"One hundred thousand troops on the street corners of Afghanistan is not necessarily the way we protect the United States of America," Chaffetz said. "Clearly, our war on terror is global in nature. It's not confined to the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Chaffetz, one of the House's most conservative members, finds himself allied with Rep. Barney Frank, a liberal Massachusetts Democrat, who called for pulling back U.S. troops during a speech Monday at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

"We went there to get Osama bin Laden and we have now gotten Osama bin Laden," said Frank, who believes killing the al-Qaida leader should end complaints that leaving Afghanistan would mean leaving in defeat.

President Barack Obama has already vowed to bring home some of the 100,000 troops in the central Asian country this summer, though he made clear Sunday night in announcing bin Laden's death that the fight continues.

"His death does not mark the end of our effort," Obama said. "There's no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must — and we will — remain vigilant at home and abroad."

Several U.S. leaders stressed that point on Monday as details emerged about the helicopter attack on bin Laden in Pakistan.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said bin Laden's death was a "critical milestone" but the war on terror was "far from over" and al-Qaida remains committed to global jihad.

"It's too soon to say what lasting impact Osama bin Laden's death will have on our military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan," Hatch said. "But one thing is clear, we know that this region remains highly unstable and sympathies and support for anti-American terrorism remains at disturbing levels. We cannot prematurely turn away from these two nations as we did after the Soviets retreated — creating a power vacuum that Osama bin Laden filled."

Rep. Rob Bishop, a Utah Republican on official leave from the House Armed Services Committee, says he doesn't believe bin Laden's death should have any short-term strategic impact, but could have lasting consequences down the road.

"This I don't think makes a difference in the tactical approach we need to take," Bishop said. "It could be symbolic, and long-term it's going to make a difference in what happens. Hopefully it emboldens moderate Muslims against the terrorists who want to kill everybody."

House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Mike Rodgers, R-Mich., rejected the position of Chaffetz and Frank, saying that bin Laden's death should not lead to a military pullout from Afghanistan, particularly when U.S. forces have a chance to cripple the Taliban forces if fighting picks up as expected in the spring. He noted that the fight in Afghanistan wasn't just about al-Qaida but to oust the Taliban, which harbored terrorists such as bin Laden.

"For anyone to try to mix up this success with what I think will be a success here against the Taliban's spring offensive ... is making a serious mistake and jeopardizing the long-term health of our entire national security picture," Rodgers said.

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