WASHINGTON (AFP) - The latest video from Osama Bin Laden, in which the head of al-Qaeda pays tribute to the Nigerian author of the failed attack against a U.S. aircraft at Christmas, shows that the terrorist network is weakened, said the president Barack Obama in an interview with ABC.
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"There is no doubt that there is still a real terrorist threat," Bush said, stressing, however, that "Al-Qaeda is very weak in comparison to 2000.
"The fact that Bin Laden sends a tape in which he tries to attribute to himself the merit of an attack carried out by a Nigerian student is a proof that is weakened, since the deal was not something driven by himself," he said.
"I can say that to Americans, since Sept. 11 put in motion a series of measures of intelligence, defense and national security, which have strengthened our security," he added.
Also stated that since the failed attempt on December 25, were found certain grace that must be remedied.
"Many things have been resolved immediately, but some, such as to ensure that information obtained by one agency shall be communicated to another, is one of the things that must be constantly improved. And we learn constantly making it better," he said finally.
The failures of U.S. intelligence in relation to the failed attempt on 25 December led the president to order a reform in the intelligence services.
The day before, the leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, claimed in a tape released on Sunday by the television network Al-Jazeera''s attempt to assassinate an American aircraft on Christmas Day, and threatened the United States with new attacks if they continue to support Israel.
In brief recording broadcast by the network in Qatar, bin Laden paid tribute to ''hero'' Umar Faruk Abdulmutallab, the young Nigerian who tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight between Amsterdam and Detroit (Northern U.S.) for just under a month.
"From Osama to Obama: a message sent by the hero Umar Faruk Abdulmutallab confirms previous messages sent by the heroes of September 11 and those who came later," said Bin Laden, in his first audio message since September 25.
"Our attacks will continue until you stop supporting the Israelis," he added, addressing the United States.
According to the monitoring center IntelCenter, which monitors Islamist websites, the recording of bin Laden is similar to the messages recorded by the head of al-Qaeda before the attacks, and may indicate that a new attack is being prepared "for the next 12 months," warned
"The message contains a specific vocabulary used by bin Laden in their messages prior to attacks, and is the sign of a possible attack in the next 12 months," said IntelCenter said in a statement.
"The prayer" May peace be upon those who follow the right path ''appears at the beginning and end of messages disseminated before the attacks, "said the monitoring center. The use of these words as a threat by Osama made directly against the United States'' growing concern that an attack is being prepared, "the statement said.