In his first address of the year Osama Bin Laden took credit for the failed Christmas day underwear bombing of Northwest flight 253 over Michigan, and warned that more attacks on our country are imminent. "The United States will not dream of enjoying safety until we live it in reality in Palestine," threatened the 9/11 mastermind, via the Arabic-language news site Al-Jazeera.
Of the Flight 253 attack by a Nigerian man a voice—not yet confirmed as bin Laden’s—said: "The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of September 11," reported AP. However, since Al Qaeda’s North African branch is believed to operate independently of bin Laden, some experts think the terrorist leader did not plan the attack, but is claiming responsibility to appear powerful. "The strategy is there, outlined by the mother leadership and now we will see the branches doing their best to please their leadership and implement al Qaeda vision in their own ways," Mustafa Al-Ani a security expert at the Gulf Research Center told CNN.
Bin Laden also warned the United States of future attacks and provided what senior advisor David Axelrod called “the same hollow justification for the slaughter of innocent people." "God willing our attacks will continue as long as you support the Israelis and may peace be on those who follow guidance," said the voice.
