President Barack Obama Thursday unveiled reforms to strengthen US watchlists and new steps to boost airport screening and bomb detection in the wake of the Christmas Day botched plane attack.
As he unveiled a series of security reforms, Obama again criticized intelligence services for failing to connect the dots and forewarn US officials earlier that an attack was being planned.
"All of these agencies and their leaders are responsible for implementing these reforms. And all will be held accountable if they don't," Obama said in a brief White House statement.
But the president added: "I am less interested in passing out blame than I am in learning from and correcting these mistakes to make us safer. For ultimately the buck stops with me.
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"As president, I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people. When the system fails, it is my responsibility."
Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, has been charged with attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction on board a Northwest plane carrying 290 people from Amsterdam to Detroit.
The attack was thwarted when explosives allegedly stitched into his underwear failed to detonate as the plane approached Detroit.
President Obama said reforms include ensuring that all steps are taken to pursue and act on intelligence leads and ensure that people considered dangerous to security are put on 'no-fly lists'.
Obama unveiled measures to strengthen US watchlists as well as new steps to boost airport screening and bomb detection after the botched attack.
"I'm ordering an immediate effort to strengthen the criteria used to add individuals to our terrorist watch list. Especially the no-fly list," Obama said.
"We must do better in keeping dangerous people off airplanes while still facilitating air travel," he insisted.
The US president added he had directed the Department of Homeland Security to take additional steps to boost airport screenings and security around the world.
There should also be a greater use of advanced explosive detection technologies, he said.
"Now, there is, of course, no foolproof solution. As we develop new screening technologies and procedures, our adversaries will seek new ways to abate them as was shown by the Christmas attack," Obama said.
In "the never-ending race to protect our country, we have to stay one step ahead of a nimble adversary."
