Osama bin Laden8217;s recording authentic: White House

The White House said on Tuesday that a new audiotape from al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is authentic and that it shows that the terrorist network has 8220;lost ground8221;.

8220;Intelligence officials do believe that the tape is authentic and that it is Osama Bin Laden,8221; said Dana Perino, chief spokeswoman for US President George W Bush.

8220;It sounds like words from a leader, a terrorist, an al-Qaeda terrorist, trying to recapture some lost ground,8221; she said.

The US strategy in Iraq 8220;to take the fight to the enemy and to put pressure on al-Qaeda is having some effect,8221; she said, but 8220;we have a long way to go.8221;