The recent threat uncovered by Great Britain indicating an al-Qaida terror plot to blow up five European passenger jets in a Christmas "spectacular" had been long anticipated, according to former CIA analyst Fred Fleitz.
"This has been the objective of al-Qaida for a long time, to stage spectacular acts of terrorism and recruit followers," Fleitz said Monday on "America’s Forum" on
Newsmax TV.
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"This reflects [the Islamic State], which has really jacked up the propaganda effort by
radical Islamists to frighten the West and recruit followers and this will push their agenda."
He pointed to the plot several years ago to ship a packaged bomb to the United States from Yemen, traveling through Great Britain. Terrorists planted the bomb inside a printer cartridge.
"The threat is very serious," he said. "We know al-Qaida operatives have been working for a long time to find holes and areas of vulnerability on our transportation security."
As the U.S. and Europe increase transportation security measures, al-Qaida "tries to find a way to get around them," he said.
"They're now talking about whether electronic devices be allowed on planes at all because they could be used as a triggering device either for a weapon elsewhere in the plane or possibly in the hand-carried luggage," Fleitz said. "They're so determined to commit an act of terror."
On the subject of the U.S. reaching a compromise with
Turkey on the Islamic State, Fleitz said it looks like the deal will involve "a protected zone along the Turkish-Syrian border where moderate Syrian rebels will be able to organize and train and the Syrian army and air force won't be allowed to attack."
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