Posted on 09/21/2014 9:31:51 AM PDT by McGruff
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) may be dominating the headlines and stealing attention with its prolific propaganda, but CBS News' Bob Orr reports, another group in Syria -- one few have even heard of because information about it has been kept secret -- is considered a more urgent concern.
Sources tell CBS News that operatives and explosives experts from Osama bin Laden's old al Qaeda network may again present an immediate threat to the U.S. homeland.
At two dozen foreign airports, U.S.-bound passengers are undergoing enhanced security screening. Agents are searching for hidden explosives. Laptops and phones with dead batteries have been banned from flights.
Great Britain raised its national terror threat level, and the FBI is tracking American jihadists who may return home.
Sources say it's due to the emerging threat in Syria, where hardened terrorists loyal to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri are working on new, hard-to-detect bombs.
In testimony Wednesday, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Matt Olsen -- who warned that U.S. agencies are unable to effectively track Western jihadists inside Syria -- seemed to make a vague reference to the threat.
"In Syria, we've seen veteran al Qaeda fighters travel from Pakistan to take advantage of the permissive environment there," said Olsen.
Sources confirm that the al Qaeda cell goes by the name "Khorasan."
Unlike ISIS, which is believed at present to be largely engulfed in its fight for territory. Khorasan is developing fresh plots to target U.S. aviation, and it's trying to recruit Westerners who have flocked to the fight in Syria, some of whom have joined the al Qaeda franchise in the country, known as the al-Nusra Front.
The fear is that U.S. and European passport holders could more easily smuggle explosives onto airplanes.
Asked if there was anything about the threat he could reveal to lawmakers during the public testimony on Capitol Hill, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said discussions about "specific organizations... should be left to a classified setting."
Sources tell CBS News the group includes technicians trained by al Qaeda's master bomb-builder, Ibrahim al-Asiri. The Yemen-based Asiri built the infamous but ultimately unsuccessful underwear bombs and two cargo bombs concealed in printer cartridges.
He is considered one of the most innovative bomb-builders in the jihadist world, and he's still operating freely -- at least for now.
CIA chief John Brennan recently told Orr that U.S. officials were "doing what we can" to track Asiri down, and predicted that his "time will come."
At the moment, U.S. officials say there is no specific, credible threat to the homeland. But as information about Khorasan becomes available, it's clear that al Qaeda remains obsessed with bombs, airplanes, and attacking the United States.
Interesting how CBS, after getting rid of Sharyl Attkisson, now thinks terrorists are interested in blowing up things.
Another name to be added to dictionary of evil.
CIA is paying attention
They already did that.
Shopping malls are likely the new target... all the DHS gumshoes are looking at airports while shopping malls are large inviting targets that have little security. The Somali al Shabob terrorists hit a western style shopping mall in Kenya a year ago...I think that was a dress rehearsal for a similar attack in the US. Minneapolis has the largest shopping mall in the country, Mall of America, and tens of thousands of Somalis some of whom have already been recruited and trained by al Shabob in Somalia. Connect the dots
Another name to be added to dictionary of evil.
One name rules them all and in the darkness binds them.
Islam!
If you think shopping malls are vulnerable, go look at your local natural gas pumping station, or local electric substation. Think winter. Think no heat, no electricity. Think frozen.
In the meantime terroristas of many nations are waltzing across the southern border unchecked, unhindered and financially sponsored by the Obama “hate America first” administration.
How about we shut out 100% travel to ANY Middle Easterner wishing to land in the US? Is this such a hard thing to ask?
Whatever happens will be ignored by the Golfer and minimized by the media. Life in the bubble won’t change.
The reason that these Islamic nut cases are back in the news is because of the manifest weakness of Bath House and of his politics-uber-alles mentality.
Great.
Kinduh had a feeling they would get into a competitive jihad war and their version of “One upsmanship”.
No no no, al Qaeda is on our side. Are folks not paying attention? /s
Our own Islamic fearless leader has spoken!
Get back in line folks!
We are now in a jihad with the good al Qaeda members.
ROTF LMAO
What else can you do? We have about two Conservatives in all of the Washington, District of Crap.
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