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New worries Al Qaeda is taking new role in Syrian conflict

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    Terror group spreading from Iraq?

  • Duration 3:08
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Fox News alert now there are new worries about the growing violence in theory is that battle rages a possible link to al-Qaeda.

US Intel officials now concerned that the terrorist group is spreading from Iraq.

Into Syria while Iraqi officials say they are 100% sure that has not happened.

-- -- -- former CIA Covert operations for president of diligence LLC a global intelligence and security firm and good morning to good morning.

Iraqi officials see the extremists operating in Syria in many cases.

Are the same militants.

And striking across their country.

Yeah out there to -- this you have a real worry yes it is it's a serious problem and it and it's it's a bit of a revisit to the early.

Days of the Libyan uprising and of you know we give viewers remember that when there was this talk about all -- -- we do more to support the Libyan opposition -- because we -- know who the opposition wants and that was the same concern.

That al-Qaeda would try to take advantage of the chaos and that's exactly what they're doing here that's the nature of the -- again and remind al-Qaeda is Sunni.

Right right and the opposition.

In Syria.

Is -- is Sunni for the most part they're battling what a -- leadership in in in Syria not to get in the weeds but for decades the aside family.

They're they're from -- -- -- allow a sack and it's a very small group.

And traditionally never had power until -- -- father came in and and and took control.

And so the fact that that Syria shares a lengthy border.

Two with a -- the fact that the Syrians have taken over a couple of checkpoints with Turkey in Turkey is not necessarily our best friend at this point to some serious anti US feelings in Turkey.

Of the fact that there is the Sunni.

You know it did comparison there between the opposition and and what's going on.

In Iraq -- there there are some real problems here that we need to get our heads around -- part of this is.

We're lacking Intel were lacking insight into again the impact that al-Qaeda to date has had and really the Syrian opposition themselves they've been coming out and saying not now -- -- this is not true we don't want al-Qaeda here.

But right now al-Qaeda if they're willing to provide personnel they're willing to provide bomb making expertise and and of course suicide bombing is their trademark.

And if they're willing to provide weapons or other resources.

Do we really believe that it does the Syrian opposition at this stage -- side is just so aggressive -- gonna turn that down it's unlikely.

That's a great point there too but on the intelligence -- it takes months of -- years to catch up for lost time.

What the al-Qaeda affiliated groups are trying to do in all likelihood is when -- and if the sun goes down they fill the -- Who they they fill the vacuum now -- you know part of this is also hinged on on Iraq.

An Iraq is not a finished story yet you know we tend to forget about Iraq where we're concerned about Afghanistan.

But in reality you know Iraq is still very unsettled place and Al -- still has a foothold there.

And and that's why we're hearing from the from the Maliki and others in the Iraqi Government saying look we're seeing some of the same bad characters crossing over into Syria that we've been dealing with here in Iraq you know if they can make that -- make that connection expand their influence into Syria we've got a serious problem.

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