(Analyst's note: Troubling.)
Terrorists actively are discussing another attack on the United States that could come within the next three to six months, and they even have included photographs of some government targets in their e-mails, including the Langley, Va., headquarters of the CIA.
The Middle East Media Research Institute confirms that the Al-Falluja jihadist forum has been discussing which American sites would make the best targets, referencing not only the CIA headquarters building but also the White House.
The top blogger has been urging attacks on the U.S. in an attempt to force American troops out of Iraq sooner than planned.
Likewise, the National Terror Alert Center is reporting al-Qaida is planning another attack within that time frame.
"There is no reason that the threats shouldn't be taken seriously," said a terrorism expert, who spoke with WND on condition of anonymity.
Also, Steven Emerson, a counter-terrorism expert and founder of the Investigative Project of Terrorism, said the nation should be taking such "chatter" – comments on blogs and in e-mail – seriously.
"Certainly these threats should be taken seriously. One jihadist blogger will talk about making an attack and other jihadists will read the blog post and be encouraged to plan ... an attack. The blogs will encourage other jihadists," Emerson said.
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"Even if some of the blog posts aren't serious and only empty threats, the ones who are putting photographs of government targets should be investigated," Emerson said.
Christopher Holton, an intelligence analyst with the Center for Security Studies, said the blog threats should be taken seriously in light of a recent attack.
"Maj. Malik Nadal Hassan blogged about the attack for months in advance and even gave the government a Power Point presentation that told of his intentions. There is no reason why we shouldn't take online blogs seriously," Holton said.
Hasan is charged with a gun rampage at Fort Hood that killed 13 adults and an unborn child.
Holton said an attack on the CIA wouldn't be the first.
"In the '90s a jihadist went to the CIA headquarters in Langley and shot several people with an AK-47, so it's been done before," Holton said.
"But I don't know how seriously we should take the fact that the bloggers are showing aerial photos of the CIA. The CIA has an incredible security set-up now, and it would be hard to attack them," Holton said.
Emerson said he believes the likelihood of an attack is very strong.
"Any kind of threat now is more likely than before. We've had 19 attacks in just the past year. Each of those attacks was preceded by a written or verbal threat," Emerson said.
"The targets are likely to be either high profile, symbolic targets like government buildings or places where there are a lot of people," Emerson said.
Holton agrees and believes the number of casualties is a factor.
"The target could be symbolic or emotional, but the target they pick will likely be the one that will get them the largest casualty count," Holton said.
"If you look at what they've done in Madrid, London, Moscow and Paris, and the subways there. … Each of those attacks was designed to maximize casualties," Holton said.
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