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When a Russian Metrojet with 224 passengers and crew was blown out the sky above Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula resort Sharm-al Sheikh Thursday, Nov. 6, Russian and Egyptian authorities were reluctant to admit terrorism. Taking immediate credit for the blast was the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS], rushing to show its terrorist reach. Since Oct. 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin began bombing ISIS and other Saudi-backed terror groups seeking topple the Alawite Shiite regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Watching al-Assad, a key Russian ally, lose ground to terrorists prompted Putin to join Iran in providing cover to al-Assad. Putin’s decision irked President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, both committed to regime change in Damascus. Neither Obama nor Cameron accept Putin’s logic that toppling al-Assad would expose the region to more chaos and anarchy, something that happened in Iraq and Libya.

Watching a Russian jet blown out of the sky confirms the risks of terrorism, especially in the war-ravaged Middle East where terrorist groups roam free in the ungoverned lands of various failed states. While Egypt isn’t exactly a failed state, it’s had its share of problems since its U.S.-backed ruler Hosni Mubarak was evicted from power during the so-called Arab Spring Feb. 11, 2011. Only one month later, the Syrian civil war started, funded by Saudi Arabia, seeking to topple Syria’s Shiite regime. Egypt joined the Arab Spring, hoping for the first time in its history June 18, 1953, to hold democratic elections. When the Egyptian people elected Muslim Brotherhood-leaning Mohamed Morsi June 30, 2012, Egypt thought it was on its way to Democracy. It didn’t take long for Morsi to fire Egypt’s Supreme Court and declare strict Islamic law in Egypt, prompting the revolt that had Egypt’s powerful military commander Abdel Fattah el-Sisi seize power July 3, 2013.

Since Morsi’s ouster, el-Sisi has contended with a guerrilla war fought by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamic terrorist groups. Faced with consolidating power in Egypt’s main borders, el-Sisi let the Sinai Peninsula, once controlled by Israel from 1967 to 1980, to turn into a terrorist nest. Blowing up a Russian airliner was a consequence of the Sinai’s terrorist infiltration, most recently Putin’s bombing of terrorist groups seeking to topple Syria’s al-Assad. After the Metroject went down, Putin and el-Sisi were reluctant to admit that terrorists were responsible. Working feverishly since toppling Mossi June 30, 2012, to restore order, el-Sisi watched the tourism industry plummet, a major source of Egypt’s Gross Domestic Product. Admitting that terrorism brought down a commercial jet deals a major blow Egypt’s economy. Putin too loses prestige when his policies result in a major terrorist incident, leaving the Kremlin embarrassed.

When British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama confirmed Oct. 6 that intel pointed to a bomb blast, el-Sisi and Putin could no longer take the wait-and-see approach, prompting Putin to ban commercial flights to the Egyptian resort. “Meeting with el-Sisi on official business at No. 10 Downing Street, Cameron spoke out. “We cannot be certain that the Russian airliner was brought down by a terrorist bomb but it looks increasingly that that was the case,” said Cameron, dispelling illusions that mechanical failure brought down the jet. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond suggested that it was “a significant possibility” that ISIS was responsible. “There’s a possibility that there was a bomb on board. And we’re taking that very seriously,” said Obama. What concerns Cameron and Obama beyond the Sinai mishap is that Egypt’s airport security has been compromised: ISIS or al-Qaeda infiltration into Egypt’s transportation security.

Responding to a breach of Egypt’s transportation security, Germany and Netherlands suspended flights form Sharm al-Sheikh, and restricted luggage requirement to only one carry- on bag. Unable to trust Egypt’s baggage handling service, it’s no longer possible to assure luggage security without a terrorist bomb threat. Speaking at No. 10 Downing Street, el-Sisi sounded diplomatic. “We understood their concern because they are really interested in the safety and security of their nationals,” said el-Sisi, responding to new travel restrictions to the Egyptian Sinai resort. Putin’s spokesman, Dimitry Peskov, sounded less accommodating. “Theories about what happened and the causes of the incident can only be pronounced by the investigation,” said Peskov, not caught up with Putin showing that he’s leaning toward U.S. and British concerns. Regardless of what investigators turn up, all indications point toward a terrorist bomb in the luggage bay.

Given Washington and London’s concerns about terrorism, Obama and Cameron should reach out to Putin, coordinating intel, regardless of where each country stands on the war in Syria. All civilized nations that fly commercial flights have the same concerns about transportation security. When you have ISIS, al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups claiming responsibility for airline disasters, it should remind all nation’s to get on the same page when it comes to transportation security. “There is geopolitical opposition to the actions of Russia in Syria,” said senior Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev, referring to Britain’s decision to restrict flights to Sharm al-Sheikh. U.S. and British concerns about the Metojet tragedy purely involve transportation security, whether or not they agree with Putin on keeping Syria President Bashar al-Assad in power. Metrojet’s tragedy should bring all parties together to fight Islamic terrorism.