From CBS.......

"There is one who does seem to feel he has a vote. Osama Bin Laden and his al Qaeda commandoes have been threatening to pull off a spectacular terrorist attack on America prior to the election. In a close race, that might be enough to tip the scales - as it did in the recent Spanish election.

The question is which candidate would it help? Some of the smartest observers seem to feel that a last minute terrorist attack would have the opposite effect of the Madrid train bombs and would help ensure a Bush victory.

Why would Bin Laden want more of the same from Washington? Because, say these observers, the war in Iraq has been a recruiting ground for al Qaeda supporters. And anything that furthers Bin Laden's grand plan for a clash of civilizations between Islam and the infidels is worth supporting. Even a Bush re-election. "

<a href='http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/01/opinion/fenton/main633329.shtml' target='_blank'>Source</a>

I would say these "observers" have an agenda in mind. The Senate Intelligence report says Al Qaeda has been decimated in terms of the ability to coordinate across the globe, much of their funding has been stifled...and we already know that 2/3 of their leadership have been taken out. How this translates into a positive for Bin Laden is laughable. The man is hiding in a cave somewhere...perhaps with the ability to make some kind of strike happen, but not of the 9/11 variety.

I remember in Cincy around riot time that some folks were calling for an elimination of the police presence in Over-the-Rhine because "Cops are exacerbating the tensions, therefore causing more crimes than they would prevent". That suggestion was dismissed as hogwash.

I understand where this notion is coming from, but I'm not buying it.

I would also submit that Osama, et al., don't truly understand the mindset of most Americans.

Lethemeul Wrote:I would also submit that Osama, et al., don't truly understand the mindset of most Americans.

neither does john kerry :D (sorry couldnt resist)

I heard John Kerry is pushing a bill to allow Italians, French, and Spanish people to vote in the election.

Afterall, those are his *real* target groups in appeasing.

how would a major security breakdown help an incumbent president?

Fanatical Wrote:how would a major security breakdown help an incumbent president?

My guess:

Having seen what happened in Spain, the voters will see an attack as an attempt to influence the outcome of the election. American voters will do the opposite of what the Spanish people did. Why give the enemy what they want?

I speculated on this earlier in June. There is no way this country pulls a Spain come a terrorist attack. I think the biggest thought after that speculation is "YOU CAN"T GET INSIDE THE TERRORIST HEADS..... THEIR FREAKIN CRAZY" I have to believe W gets re elected if the terrorists hit us again. Really against all common logic, but he would get re elected.

Fanatical Wrote:how would a major security breakdown help an incumbent president?

because americans have never voted out a wartime president during conflict-which another terrorist attack would be.