Tom, the interesting dilemna in predicting a terrorist attack on the US to affect the election is just what would be the desired effect on the election. Many of us believe George Bush has really only retained any chance at all of being reelected by keeping the population fearful by constantly reminding people of the horrors of 9/11 and how his administration "saved us from that evil". In many ways, another attack prior to the election would put him once again in the driver's seat to make some macho response and comfort the fearful nation. It would make all the deaths in Iraq seem meaningful to many short-sighted voters and distract them from other very controversial issues.

So, in essence, if Al-Quaida is planning an attack to influence our election, perhaps they're doing so to ensure that Bush stays in office. To a crafty and evil person like Osama, Bush must be like a prayer answered, the finest terrorist recruiting tool that's come out of the US in decades.