re: Logic
There is, of course, the simpler conclusion, which is that thousands of new terrorists are NOT being created specifically by the war in Iraq, a statement that nobody has yet backed up with any objective evidence, but that we are dealing with the same thugs that were there five and ten years ago (look up the terrorist names and their backgrounds). They're just making more noise in one specific place.
What level of "influence" in the Middle East do you believe would be acceptable to al Qaeda? Remember, they attacked the United States because we had a few hundred support personnel for the No-Fly Zones stationed in Saudi Arabia. At what point do you think their demands would stop?