"Abu Hafs said it also supports the re-election campaign of President George Bush. "
Why would Al Queda say this? Just to embarrass Bush? Who would believe that Al Queda supports Bush? No one in Al Queda could seriously believe that this would carry any credibility.
Maybe someone else is involved. Maybe the Spanish socialists? Their leader comes out for Kerry, so the terrorists come out for Bush to distance themselves from Zapatero?
Agreed. The only reason al Qaeda would say such a thing is to embarrass and weaken Bush. International A.N.S.W.E.R. is backing Kerry now, meaning al Qaeda backs al Kerry...and therefore must at least approve of Zapatero.
ETA normally targets politicians, so this doesn't sound like them either, unless, as I was wondering last week, someone in ETA has allied with an Islamist terrorist cell in the same way that IRA members - ostensibly Catholic - eventially allied with such Islamist cells as Hamas, PLFP and Hezballah.
It could be some group auditioning to become a part of the al Qaeda organization, which I believe was the case with the Turkey attacks. It's pretty common for gangs to require potential members to go murder people as proof of their loyalty.