If the Bin Laden tape comes out today, then it would seem so.
So (tin foil hat firmly in place...), here's a possible scenario:
If you were a top Al Qaida strategist, you would benefit if there was a terrible provocation against the Arabs/Islam just before you announced your big attack. Hysterical mobs in the street can be useful in oh so many ways. But you gotta have a plan, and be ready...
Problem: You only get to launch your big attack once, and it's for all the marbles. So you need to be absolutely sure the provocation will occur. Furthermore, you need to be able to time the provocation so that you can have all your various plans ready to go.
The only way you can control the timing is to commit the provocation yourself. (You can easily blame it on the Israelis, and the victim will be rewarded by Allah.)
So... Could it be that Al Qaida poisoned Arafat as step 1 in their big plan????
The story is already circulating that Arafat was poisoned. (The French have done nothing to quell this rumor, and their "inability" to make a diagnosis makes it easy to feed this rumor.)
Just to add some "fun", the Palestinians are claiming Arafat has the absolute right to be buried in a place the Israelis will absolutely forbid him to be buried. This is, of course, still more reason for Arabs to take to the streets, blow themselves up, etc.
If Binny's latest tape comes out today, I think the dots may be connected. If so, this one will be the real deal.
Add to that the rumors that Arafat has AIDs...more reason for OBL to hate his guts enough to poison him. The troika that is supposed to be in power for the PA now all have their own reasons too (and they were with him when he was drinking soup, vomited and fell ill.)
Better yet - if Arafat was poisoned, is this the high-level assassination that was threatened as a prelude to an attack?
Could it be that Al Qaida poisoned Arafat as step 1 in their big plan????
Of course, good to see you EH!