We all must understand that our enemy's only hope in defeating us lies in instilling FEAR to cause our fifth columns within our countries to overcome our political will.
Osama knew that the suicide mission supplies a geometric augmentation in the fear factor of any attack.
It is precisely the suicide factor which causes abject fear, defeatism, and self-flagellation within the weak-minded. A remote detonation such as the Madrid bombings can be effective, but sends a message of weakness to the audience in this macabre play, the vaunted "Arab street" from which the jihadis derive their power. A remote detonation is seen by its targeted populace as a weapon several rungs down the scale as something to fear, and more importantly, is seen as cowardly by the Arab mindset.
The attempt to portray this as a suicide mission when it may not have been shows the frustration and ineptitude within the enemy camp, and puts the bright light at the end of the tunnel for our side.
They will lose, and they; know it, if these attacks are revealed to be remote detonations, IMHO.
I have to agree with you. Fewer suicide bombers of late could be a sign their side could be weakening. Still, one suicide bomber is 1 too many.