Israel trying to steam us up? Possible, but Al Qaeda never attacked Israel, despite its pandering to Arab sympathies. More concerned with Kashmir and messing up those central asian oil fields at the behest of their Saudi funders.
They knew we were trying to find a peaceful solution there, while calling their other favorite hiding places, ie Iraq, Iran, part of the axis of evil.
GWB also hasn't made any secret of the fact that Somolia, Lebanon, and Syria are prime targets for US Military action should those governments decide to harbor the terrorists.