[xm177e2]

It's not really tinfoil-hattery when you consider Clinton did the exact same thing (except he blew up an aspirin factory before impeachment, Bush actually accomplished something). I hope Bush wasn't playing with the timing on this. There's really no way for us to know whether this was politically timed or not, but I would tend to give Bush the benefit of the doubt.

[WOSG]

It is tin-foil thinking because you fail to account for the vastly different character of Bush vs. Clinton.
Besides, you cant just call up the terror network and *ask them* to become targets at a particular time.
it happens when the opportunity presents itself; and (b), can you name a particular week when we were *not* doing something on the war on terror or when it was *not* in the news, in the last year?

[r9etb]

I hope Bush wasn't playing with the timing on this. There's really no way for us to know whether this was politically timed or not, but I would tend to give Bush the benefit of the doubt.

The fact of the attack itself has been all over the news. The only mystery involved (and therefore the only reason for leaking) was who did it. AFP reports that the Yemeni gov't is claiming responsibility, whereas this unnamed source is giving credit to the CIA.

There have been many reports of a helicopter in the area, which seems to lend credence to AFP's version of the story.

Personally, I tend to think it was a joint operation -- the predator guided the helicopter to the site, and the helo made the kill. This avoids the diplomatic problems associated with a CIA hit in the ME.

This leak is convenient in that, even if it's not true in this case, Saddam and others know it's plausible based on our effective use of Predator-based missiles in Afghanistan.

[habs4ever]

Your point presumes that Bush could get the acquiescence of those dear departed killers to hop into the car so this theory could have some merit.Unless the WH is running ads on Al Jazera offering annuities to al Qada members to get themselves killed on behalf of the Republican "Take Back the Senate" campaign, I don't know how and why anyone would think of such an idea as you did.This isn't October Suprise Part Deux.

Oh, and Bush Isn't Clinton.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"...no way for us to know whether this was politically timed..."

I do not believe that we could get these six islamist bad guys to cooperate on the timing. To suggest this is timed for tomorrow's election impact is stupid DEMONrat thinking and would just be another DEMONrat lie.

[Travis McGee]

Take off your tin hat. The aspirin factory wasn't going anywhere, as opposed to a fleeting target of opportunity with no collateral damage risk.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

The whole premise that this is politically timed is absolutely stupid. First of all, it would have been better politically if we'd been hitting these guys like this for the past three months. THAT would help politically. The theory also requires one to believe that we can take out these guys anytime President Bush so wishes. That's ridiculous too.