Bin Ladin's Motives
My guess is that Bin Ladin released his recent tape because he thinks it will help Bush. It may bump off the news the deep do-do about Al Qa Qaa and other issues that hurt Bush and replace them with the bogus "Bush as strong leader against terror” theme that polls suggest helps Uncurious George among the gullible morons that comprise most of the electorate. Bin Ladin, I think, would prefer a Bush victory because the mess in Iraq helps Bin Ladin's cause and Bush will have a harder time disentangling the U.S. than Kerry would, given that Bush made the decision to start the war in the first place. This is all pure speculation, of course. Call it one of those "gut-instincts" that our faith-based President views with such favor.