It seems perhaps the biggest determinant in the recent US Presidential outcome was the believe of many Americans that George W. Bush would better protect them from terrorism. To that extent, Bush can thank Bin Laden for his election victory.

On the other hand we need to consider Bin Laden's real goal. That isn't the destruction of the US and western hegemony -- much as I'd love to see that. Rather, his main goal is to topple secular Moslem regimes, (such as Saddam's was), and/or religiously hypocritical Moslem regimes, (such as Saudi Arabia). It was ridiculous error on Bush's part to see Saddam and Bin Laden having anything in common.

However taunting the US is one of Usama's principal tools to his main goal. Bin Laden thrives on heavy-handed US over-reaction to terrorism in order to recruit fanatical followers. Together with US' action is the past, e.g. favoring the Shaw of Iran, (a ruthless dictator along the lines of Saddam), and its continuing, uncritical support for Israel against Palestine, the invasion has given Usama all the fuel to feed the flames of Moslem discontent in the middle-east. To that extent, Usama Bin Laden can thank Bush.

So, as the Canadian military and political commentator, Gwyn Dyer put it, "Bush and Bin Laden are effective allies". And American voters are quite deceived if they think Bush is their best bet for security from terrorism.