[MichiganMat]

Rick, I don't think he wanted to keep the US out of the MidEast, quite the opposite actually. From what I've read his plan was this:

- Use the attack of 9/11 to cause the US to invade the MidEast knowing that the resulting US prescence in the region would fan the zeal of the regions Muslim population to bring about a resurgence of the religion itself.

I think Osama found the perfect mark with GW, he's played him (and all of us) for a fool. OBL knew that the any conflict on ME soil would be impossible for the US to fight, with terrorists breeding more terrorists, and with no central enemy to fight. We're shadow boxing over there just as OBL planned, and our continued occupation only supports the belief that we are aggressors, occupiers, and a threat to the entire Muslim world.