BIN LADEN'S APPEARANCE

Why did Osama pop up around this time - just four days to US election? Would this appearance make any impact on the US voters? Is this going to make any difference to election result?

Conventional wisdom says that Osama wants George W. Bush to be re-elected. Bush, for him and the Islamic world, is the face of the enemy, and he has built this face up assiduously all thes years. A sudden cange in enemy's face would be a problem for his acolytes, if not for him, strategically and otherwise.

Then the Republicans are better bets for him than Democrats who have their own viewpoints of the world.

According to some political pundits here, Osama hands out an advantage to Bush, supporting the latter's threat perceptions by his presence.

But I doubt it would work that way.
MRINAL BOSE