There are to many CIA, Military, and FBI folks off the reservation to do a MIHOP or probably even a LIHOP.
But here's what is happening: They know they don't need an actual attack. The fear helps them almost as much as the real thing. Who does terror fears before the election benefit? Rallying around the preznit--Benefits Chimp. Suppressed turnout--benefits Chimp. Reminding people of Roves self-described focus of election--benefits Chimp.
And if there does happen to be a real attack, they're going to make damn sure it helps them. Here's how. Check out the CNN distillation of the WP report.
"One of the terrorists' top goals may be to manipulate this fall's presidential elections... according to U.S. officials." Translation: Welp, Martha, it's official. Them evildoers are gonna hit us hard. The officials say so.
"The Washington Post reports that al Qaeda operatives were pleased with the change in government in Spain resulting from the March 11 terrorist bombings in Madrid..."Translation :Those evildoers wanted the weak spineless libruls in power.
"They saw that an attack of that nature can have economic and political consequences and have some impact on the electoral process," one federal official with access to counterterrorism intelligence told The Post.Translation: Are we 'mercuns gonna let them do it here?
How do we know Bin Laden was happy about the Spanish election? A Bush political appointee says so. How do we know Al Queda wants to do it here? A Bush political appointee tells says so. Why does the media report this "info" as fact? A Bush political appointee tells says so.
No
that's really scary.
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/grind/