re: Bin Laden and Iraq.
the only thing in common is that OBL goaded GWB into attacking IRaq and and hence getting more recruits to his ISlamist cause, while the US was on its New American Century - lets show the world who's boss Neocon path. (the project of the Islamists just happened to collide with and emboldened the Neocons)

both projects will fail. Georges - shock and awe - became stay the course - and is now surge & pray. (20,000 isnt even a surge its what they had last year and it didnt make any difference).
The islamists will fail because while they may have sympathy in the mideast, the actual recruits are not that many.