Bee, I agree that Bin Laden's capture could have been orchestrated or effected many times over during the past 8 years -- including before 9-11-01. And it definitely would have helped Dubya during the 2004 election -- but I don't think they thought they needed the capture, since he magically appeared by video in Oct. of that year to make the voters think he supported Kerry (and since the Swift Boaters had succeeded in casting decorated Veteran Kerry as either a wimp or a traitor).   Plus, by using Bin Laden in 2004 but letting him stay free, they could keep the boogey man to scare the people for 4 more years and still have his capture in their "arsenal" in 2008 to help the Republicans stay in power AND to salvage Dubya's "legacy."

As for Cheney and Bush going to go out of their way to benefit McCain, I don't know about Bush, but the real powers behind the Neocon Republican Party definitely do want McCain and Palin to win -- especially Palin.   (I see her as Bush with lipstick - or, worse, Cheney with lipstick and a "mom" image.) It would not surprise me if, after succeeding in getting back the White House, the Rove-Cheney machine managed to get rid of McCain fairly soon (one way or another) so that their new darling of big oil and Christian fundamentalism could take over.