BB, 27th October:
Took a quick count of signs from Sterling Va to the Beltway ( at MD/VA border:

25 McCain
12 Obama


I counted "clusters of more than one sign obviously in the same yard as 1 sign each cluster- 2 clusters for McCain, one for Obama

As good as the polls, I guess- showing a landslide for McCain!

Tongue in cheek, maybe, but there you go!

And Teribus - had anyone any reliable linkage between Al Queda and Saddam before the war? No, thought not.
And since the war there have been plenty of incidents around which the name Al Queda has been muttered.
However, it would probably pay you (and most journalists) to look at Al Queda. It is not a constitutional body, with a defined 'head' and operational arm. The name in Arabic simply means 'the base'; by and large it operates on a disparate basis, inspiring rather than micromanaging incidents. The London and Madrid bombers, for example were not, of themselves 'Al Queda', yet they were inspired by Al Queda, and the figureheads of the movement were happy to claim credit for the attacks.
And Low's prediction is certainly true - there is a clear jihadist connection between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with plenty of young hotheads packing the borders at the height of the war desperate to take up arms against the 'infidels'. Most of those were thankfully unsuccessful in getting a tour in Iraq, but do you really think they've now gone back home and taken up origami and macrame?
And, if if you want dates for Low, Perle, the MoD report and the others I could dig them out. You could, of course, Google them yourself if it makes such a difference. Do report back.
And Afghanistan is not proving to be a walk in the park. Annihilation may be some way off. As you're keen on Canadian punditry what of Richard Blanchette?
Or, closer to home, Mark Carleton-Smith.

Yet again the phrase 'lions led by donkeys' comes to mind.