October Surprise-It May Not Be What You Think

Much speculation has centered on the capture of Osama bin Laden as a possible "October surprise."  But other plans seem also to be afoot.  The upcoming trial of Saddam Hussein could be timed to do the trick.

Iraq Act II: Toward transfer of sovereignty
By Ehsan Ahrari

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FC09Ak01.html

... Events in Iraq will make or break the chances of reelection of President George W Bush. His administration has established a rather clever strategy. Those in charge of developing a winning strategy for Bush seem to be doing everything in Iraq to enhance the prospect of his reelection. ...

The most recent evidence of that strategy is the US's decision to send a team of legal experts to Iraq to build a case against Saddam Hussein, and then work assiduously to start his trial around September or October of this year, only weeks before the presidential election. Imagine the publicity bonanza stemming from that event of global attention. That will virtually reassure the prospects of reelection for Bush. Needless to say, the potential nominee of the Democratic Party, John Kerry, would feel most helpless if Bush could pull off a trial of Saddam around election time.