Does West want Bin Laden to appear?

This story appeared on Reuters today. The premise that the French intelligence report of Bin Laden's death is actually an attempt to "smoke him out" sounds rather odd in the mainstream press. I know it's a long shot, but I thought perhaps this story was building a premise for an October Surprise?

Bin Laden may feel lure to disprove his "death"

24 Sep 2006 13:44:02 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent

LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - A leaked intelligence report of Osama bin Laden's death has met scepticism from Western and Muslim governments but may increase a clamour from his followers to show himself on video for the first time in nearly two years.

One theory surrounding the mysterious French leak is that it was designed precisely to flush the al Qaeda leader into the open, prompting him to release a new tape that might give a clue to his whereabouts and state of health.

"Western intelligence, the Americans, the Saudis want bin Laden to appear," said Diaa Rashwan, an expert on Islamist groups at the al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo.

"Perhaps they're trying to agitate him to appear by video to try to fix some information about his real (location)."