It doesn't seem so paranoid to me, particularly in light of the way bin Laden plays up the religious aspect in the fax he sent today. From what I understand bin Laden is well enough educated that he should know the difference, and he normally rails against western culture. But the religious aspect will play well with the less educated Muslims, and bin Laden certainly knows how to play to the masses.

It actually seems more likely to me that the aid workers where grabbed to serve as a human shield, and the religious aspect has just been seized upon because of Bush's mistake in using the word 'crusade.' This poor choice of wording instantly cast a huge religious aspect over what was a largly secular endeavor.

Jay