Bin Ladin's motives more complicated than just hatred.

Byline: John Diamond and Mike Dorning

WASHINGTON _ Dozens of intelligence reports, academic studies, congressional investigations and academics have tried to understand and explain Osama bin Laden, the shadowy figure known to some followers by his code word, "The Contractor."

Hatred of the U.S. clearly is one of his motives. But the reasons behind last week's attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, in which he is the prime suspect, may be more subtle and nuanced, with the ultimate goal of attracting more recruits to his organization.

Experts believe the attacks may be part of a planned sequence: Strike the U.S., killing people and damaging symbols of American power; provoke a violent response; use the response to brand the U.S. as an enemy of Islam; and turn that hatred into a magnet for disaffected Muslims.

Hard as it may be for Americans to understand, bin Laden's aim may be to gain sympathy for his cause from within…