Reports of his death are greatly exaggerated

Who cares most if bin Laden is dead or alive?

“We will prosecute these men and send a clear message to those who kill Americans: No matter how long it takes, we will find you and bring you to justice.” — George W. Bush, 9/9/06

 

Despite claims and counter claims, the consensus seems to be that bin Laden is still alive and holed up somewhere in the tribal areas of Pakistan, close to the Afghan border.

Since the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S., he has reappeared in audio and video recordings with uncanny regularity, just when we are all beginning to wonder if he has finally been eliminated or died from chronic kidney failure. In the latest broadcast, which emerged in March, bin Laden referred to the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. He uses these bulletins as a sort of crude “proof of life” and a basis for airing further extremist propaganda. 

US Intelligence has been after him for such a long time that it really brings into question their effectiveness. We can also assume that they are using the very latest high-tech intelligence gathering and surveillance equipment, apparently all to no avail. It is hard to believe with all the resources at their disposal and after eight years they still cannot pinpoint his whereabouts. The failure is often blamed on a lack of human intelligence, but surely this has become more of an excuse than a real justification.

President Obama has made capturing or killing bin Laden one of his top priorities. Yet there is an inherent danger that bin Laden’s death would counterproductive for the US, as it would make him a martyr in the eyes of his supporters and elevate his status to an even higher level than when he was alive.