It would be so staggeringly simple to prove his survival beyond the shadow of a doubt, and yet the tape makers never do this. Why?

Same goes for Saddam, although I think the chances he is still alive are greater.

Obviously, the people using both men as symbols of resistance have a great interest in making it look like they are still alive.

In any case, if we had killed bin Laden the day after 9/11, would Al Qaeda suddenly have taken up knitting? Such a widely distributed and cellular network of terrorism could easily survive the loss of a leader. Al Qaeda has to be painstakingly rooted out cell by cell. Of course, if you think like this, then what would you have to rub Bush's nose in?