If OBL were found, the US would have no excuse for remaining in Afghanistan.

Ergo, OBL must remain free, so as to leave NATO forces incountry to prop up the puppet political regime, which has control over less of the country, even with NATO assistance, than any of the sectional warlords.

And the US has done such a great job of losing the hearts and minds, as well as wasting the bodies, of Afghanis that they can only stay at gunpoint. Apparently the US has made the Taliban look good, as despite GWBs pronouncement, it is enjoying a resurgency and is quite popular in a good part of the country.

Arf