I think he is dead. And we know it but are willing to let him "live on".
he serves as a beacon, or bug-light to attract all sorts of disgruntled Islamo-facists to their death in the killing fields of Afganistan and Pakestan.
That is also why even if we were winning the "war on terror", it would still benefit us to let the other side think that they are winning... So that they would continue to send their would-be hero's to a certain death.
This is a different kind of war. Filled with desception and misinformation designed to confuse the enemy (both Al Quida and Democrats).
It will be interesting to learn the Truth in 20 years or so after it can safely be declassified.
