I believe he's dead, because there has been no words from him since Tora-Bora. He was also ill with a kidney ailment. You don't last long without prompt real medical treatment. His followers would have buried him in the mountains or caves, somewhere where no one could possibly find the grave. That way they could still use him as a "leader in hiding." That Egyptian doctor Zawahiri is running the show, now. If Osama was known to be dead, the faithful in the rest of the world would be disenhearted. A martyr is not a good thing to have as your top leader. If it was, the leaders would be doing the suicide bombing themselves..............