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Usama could be dead without Bush knowing of his demise, or Usama could be alive. I personally believe the latter scenario. Let us nevertheless suppose for the moment that Usama is dead and that Bush knows it. Why wouldn't he say it? Perhaps it has more to do with domestic politics than with cosigning Usama to martyrdom.

If Usama is dead, Democrats would snort, "why fight any more war on terrorism?" Of course we need to kill not only Usama bin Laden but also his entire terrorist apparatus. Unless we continue to hunt the terrorists, we cannot defeat them. The leadership of Usama bin Laden can be replaced if al-Qaida were unmolested. We're trying to capture or kill not one terrorist but all of terrorists.

We need to pressure and reform the potential disaster that is Pakistan. We must inspire Muslims to reject terrorists and their ideology of hatred by giving them the opportunity to embrace their God-given freedom.

In short, the war on terrorism is bigger than Usama bin Laden. But in the minds of many, taking out Usama would end the war. In reality, the war must continue until our enemies and their ideology face utter and complete defeat and ridicule.

So why reveal Usama's demise--when it does occur? There's no particularly good reason. Many Americans and our allies would cease supporting the war, believing us to have won a war when in fact we would have won only a mere battle.

Then there's the intelligence possibilities. If Usama could communicate to the terrorists while in American custody, would the terrorists necessarily know of his fate? If terrorist operatives were awaiting approval from a deceased Usama for an operation, might the operation fail or become known if that approval never came? Why tell the terrorists that their leader is dead? What purpose does that serve for our operations? Yes, it might demoralize them, but that would be temporary and expedite the approval of a replacement.