[Tricorn]

"For some unknown reason they feel the OBL needs to be dead in order to gain some political advantage."

Politically it is much better for this slug to be perceived as alive. Since 2001, AQ's greatest achievement has been to blow up a nightclub in Bali. As one astute Freeper put it then, "missed by 12,000 miles."

UBL's "authenticated" audiotapes means they've been huffing and puffing for going on 3 years now with absolutely no positive results and nothing but mounting losses and defeats to show for it and their fearless leader, the one who is supposed to inspire them to suicide, afraid to show his face, altered or otherwise. Not exactly a parade I'd be willing to join.

A dead OBL would bring the handwringers out to end the war in droves (remember their reaction to the Highway of Death during Gulf War I?). But it's not in the true American character to leave wars half-won. And Bush is a true American.

[Smogger]

More OBL is a alive because Bush wants him alive conspiracy theory eh? Hmmm.. You better adjust your tinfoil. Your starting to sound like that Congressman from Washington.