I believe it was Sir Thomas Moore who stated silence must be taken as assent. IMHO the question, "Is Ossama the Mahdi?" is sitting in the back of many of the followers of Islam. Some already believe him to be even though he has not yet claimed it so. This whole thing has a long way to go and we certainly do not yet know who large our opposition will be.
Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown
I think that he wants to be, and all of this is part of a carefully crafted plan.
If that is the case, then he has spent years preparing his E&E routes, including numerous prepared cave-bunkers, the use of doubles and false vehicle convoys etc.
If we make it our announced aim to kill or capture Osama, and he continues to launch attacks and thumb his nose at our power, then his stature will fly through the stratosphere with radical moslems worldwide.