Hell, the government has been chasing Eric Robert Rudolph for at least 5 years. According to the Clinton FBI they have had him cornered in a reasonably small area in or very near western North Carolina. His picture has been spread across the country. He has been on the FBI top 10 most wanted list for several years. There is a $1 million price on him. See
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/topten/fugitives/rudolph.htm
Even in familiar territory, with non-hostile people around him, in a literate society with everyone having ready and daily access to TV sets no one has a clue where he is.
When considered in this context, the fact that GWB and his menions have done as well as they have in capturing terrorists in foreign, often hostile, countries is remarkable.
Eric Rudolph is/was holed up in Murphy County, North Carolina, one county west of my home. In the area he picked, some of the Cherokee held out for about 30 years after the Trail of Tears. Later, some Confederate soldiers held out there for about 20 years after the Civil War. In short, there are places in the world where fugitives who know the territory and have a significant level of support from the locals can hide out for decades at a clip. The only liability for bin Laden (if he's still alive) is the need to command his organization. Unlike the other examples I gave, bin Laden must communicate, and therefore leave some kind of trail of electronics, or associates with paper, or both.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, now up on UPI, and FR, "Truth, the First Casualty?"
Latest book(let), "to Restore Trust in America."