>>6
You make good points yet I must insist on countering the rest:
1. Leaders don't fight, but they are in the chain of command, and part of the war effort is to enact intelligence gathering. If the US military was really fighting this war to take down Al Qaeda, they'd have arrived at an approximate location of OBL some time ago from collecting intelligence. Remember also that according to the "911 Report", Pakistan was making significant efforts in tracking down all kinds of terrorists who were seeking to operate freely within its borders. True, Pakistan does have enough of their sympathizers to complicate that mission, but for a high-profile guy like OBL, a multiyear effort would ferret him out.
I just don't believe he can so successfully hide for so long in any Middle Eastern state, especially one as unstable as Pakistan. Someone high up can be protecting him, however, and that can remarkably throw the issue. Since the case for the entire war is built upon many lies, I find it more likely that my own government is lying to me about OBL than OBL is avoiding capture.
2. If the US military is not in those regions, then that's more evidence that Bush and the Neo-Cons have no real interest in obtaining justice for 911.
I must agree with you about the plane-n-boots problem. Men on the ground is a better option for actually ferreting OBL out, and considering nearly 180K US troops exist for the purpose, there is a remarkable lack of explanation from the US government now.
If we actually had US military officers running things as you indicate they should be, OBL should be captured within 3 months, perhaps 6 (depending on the speed of infiltration). If he's in Pakistan, at least his rough position could be determined, and Pakistan's previous willingness to ferret such guys out for the West should be leaned on until they relent and actually go and get him.