I've stated this theory before, SuN. Osama's dead and gone, it's just not publicized. Here's why. If we kill him, that makes him a martyr and more people rally to his cause. If we capture him, people will do all kinds of stupid things to get him freed. But, if we make him seem like a coward who hides from his enemies, that shames him in the eyes of Muslims and weakens his cause. Al Qaeda simply says he's alive to perpetuate his reputation/persona. Anyone who's seen Princess Bride can agree that it's the name that strikes fear, not the person. If Dread Pirate Bin Laden is dead, that removes some of the fear from the name Al Qaeda
Osama's dead as a doornail in some cave in Afghanistan where some SF trooper put two in his chest and one in his head.