To the Point

Finding Osama bin Laden

Two years ago, President Bush vowed to capture Osama Bin Laden -dead or alive,- but when the latest video aired last week, the White House had little to say. With al Qaeda sending messages on donkeys instead of cell phones, intelligence agents complain they-re fighting a high-tech war against a low-tech enemy. Others say that America-s priorities and resources are now in Iraq. Is anyone in charge of finding Osama? Is he in Pakistan? Is that country both an ally and an enemy as the search continues? We speak with an investigative journalist, experts in counterterrorism and international crisis management, and former Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth about shifting priorities, international complications, and fighting a high-tech war against a low-tech enemy. Reporter's Notebook: In Iraq, $87 Billion-for Tires? Yesterday, President Bush formally asked Congress for $87 billion, three-fourths of which will go to the military occupation of Iraq. Much of that is for operating and maintaining equipment such as the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which was designed long ago and to be used some place else. A recent story in the Washington Post explains why the occupation is so costly. Economic policy writer Jonathan Weisman co-wrote the report.