Rahimullah Yusufzai: It is a very valid point, which has been hotly debated in Afghanistan for years now.There is a lot of anti-America sentiment in thisregion, especially in tribal areas of Afghanistan andPakistan, therefore by default Osama has been able tochannelise a lot of support in this region. Thoseproviding shelter to Osama are fully aware of therisks involved, as whenever American or Pakistanisecurity forces have got any information about AlQaeda fighters, they have been swift in bombing thearea, but despite that Osama is being protected. Itwould not have been possible for Osama to remainelusive for such a long period, without solid support,as Americans dug out Saddam Hussain in eight months!Also, do not forget that when Taliban were defeated andforced out of Kabul in October 2001, the entirecountry did not celebrate. There was considerableanger in Pashtun strongholds.