Bin Laden could still get away Reporter finds loose Pakistan border, Taliban sympathizers

Helicopter gunships, military authorities have assured the UnitedStates, are guarding mountain passes against infiltration. APakistani spokesman has gone so far as to publicly deny that any al-Qaida fighters have made it across the border into Pakistan.

But junior officers speculate that such assurances are given tomake "the Americans feel good." In reality, they say, border tribalpopulations have long been pro-Taliban and pro-al Qaida, the manyroutes over the mountains are impossible to monitor, and escape isentirely possible. Countless painted slogans and posters of Osama binLaden are visible in towns and villages throughout the three keytribal "agencies"--Kurram, …