KABUL, Afghanistan — The American military stepped up efforts to find Usama bin Laden (search) and destroy his Al Qaeda (search) and Taliban (search) supporters, announcing Saturday a major new sweep across lawless southern and eastern Afghanistan involving thousands of troops.
The military insisted their net will eventually close on the Al Qaeda leader, who has vanished since melting into the Afghan mountains months after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
A spokesman said the new operation also will prepare the way for reconstruction in impoverished provinces along the Pakistani border — a reward the military hopes will loosen villagers' tongues.
"It's certainly about more than one person," Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty said. "We do have confidence, though, and the leaders of Al Qaeda and the leader of the Taliban need to be brought to justice — and they will be."
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