Via The Blotter:

“Armed with fresh intelligence, the CIA is moving additional man power and equipment into Pakistan in the effort to find Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al Zawahri, U.S. officials tell ABC News.

“Reports that the trail has gone stone cold are not correct,” said one U.S. official.¬† “We are very much increasing our efforts there,” the official said.

People familiar with the CIA operation say undercover officers with paramilitary training have been ordered into Pakistan and the area across the border with Afghanistan as part of the ramp-up.

Although never publicly acknowledged, Pakistan has permitted CIA teams to secretly operate inside Pakistan.

Pakistan officials say they are aware that CIA teams have increased their presence in northern Waziristan since last September when Pakistan withdrew its troops from the area under a much-criticized “peace deal” with tribal leaders.”

Chalk the ramp up to the pressure that Cheney put on Mushareff.¬†¬† As I said before, bagging Bin Laden is a high priority before years end.¬† Akhund is most likely not putting up much resistance under Pakistani interrogation and given a least a few good leads, howbeit Bin Laden’s location remains fluid and it’s been three days since Akhund was bagged.

Nevertheless, the pressure is on and won’t let up.¬† This is about one thing, closing the Bin Laden chapter one way or another.