Scramjets maybe answer to shortening time to target Osama

Defense Tech:

Getting weapons on target, at least getting a conventional weapon on target, has usually involved a delivery platform that includes an aircraft or a missile/rocket engine that is limited in speed, range, time of flight and/or payload and usually involves a somewhat lengthy planning process to execute the mission.

The Air Force (and the Navy in an unrelated program) are looking at speeding up that weapon delivery process by looking at a scramjet powered weapon that can achieve speeds up to Mach 6.5 or more than 4,000 miles per hour.

This sort of future capability could result in a significant change in the "time-critical strike" realm where a target of importance is identified and needs to be taken out in the shortest possible time. "Targets of opportunity" that intelligence assets find are becoming more and more prevalent in this 21st century battlespace, especially the ephemeral front that makes up the current war on terrorism

Having a capability to execute either a long range strike in minutes or to have this capability in theater rather than take the many hours it would take in the traditional strike-planning arena would be a change for the good. Further, having to maintain airborne strike platforms that many times include myriad support elements (tanking, airborne early warning, threats of enemy air defenses, etc) can be minimized with this ability to reach out and touch someone from afar in a relatively short time and adds a significant strike option to the Joint Force Commander's tool kit.

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One of the problems the Clinton Administration ran into in trying to target Osama bin Laden was the time it took to prepare and launch the cruise missile attacks once they had a sighting in Afghanistan. Indeed, the one they did launch after the African embassy attack hit after he left the area. There are more links at the site as well as some pretty interesting comments.