The New York Sun has learned that Nancy Powell, the former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, failed to distribute wanted materials for Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan for the past two years.

Ambassador Nancy Powell, America’s representative in Pakistan, refused to allow the distribution in Pakistan of wanted posters, matchbooks, and other items advertising America’s $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Mr. bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders.

Instead, thousands of matchbooks, posters, and other material - printed at taxpayer expense and translated into Urdu, Pashto, and other local languages - remained “impounded” on American Embassy grounds from 2002 to 2004, according to Rep. Mark Kirk, Republican of Illinois.

While there is disagreement over the effectiveness of whether or not a reward and advertising seeking out Bin Laden would work, these materials were already printed up and awaiting Powell’s approval to distribute. Why Powell chose not to is beyond me and reprehensible if for no other reason than to waste taxpayers’ money.

Senior State Department officials say that the program was shelved because it was ineffective, which is true because Bin Laden is not in custody, however any and all advertising is a good thing in trying to net a criminal. Surely Pakistanis know of the U.S. desire to capture bin Laden, however dangling a $25 million carrot to the public in theory would only help drive Pakistanis to issue tips.