Bin Laden

A Bush administration advisor argues that bin Laden is "virtually impotent." John McCain and John Kerry argue it's vitally important that he be killed or captured.

A dead bin Laden, especially if killed in a firefight or bombing, likely would be considered a martyr by his followers and by Muslims around the world. A bin Laden in captivity would tempt followers to try to free him, possibly by capturing innocents in order to negotiate a trade. A free bin Laden hiding in caves in Pakistan is no martyr and perhaps embarrasses militant Muslims throughout the world.