AB "Buzzy" Krongard, who stepped down six weeks ago as the CIA’s third most senior executive: "You can make the argument that we're better off with him (at large). Because if something happens to Bin Laden, you might find a lot of people vying for his position and demonstrating how macho they are by unleashing a stream of terror."
Yeah, fortunately, all his followers are laying kind of low at the moment. So don't get 'em riled up! ... According to this article, several US officials privately agree that capturing UBL might be counter-productive.
Two other quotes:
George Bush, March 13, 2002: "I just don't spend that much time on him ... I truly am not that concerned about him."
Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Richard Myers, April 6, 2002: “The goal has never been to get bin Laden.”
The orange text in the November 2001 entries here is worth reading.