There seems to be a major piece missing to this discussion. In this case, cutting the head off the snake deesn't kill the snake, it just grows another one. If Bin Laden is captured or killed there are 5000 Saudi's, Iraqi's, Afghani's etc.. ready to step in and be the next leader.
This war will go on as long as any of us are alive. There's no stopping terrorism but we sure can make it damn difficult for them to hit us again. Make no mistake though, we will get hit again. The question is how hard.