Terrorism experts pondering fate of Osama bin Laden.

Byline: Dick Polman

The world's most vaunted military is pursuing the world's most wanted man. And although Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld warns that we may never find Osama bin Laden, there's always the chance that we will.

But if that happens, what should we do with him?

Should he stand trial as a common criminal in an American federal court or as a war criminal in an international court, sending a message to the world that the rule of law takes precedence even in a time of national emergency?

Or would bin Laden exploit the proceedings on global TV, turning his defense into a platform for his views? Would his trial provoke more terrorist attacks? In other words, would it be easier for U.S. officials if bin Laden simply perished in the heat of battle?

If he remains elusive, these questions will be moot. But terrorism experts are already pondering the best course of action; the problem is, they can't agree. The lack of consensus underscores broader disagreements over how the United States should wage this war _ politically, in the court of public opinion, as well as militarily.

The administration has been ambivalent about capturing bin Laden alive. President Bush's "dead or alive" declaration on Sept. 17…