We're 20 years in...
Zawahiri was the leader, bin laden was a figurehead
And we still haven’t even tried the original #3, KSM, much less executed him, even though we’ve had him in custody since Bush. And do not blame just the executive! Congress has specifically enumerated powers, and thus responsibilities, that apply:
(Article 1, section 8)
To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations;
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water
All the legalistic excuses for not trying and executing KSM could and should have been removed by our AWOL Congress via that route. Any claims he deserved protection under the various Geneva codes are nullified by him being an unlawful combatant. Those codes were written to encourage warlike actors to act “lawfully” within some rules, which were intended to provide some protection for the legally non-combatants. Once summarily classified as an unlawful combatant we’re free, under those codes, to kill him as soon, and by whatever means, we choose. And any claims that he deserves the protections the US Constitution, which he abhores and deems ‘haram,’ provide are false. No one is accusing him of treason because all know that only applies to US citizens. No due process constitutional protections apply. No protections against cruel or unusual punishment apply, just whatever limitations our own good natures provide. Which are likely far less than the families of his victims feel is deserved. Nor does he deserve protection on religious grounds. The Japanese war criminals we executed after WWII could honestly claim that under their Shinto religion they were acting under the orders of God. A living god, aka their Emperor, who’s existence, at least in the latter role, was undisputed. They received no religious exemption for their crimes. At least the same lack applies to KSM. Even with leaving unanswered to big unPC question of whether ‘Islam’ deserves to be considered a ‘religion’ under the US Constitution, or even at all.