Here's how Glenn Greenwald summarizes this case:

Najibullah Zazi was charged in a civilian court with plotting to blow up  subways in New York City, was given a lawyer, was Mirandized, was not  sent to Guantanamo, was not subject to "enhanced interrogation  techniques," and was not put before a military commission.  Today, he  pled guilty, ensuring he will spend much of the rest of his life in  prison, and is fully cooperating in an attempt to secure leniency in  sentencing.

Too bad about all those guys who can't be tried because the rule of law was NOT followed.