There was a time when being an American required some guts and a reasonable expectation that the institutions that govern our democracy weren't part of a conspiracy to kill us.

These days, politicians scream idiotic nonsense about the sky falling because a terror suspect has access to a lawyer and a trial in a civilian courtroom. They would have us believe that the legal process will break down if foreign terror defendants are allowed to plead their case in court.

Even though there is precedent for the successful prosecution of terror suspects in civilian court, many politicians and most of the public suffer from short-term amnesia. They can't remember anything that runs counter to the dogma that a civilian courtroom is no place for justice in a post-9/11 world.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is undoubtedly smiling about what he has been able to accomplish from prison. He has most American politicians on the run.

The accused 9/11 planner can hear their knees knocking to a syncopated beat on the floor of Congress as they recite dark fantasies about the al-Qaida leader's ability to "evade" justice in the American court system.

It must be flattering to KSM know he can still inspire fear even after the indignity of being waterboarded by the CIA more than 180 times.

Because fear thoroughly permeates American political life, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's trial for masterminding the murder of 3,000 people in this country nearly a decade ago will not take place in lower Manhattan after all.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his people changed their mind about supporting the Obama administration's plans to try KSM in civilian court blocks away from the hole that was once the World Trade Center towers.

Citing everything from escalating security costs to traffic congestion, Mayor Bloomberg joined the voices of doom insisting that a civilian trial is untenable.

A latter-day incarnation of "The Voyage of the Damned," the trial of KSM will soon begin its tour of America, searching in vain for a venue willing to accommodate its unique challenges.

Like that doomed ship that set sail from Europe to Cuba in 1939 filled with refugees, the trial of KSM is destined to be turned away at every port.

Over the weekend, speculation turned to Western Pennsylvania as a possible site to host the trial. Because one of the four planes hijacked on 9/11 went down here, there would be some justice and a sense of closure for the region if a trial were held here.

Our local profiles in courage lost no time in denouncing the idea, though. "No amount of federal funding can compensate for the risk that this trial would place on the people of Pennsylvania or any other state in our Union," Republican Rep. Tim Murphy said in a news release. "We are seeing universal rejection across party lines and state lines because the American people do not want the government treating terrorism as a U.S. law enforcement issue. Bringing terrorists into Pittsburgh for trial would put a target on our local judges, jurors and all the citizens of our region for a terrorist attack and is a move that I will fight on all fronts to stop."

Not to be outdone, Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire echoed Mr. Murphy's fear and raised it a level: "It's going to be a circus atmosphere," he said. "It's going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and its going to increase the security risk exponentially."

It makes you wonder whether the average politician ever hears him or herself speak. The mindless appeal to fear is embarrassing. The image of hordes of al-Qaida terrorists coming to Western Pennsylvania to disrupt the trial or to spring KSM from custody is ridiculous, and they know it.

By employing underwear bombers, al-Qaida is all but admitting it must resort to scraping the bottom of the barrel for recruits. It doesn't have the resources to mount an effective attack in this country. Still, they're able to cast a very intimidating shadow. Somehow, our politicians look "tough" by exaggerating their level of fear.

Who's afraid of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? In an era where fear-mongering is rewarded, it may be easier to name the few who aren't.

Tony's Take on Comix by Tony Norman is featured exclusively in the Opinion section on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.