The fact that the President of the United States and his Attorney General would decide to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed the mastermind of the largest single terrorist attack to our Homeland, as a civilian criminal defendant instead of a enemy combatant was bad enough, but to decide to try him in New York was irresponsible, insensitive, put New Yorkers at further risk of attack and gave our enemies the perfect propaganda tool.

I was hoping that the New York US Senate and House Delegations would stand up for New York and fight the president and the Department of Justice to prevent them from implementing this disastrous decision. Instead of fighting for New York, we find out that the biggest proponents for Mohammed to be brought to New York and tried in our civilian criminal courts was none other than US Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and New York City Congressmen Weiner and Nadler. For weeks these lawmakers had the audacity to make the case in favor of trying Mohammed as a civilian criminal defendant just blocks from Ground Zero.

Then the People were heard from. A majority of New Yorkers and Americans overwhelmingly spoke out against those responsible for 9/11 being tried in Manhattan. Now, all of a sudden those most vocal for trying Mohammed and others in New York are desperately changing their positions. Now, the White House and the Justice Department are scrambling to get out of the mess they created.

Why are the politicians seeking to reverse themselves? The answer could not be more apparent, 2010 midterm elections. In light of the reversals of fortunes for Democrats in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts, they are playing politics with our security and their own political insecurity.

The only New York federal lawmaker to stand up against the Democrats from New York, the president and Justice Department was Republican Congressman Peter King, the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

There has been no more vocal and selfless fighter for our national security than Congressman King and challenge anyone to debate that point.

The fact that any lawmaker from New York would be a proponent of trying enemy combatants as mere criminal defendants, or worse, agree to try them in New York, or worse yet, politicize 9/11 and the aftermath for their own political gain is shameful and on that alone they should be removed from office at the next available opportunity.

I do not speak for all victims of 9/11, but I can speak for one. My Nephew, Senior Court Officer Thomas Jurgens was killed in the Trade Center collapse while rescuing trapped citizens. I know if Tommy were alive today, he would be sickened by the cowardly behavior exhibited by elected officials who are suppose to be fighting to protect us instead of emboldening our enemies, crippling our defenses, weakening our justice system and inviting further attacks to our Homeland. Shameful.

Bradley A. Blakeman served as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-04. He is currently a professor of Politics and Public Policy at Georgetown University and a frequent contributor to the Fox Forum.