The Washington Times reports that Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey elaborated today on his warnings about the dangers of transferring the 9/11 jihadists to New York City for a trial in the civilian justice system.

“It’s simply a fact of life that a jihadist, particularly somebody like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, is looking for a big stage,” Mukasey said in an interview on the WTimes’s “America’s Morning News” radio show. “New York City is the biggest stage in the world, and the attempt will be made to make this as big, spectacular and ugly as possible.”

He reminded listeners that Zacarias Moussaoui had turned his civilian trial into a circus (Remember this ditty: “America, you lost . . . I won,” and “God save Osama bin Laden. You will never get him.”) Joe Weber’s report continues:

Mr. Mukasey also supported the criticism that the Obama administration’s plan for the trials — as announced Friday by Attorney General Eric Holder — reflects a “pre-9-11″ mentality, or worse. He cited Mr. Obama’s decision to bring suspected terrorists from the Guantanamo Bay detention center to trial on U.S. soil and his refusal to use the term “war of terror.” “Using soft, cushy euphemisms instead reflect they’re back in a pre-9-11 mentality,” he said. “In some ways it’s worse, because at least before [the attacks] we were not aware of what we were facing.” Mr. Mukasey also said the mass shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in which 13 people were killed was a terrorist act. Witnesses said suspected shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan yelled “Allahu Akbar” before shooting. ”It’s impossible to categorize it as any other act,” Mr. Mukasey said. He said Maj. Hasan represents the new breed of “leaderless jihadists,” encouraged by Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders. ”This man is a fulfillment of their dreams,” he said.