When I discussed the fatal shootout between a radical Imam and the FBI, my biggest concern was with mainstream Muslim support for a violent, murderous advocate of a Sharia state in the United States. It bothers me that such a person could be considered a "respected Imam" and that he sat on the ruling council of a major Islamic organization, because the clear implication is that violent advocacy of Sharia law is now mainstream. If that's the case, then American Muslims have a problem of their own making.

Still, I was almost inclined to believe the media spin that this Imam (who bragged that he was a terrorist) was a case of homegrown terrorism. I would have been wrong in light of more recent developments in the case.
International developments:

Two Windsor men accused of helping finance a group of fundamentalist Muslims in metro Detroit charged with conspiracy and other federal crimes, were apprehended without incident by Canadian police Saturday after two days on the run.

Yassir Ali Khan, 30, and Mohammad Alsahli, 33, also known as Muhammad Palestine or Mohammad Philistine, were arrested at about 8 a.m. at separate locations by officers with the Windsor Police department and an Immigration Task Force led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, according to the FBI and Windsor police.

While Windsor is right across the bridge from Detroit, the fact that they're in Canada means that the incident can no longer be called strictly "home-grown."

Meanwhile, the radical Imam was called a "martyr" at his funeral service, which drew mourning Muslims who were not only from other American cities, but from other countries:

The crowd was primarily African -American, but included Muslims with roots in Asian countries, Iran, the Balkans, and the Arab world. In keeping with Islamic custom, the service was simple and featured a short funeral prayer known as janazah.

Speakers stressed that life and death are ultimately up to God.

"All power is in Allah's hands," said Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid, a Muslim leader who heads the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in New York City and was a leader along with Abdullah with the Muslim Alliance in North America.

Abdur-Rashid, a leader with the alliance, said during the funeral that Abdullah was an example of a good Muslim.

"Imam Luqman had faith and constantly strived to righteous deeds," Abdur-Rashid said. "Imam Luqman had the consciousness, taqwa,...I never heard him discuss any subject whatsoever, even sports, without talking about Allah."

He called Abdullah a martyr, saying that "those who disbelieve among the people of the book, and among the polytheists, will be in hellfire, to dwell in there forever. They are the worst of creatures."

Abdur-Rashid also asked God to help the Muslims in Palestine, Chechnya, and the U.S.

In Canton, other speakers urged Muslims to stay united despite attempts to divide them. Federal authorities used undercover informants in a 2-year investigation of Abdullah and his followers, according to a criminal complaint. The use of informants by the FBI has been a source of contention between Muslims and the agency over the past year.

Still, Muslim leaders reminded mourners that the death of Abdullah should not be seen solely as a tragedy because Abdullah was on his way to heaven.

"It's a very blessed time," said one speaker at the burial in Canton. "Imam Luqman is having a blessed time...We are here to pray for our brother...remember the good that he stood for."

"He stood for solid faith... He was committed to his beliefs."

Sorry, but as usual I'm not getting it, and I have a question.

How can his faith not have had anything to do with it, when his followers explicitly and repeatedly state that his faith had everything to do with it?

Under the circumstances, I find myself wondering whether the general area around here (namely Standish, MI -- less than two hours drive north) is the best place in the world to relocate the Gitmo detainees.

Yesterday's dramatic FBI shootout in Dearborn resulting in the killing of the leader of a violent Islamist separatist movement underscores some of the serious risks that could jeopardize Americans should the Guantanamo Bay detainees be relocated to US soil.

"The FBI should be praised for its heroic actions in striving to protect the American people. At the same time, yesterday's events should serve as a wake-up call to the people of Michigan and the rest of the United States to demonstrably reject the transfer of Gitmo detainees to American soil," said Dr. Peter Leitner, a national expert on terrorism and prison radicalization who testified before the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee two weeks ago.

"These FBI raids boldly underscore the grave dangers posed to the citizens of Michigan if the Administration decides to transfer the world's most dangerous terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the state prison in Standish," Leitner said. Standish is located only about two hours from the FBI raids in Dearborn.

Leitner warned of the threats of "terrorism and violence that will result if known terrorists are brought to Michigan, galvanizing their supporters and targeting the United States." Leitner served within the Department of Defense for 21 years as a terror specialist and is president of the Higgins Counterterrorism Research Center. He was in Michigan two weeks ago to brief state lawmakers and to address town halls sponsored by the Michigan Coalition to Stop Gitmo North on the security, economic and legal risks inherent in the relocation of Gitmo detainees to our state.

Leitner said the extent to which the transfer of Gitmo detainees to the US would further contribute to prison radicalization and homegrown terrorism is largely underappreciated by the general public.

If I could vote on the issue, I'd vote no to bringing them here. As it is, the area has enough problems with "respected Imams" who are home-grown even though they aren't, and whose faith we can't imply has anything to do with their actions even though they say it does...

Sometimes I worry that denial is contagious.