The Miami Herald | 06/17/2002 | Ex-mosque leader says suspect wasn't radical in Broward

Broward County, FL -- which includes Fort Lauderdale -- seems to be America's Terror Central. Raed Awad, the former leader of the mosque Jose Padilla attended, is under federal scrutiny himself, but denies Padilla was radical when he was in Broward. I suppose "radical" is a matter of opinion, of course. Awad was the leader of a "charity" that raised money for Hamas. From a certain perspective, Hamas could be considered not radical. By Islamic Jihad, maybe.

Its current leader, Rafiq Mahdi, said the mosque does not harbor extremist views.

"Which is why I have the name of the Islamic Messiah," he didn't add...

Awad, meanwhile, is now a cell phone salesman -- in Montgomery! Two hours away from me! The highway outside my apartment complex goes directly to Montgomery. Eek.