You knew this was coming. Islamic “advocacy” groups have gotten a little bit more savvy lately; they don’t come out screaming “discrimination! Islamophobia! backlash!” immediately following the terrorism arrests any more. Now they wait a few days: Muslims fear backlash from Fort Dix attack plot.

FORT DIX, N.J. — Authorities’ description of six suspects charged with plotting an attack on Fort Dix as “Islamic militants” is causing renewed worry among New Jersey’s Muslim community. Hundreds of Muslim men from New Jersey were rounded up and detained by authorities in the months following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, but none were connected to that plot. Now, Muslims fear a resurgence of anti-Islamic sentiment and incidents of bias.

“If these people did something, then they deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Sohail Mohammed, a lawyer who represented scores of detainees after the 2001 attacks. “But when the government says ‘Islamic militants,’ it sends a message to the public that Islam and militancy are synonymous. Don’t equate actions with religion.”

The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee’s New Jersey chapter participated in a conference call Tuesday with FBI officials to discuss security matters. “What we’re all afraid of is a new backlash,” said Hesham Mahmoud, a spokesman for the group.

This vintage whine comes to you complete with a veiled threat, courtesy of the chairman of the New Jersey state council of mosques, who warns us there’s going to be more terrorism from the Muslim community unless we change our Middle East policy.

Yaser El-Menshawy, chairman of the Majlis Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state’s council of mosques, condemned the plot and said he is glad it was not carried out.

BUT he said the motivation of people who plot against the government “cannot be stopped simply by law enforcement or military means alone.”

He said U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, among other issues, needs to be examined dispassionately.

“We are going to have to take a look at it and see where we are right and where we are not right,” El-Menshawy said. “If that’s not the case, then I fear we are in for a very long and difficult period.”