Enlarge By Joe Raedle, Getty Images Mark Rodgers shows his support near the front gate to Fort Hood Sunday in Killeen, Texas. The personal website for a radical American imam living in Yemen who had contact with two Sept. 11 hijackers is praising alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan as a hero. One U.S. official said Monday that the government had discovered electronic communications that showed Hasan had reached out to the imam, Anwar Aulaqi, in the past. But investigators said late Monday there was no indication Hasan was directed to attack or had help in the massacre last Thursday. The posting Monday on the website for Aulaqi, who was a spiritual leader at two mosques where three Sept. 11 hijackers worshipped, said American Muslims who condemned the attacks on the Texas military post last week are hypocrites who have committed treason against their religion. Two U.S. intelligence officials told The Associated Press the website was Aulaqi's. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence collection. Aulaqi said the only way a Muslim can justify serving in the U.S. military is if he intends to "follow in the footsteps of men like Nidal." Regarding the alleged communications between Hasan and Aulaqi, the messages were picked up by U.S. counterterror officials, but an inquiry into the matter was shelved because the contacts were not deemed to suggest a threat, said a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Investigators now are trying to determine whether Hasan has any links to terror groups. Hasan's family held his mother's funeral at the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., on May 31, 2001, according to her obituary in The Roanoke Times newspaper. Aulaqi was an imam there at that time. The mosque released a statement to "openly denounce" Aulaqi. "As we understand the teaching of the scriptures, our mission and method as Americans of faith is to enrich our society with service, wisdom and beautiful preaching of God's love and mercy to all of mankind," the statement said. It said that while at the mosque, Aulaqi's "public speech was consistent with the values of tolerance and cooperation." But it added that after returning to Yemen, Aulaqi changed his tone and "has clearly set himself apart from Muslims in America. We continue to send our condolences and prayers for recovery of all the victims of this godless act." Meanwhile, the Obama administration and top military leaders are discouraging an anti-Muslim backlash in the aftermath of the shooting. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey and Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano on Sunday echoed weekend remarks by President Obama cautioning against saying that religion played a role in the attack or that it was "terrorism." Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an American-born Muslim, is suspected of being the lone gunman in the attack Thursday that killed 13 and wounded 29. "Speculation could potentially heighten a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers," Casey said. Added Napolitano: "This was an individual who does not represent the Muslim faith." AFTERMATH:Ford Hood fellowship mourns MORE: Alleged shooter tied to mosque of 9/11 hijackers 'FRESH START': Suspect had trouble elsewhere Obama lauded the armed services' diversity. "They are Americans of every race, faith and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers," he said. Muslim and Arab groups have reported a few threats of violence, plus angry phone calls and hateful e-mails. So far, the harsh words haven't turned to action. "We haven't heard of anything violent, which is a good thing," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group. "It shows our society has matured in how it responds to these incidents." He said the Obama administration and the military are setting the right tone. Michael Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, disagreed, saying the response has been far too weak to protect Muslim military personnel. The military and FBI are investigating whether Hasan was motivated by Islamic terrorism. Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said he wanted to know whether the Army missed signs that Hasan was voicing extremist views, calling the shootings a "terrorist act." Contributing: David Cauchon and Associated Press Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more