BOSTON -- Comments by Gov. Mitt Romney that wiretapping mosques might be an effective way to fight terrorism drew quite a bit of criticism Thursday.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that in a speech before the politically conservative Heritage foundation Wednesday, the governor called himself "red state folk" and said that officials should be investing more money in domestic intelligence to stop terrorism.

"I am talking about monitoring people who come here from foreign countries that are terror-sponsored countries -- individuals that may have been taught at places where terrorist training is going on. Tracking students, visitors, and how about people who are in settings, mosques for instance, who may be teaching doctrines of hate and terror. Are we monitoring that? Are we wiretapping? Are we following what is going on? Are we seeing who is coming in?"

"I was outraged, to be quite honest. Students are currently monitored. Our mosques are probably monitored as well, and that is just a reality that we live with," Islamic Society of Boston's Salma Kazmi said.

Romney would not comment specifically on wiretapping mosques.

"I'm not suggesting a new form of intelligence in this nation. We should continue to do what we've done in the past, but we should expand the amount of resources we have devoted to this effort," Romney said.

But Mideast scholars call the governor's statement inflammatory.

"The number of people involved in radical activities is very small. It is also a lack of sophistication in terms of what information we need about this problem. I think it’s going to be found in other areas than mosques," Tufts University's Dr. Andrew Hess said.

"If there is a need to work with the Muslim community, then people should go through the front door and realize that the leaders have every interest in protecting the United States. I think his statements betray a mistrust to the community without knowing who we are," Kazmi said.

The speech was the latest in which Romney talks about his experience and expertise in homeland security issues. He still isn't saying when and if he will announce his future political plans.

But Hess said targeting mosques is inefficient and merely enrages the larger Muslim community.