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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJune 29th, 2011
It isn’t April 1, so I don’t think this is a spoof. But it’s difficult to read this without screaming WT bloody F? (AP)
The FBI said Wednesday that members of an anti-gay fundamentalist group participated in the bureau’s training of police officers and FBI agents — a move the bureau says it will take steps to remedy in the future.
The bureau extended the invitations to Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., for training this spring at two bureau facilities in Virginia: Quantico and Manassas.
And, going for the understatement of the year,
An FBI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that in retrospect, the bureau underestimated how the involvement of the outside organization would be perceived.
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Regan DuCasse
June 29th, 2011
It’s bad enough that the military is more willing to allow felons, and lower their screening policies of Muslim enlistees, than respect an exemplary gay service member.
There have been domestic terrorists who got their training in the military, like Timothy McVeigh and the Ft. Hood mass shooter.
Seriously, the FBI could look at the list of hate and militia groups in this country and get a clue, THAT easily.
If the SPLC can do it, then why can’t they?
More embarrassment will continue folks. And not incidentally, this is why we absolutely cannot have millions of illegal immigrants running around this country without knowing who they are and accounting for them.
The 9/11 terrorists hid in plain sight, as they all could possibly do.
james
June 29th, 2011
I am having trouble understanding why the FBI would invite ANY church to participate in its training activities.
I understand why the FBI might brief a church or its leaders on a public safety or crime protetion issue, but training? If a church needs training for security purposes, they can arrange for it privately and pay for it. Did the taxpayers cover the costs of Westboro’s participation?
james
June 29th, 2011
Okay, I’ve read the AP article now. Says the Westboro people were presenters at a training program, not recipients of training. So my comment above is uninformed.
But, WHAT could the Westboro people say that law enforcement experts familiar with extremist and hate groups wouldn’t be able to say? WHAT could WBC people say about First Amendment rights that could not be presented by, well, respectable people.
daftpunkydavid
June 29th, 2011
i doubt that panetta is responsible for this, but if he is, it does not bode well for repeal of dadt…
Aaron
June 30th, 2011
Maybe it was a training session on how to deal with hateful, oppressive and fanatical splinter group religions?
Richard Rush
June 30th, 2011
Could it possibly be that this was a clever FBI tactic used as part of an investigation into Westboro’s activities, with the idea being that the Westboro people might inadvertently reveal some useful information about themselves? I know this seems outlandish, but it seems less outlandish than believing that Westboro could possibly have something useful to offer for training of police officers and FBI agents – other than to demonstrate how hate groups might behave and present themselves in a friendly venue.
Matt
June 30th, 2011
Since WBC is a bunch of inbreeds, it’s hard for law enforcement to infiltrate. so maybe RR is right that it was a way to “buddy up” to learn more about its tactics. Also, it is practice for learning how to deal with wingnuts.
james
June 30th, 2011
@Aaron, Richard, and Matt: You make valid points.
Iamposterity
June 30th, 2011
It just becomes more clear every day that the tradition of the constitutional “Wall of Seperation” continues to be violated. This is something every American should be infuriated by! No day of Prayer, No Religious Organizations granted special rights, tax exempt statuses should be revoked and IRS inqueries made when these groups cross the line. AFA, Rick Perry, Focus on the Family should really be closely watched. These are not logically thinking organizations or individuals.
customartist
June 30th, 2011
To NOT know what the Westboro Group’s ideologies and methodologies are, AND to be the ultimate Law Enforcement Entity of the USA?? – OMG!
NEXT will be Ponxy Schemer Bernie Madoff conducting training sessions for the IRS!
james
June 30th, 2011
NPR reported that the FBI invited WBC to help train law enforcement officers on how to remain professional when confronted by groups whose ideas and viewpoints they might disagree with. They also report the WBC representatives were not compensated. I saw this on Towleroad and checked the NPR report on their website. The focus of the training was on domestic terrorism.
There is some logic to this as a training exercise, although I still wonder if it could have been accomplished without involving WBC or any other similar group.
Regan DuCasse
June 30th, 2011
Hmmmm….
Well, that’s interesting. Here in Los Angeles, the Museum of Tolerance does that work. Cadets from law enforcement agencies all over Los Angeles County and it’s environs have to attend MANDATORY training on dealing with hate groups and where they are and their tactics, but ALSO train cadets in dealing with ethnic and cultural communities of all kinds.
I’m a volunteer for the MOT and a facilitator. I’ve personally been the writer of scenarios that might occur between the police and civilians who may or may not be familiar with each other’s customs.
There is extensive interfacing with the Southern Poverty Law Center, the ADL and other anti hate or pro diversity orgs.
When police agencies want to know, contacting any of these is doable.
It does make more sense why the WBC is involved that way.
But if they spin it as if they are qualified applicants to BE FBI, then there is a problem.
THAT would be fraud and the agencies that recruit them have to be careful of how such outreach can be used in that direction.
PLAINTOM
June 30th, 2011
INSANE!!!!!!
chrissypoo
June 30th, 2011
So how much money did the FBI pay WBC for the training?
WMDKitty
June 30th, 2011
Wait, what?
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