FBI, Westboro Baptist Church members participate in training sessions

[alp227]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- A law enforcement official confirms members of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for its controversial practice of picketing military funerals, participated in training for law enforcement officials at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia.

The sessions were discontinued this spring after Tom Browne, assistant director for the FBI, voiced strong opposition to bringing the group to a military facility.

Members of Westboro were "respectful" when they were on the base and did not cause any disruption, according to the official. He adds, "It wasn't the purpose to give them another outlet to vent their views. It was more academic."

The story about staff training sessions between the FBI and Westboro Baptist Church members was first reported by NPR News on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/29/fbi.westboro/index.html

[Drale]

1. Until I hear otherwise

I'm going with the assumption that they are allowing it to show their agents what a real domestic terrorist looks like.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

23. duplicate

.

[rpannier]

2. I can't imagine a group that the FBI needs to monitor more closely than Westboro nt

[PatrynXX]

9. even WOT has a closer eye

Web of Trust plugin. no alarms for KKK and whitepower but godhatesgays gets a WOT warning.

[Blue_Tires]

22. There are dozens of worse groups...

Yeah, Westboro are tasteless and annoying, but they aren't hoarding guns, making pipebombs and getting their brainwashed followers to go on shooting sprees...

[Travis_0004]

3. I'm a bit suprised they would go.

I think one of the more dangerous places for a group with their track record to go would be a military base.

[mackerel]

4. I don't get it? Why would this be happening at all?

And we're complaining about government spending?

[pnwmom]

7. This is what the government says, according to the link:

Other controversial groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, have taken part in similar training sessions. The purpose, according to the official, is "to expose law enforcement to these groups, see what they are about, and understand their perspective." In addition, the official says, the groups have a chance to hear law enforcement's point of view in a classroom setting.

"We are not endorsing these groups at all," said the official. "The reality is there are groups out there who are making presence known who the police have to encounter."

[Rosa Menti]

20. I see this as a tacit endorsement

of these hate groups. And what benefit comes from ..."see(ing) what they are about, and understand(ing) their perspective?" So they will be sympathetic towards the haters? Sounds like secret training to me..."We are not endorsing these groups at all," said the official. Yes you are. They are now linked with the name of the FBI...

[Downwinder]

25. I consider them to be Government operatives and

their actions to be Government sponsored. Provocateurs?

My experience has been that the FBI does training, call it joint or otherwise.

[provis99]

5. so how much were they paid?

Westboro don't do this for free, and neither did the KKK.

[Scottybeamer70]

6. If that isn't the height of insanity....

then I don't know what it would be.

[pnwmom]

8. Here's what the government says about this, according to the link:

Other controversial groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, have taken part in similar training sessions. The purpose, according to the official, is "to expose law enforcement to these groups, see what they are about, and understand their perspective." In addition, the official says, the groups have a chance to hear law enforcement's point of view in a classroom setting.

"We are not endorsing these groups at all," said the official. "The reality is there are groups out there who are making presence known who the police have to encounter."

[pipoman]

17. I read this,

"In addition, the official says, the groups have a chance to hear law enforcement's point of view in a classroom setting." as a class on how to skirt the law, stay gray, and not face arrest. I would rather the FBI monitor this group and wait for them to screw up, then prosecute them aggressively.

[SoapBox]

10. Our government should not be giving these groups one second of time

other than to be observing them, for their Domestic Terrorist activities.

You do that by SPYING and watching, NOT inviting them to your properties!

Fire the asshole that has been allowing this.

[demigoddess]

12. I agree, it sounds like a way to give them access to the

FBI agents, not training. Probably a quiet little lunch while the agents explain to them that they have to keep an eye on them, but in reality the agents agree with their agenda.

[scribble]

11. ... SO ...

What the FUCK kind of TRAINING was it?

This is a LOUSY ARTICLE.


sc

[mackerel]

13. Maybe they all sat in a circle and sang Kumbaya.

Sure Al Queda, Hezbollah and the IRA were all invited too. Nice day all around.

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. They would be a perfect group to use.

I think they fully believe in their hateful 'theology.' However if they could be convinced that the Gov't needs their help in identifying people who support LGBT folk, then they might gladly participate. That assumption would probably convince any lower level members.

In fact, they show up at so many different places that they could observe & take pics of a lot of people. They have become so ubiquitous at events that they are either dismissed or ignored. Who knows who the gov't wants to get some info on?

I think Shirley and the daughter would have to have quid pro quo to be convinced. Money would do for a start.

And before you dismiss this out of hand, consider all of the groups and people the government has been found to spy on. Quakers for one??? Also they have few scruples in getting involved with heinous people if it will serve their ends.

I don't believe this 100%, but too many things that I have found unbelievable before have happened.

[ret5hd]

19. Should we start carrying signs that say "GOVT AGENT --->", "GOVT SPY--->"

and go stand beside them?

i think it would be hilarious.

[Rosa Menti]

21. Excellent suggestion.

I endorse your actions.

[eShirl]

15. target practice?

:hide:

[jerseyjack]

16. Basically a waste of time and money.

Westboro are 5th magnitude assholes but I haven't read of any incidence of violence initiated by them.

[pipoman]

18. "Fighting words" comes to mind...

The fighting words doctrine, in United States constitutional law, is a limitation to freedom of speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. In its 9-0 decision, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942), the U.S. Supreme Court established the doctrine and held that "insulting or 'fighting words,' those that by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace" are among the "well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech the prevention and punishment of...have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words

Violence isn't the only breach of the peace which can bring criminal charges.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

24. How much were they paid?

Per diem, airfare, other expenses: how much?

Do you think they work for free?

Edited: provis99 beat me to it, in post #5.

[MikeMc]

26. +1.

Westboro Baptist Church = Karl Rove

I forgot Mueller was running the FBI.

[Zorra]

27. That's some scary weird crazy shit right there.

Do I need to go out and buy a handgun now?

[fascisthunter]

28. Well Isn't That Nice

[wingzeroday]

29. there will be light

ya hal turner did as well I guess.

[Cass]

30. How strange. What is the incentive for groups like this to participate in a FBI training program?

"They still have First Amendment protections just like anyone else," the official added, but police may have to mitigate a situation where there is a potential for violence.

What the heck is this all about...what went on in these "training" sessions, were they paid, how long was it, and were they provided travel/hotel/meal expenses? How long has this training program been in place?

It says the sessions were discontinued after the assistant director opposed bring them to the facility (good for him) but are all sessions with all groups discontinued, or just the sessions with this particular group?

I really hate when news stories leave you with more questions than answers. Even if they say we asked these questions but got no answers at least they tried, but this article doesn't even go there.