STATEMENT OF CLARIFICATION

Just because I do not view Edward Snowden as a hero, and just because I was not surprised by the information revealed in the leaks, does not mean that I think the spying and collection of vast amounts of data by our government agencies, especially on its own citizens, is a good thing.

THE FBI HAS SOME 'SPLAININ' TO DO

From the 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.

Westboro has stirred widespread outrage with raucous demonstrations at the funerals of U.S. military service members. The group contends God is punishing the military for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Why Westboro Baptist Church? Why use a hate group to train FBI and police officers? The lawyers in the Phelps family know the laws, and they sue if the authorities don't follow the rules. Could that be the reason? Or does the group help to train officers to keep cool in the face of hateful behavior? Who knows?

H/T to Timothy Kincaid at Box Turtle Bulletin.