HERE’S A CANDIDATE FOR BUDGET-CUTTING:

Early last month, the bureau’s Washington Field Office began recruiting for a new anti-obscenity squad. Attached to the job posting was a July 29 Electronic Communication from FBI headquarters to all 56 field offices, describing the initiative as “one of the top priorities” of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and, by extension, of “the Director.” That would be FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III. . . .

The new squad will divert eight agents, a supervisor and assorted support staff to gather evidence against “manufacturers and purveyors” of pornography — not the kind exploiting children, but the kind that depicts, and is marketed to, consenting adults.

“I guess this means we’ve won the war on terror,” said one exasperated FBI agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity because poking fun at headquarters is not regarded as career-enhancing. “We must not need any more resources for espionage.”

Either the FBI has too much money, or the government’s priorities are screwed up, or both. If there’s another terror attack in America, how will Gonzalez and Mueller justify this? Maybe by blaming Congress: “Congress began funding the obscenity initiative in fiscal 2005 and specified that the FBI must devote 10 agents to adult pornography.” (Via Volokh).

I would have slapped the PorkBusters logo on this post, but I was afraid someone would notice that the pig isn’t wearing pants . . . .