So has the Army taken over Texas yet?

[Cyrano]

That “Jade Helm 15” theory got a lot of Texans upset over the past week or so. From what I’ve read, about 30% of tea baggers were convinced that the army training exercise (Jade Helm 15) was really an excuse to declare martial law, take over Texas, and confiscate everyone’s guns.

This “Jade Helm 15” story started about a week ago when the army announced they were doing maneuvers in the southwest. This got the crazies even crazier and it brought every “black helicopter” nut out of the woodworks.

So my questions a week later are: Has anything of consequence happened? Are the teabaggers holed up in the Alamo? Have their pols, who pretended to believe the bullshit, said anything more publicly?

But I guess my real questions are: “Have the crazies that buy into all this shit … well, crazy? Are they crouched behind walls, rifles at the ready?

What’s wrong with these people? How did they get this fucked up? Is there a cure for this kind of mental derangement?

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Exercise not to start till this summer. n/t

[John Poet]

38. Think I read the starting date

was to be July 15th.

That means they have another two months to pray and horde aluminum foil.

Then the Obama hordes will march in.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. My home in NJ

Is welcome to any DUer refugees!

Great post!

[Cleita]

3. I wish something would take over Texas, like

common sense and logic. I wonder if all those chemicals and leads being leaked into their water systems and air on account of poor regulatory systems on their toxic industries has something to do with it.

[Vinca]

4. Of all the dumb conspiracy theories they've got, this is about the dumbest.

For starters, they need to realize they are already part of the United States (much to my dismay) so there is no need to take them over. I heard a lady comment on this on the Stephanie Miller show. She said she'd just moved to Texas and it had done wonders for her self esteem since she now felt like Albert Einstein.

[Cyrano]

8. A lady moved to Texas and now feels like Einstein?

What's scary is, who did she feel like before moving to Texas?

[Gothmog]

5. Not yet but the crazys are convinced that this is coming

[TexasProgresive]

9. They're wrapping tempered steel chains around their gun safes

that contain 30+ guns and marching around with a modified AR-15 type rifle. COME and TAKE IT! Ha they don't even know the story of COME and TAKE IT or where and when it was first said.

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qvg01
GONZALES "COME AND TAKE IT" CANNON. The Gonzales "come and take it" cannon was a Spanish-made, bronze artillery piece of six-pound caliber.

[itcfish]

6. My Questions Are

Do these 30% have a full time job? A family to care for? I'm sure if they did they would not have time to think or care about this crazy stuff.

[AuntPatsy]

7. It has spread like wild fire, my own daughter became furious at my lack of fear,

And I promise you normally she is pretty bright but the oilfield hot line is echoing dire predictions over and over again, She seems to be brainwashed, I was even informed Isis will be invading us very soon, not sure we should laugh to much, these believers are packing some serious fire....

I'm surrounded but it's not by out of state or country terrorists.....

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I was able to run to the grocery store today without issue.

[Lint Head]

11. I hope they take it over and turn it into an annex of Colorado.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. That would be awesome in a smoke-em-if-you-got-em kind of way.

[Lint Head]

16. Definitely.

[Orsino]

12. Too late. The Texas Guard is monitoring. Checkmate, Mr. President. n/t

[hobbit709]

17. The TX State Guard isn't capable of guarding a portapotty.

[Orsino]

40. They do just fine, I'm sure, guarding things that actually exist. n/t

[brooklynite]

14. Well, the first thing they did was take over all the TV and radio station...

...so nobody can get the word out.

[okaawhatever]

15. No, they're still digging the tunnels under Wal-Mart. Why do you think the Wal-Marts had to

close 6 months before the start of the exercise? Not to mention, the TX national guard is going to save them (according to the Guv'na)

[UglyGreed]

18. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems

this training is for urban warfare not against other military forces. So IMO this will be applied while attacking or occupying sovereign nations or used in this country against protesters or riots that become too much for our militarized police forces to handle. Well I guess that is all a part of being the "world police"

[UglyGreed]

19. This may help understand my point of view

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/jun/14/climate-change-energy-shocks-nsa-prism

But why have Western security agencies developed such an unprecedented capacity to spy on their own domestic populations? Since the 2008 economic crash, security agencies have increasingly spied on political activists, especially environmental groups, on behalf of corporate interests. This activity is linked to the last decade of US defence planning, which has been increasingly concerned by the risk of civil unrest at home triggered by catastrophic events linked to climate change, energy shocks or economic crisis - or all three.

Just last month, unilateral changes to US military laws formally granted the Pentagon extraordinary powers to intervene in a domestic "emergency" or "civil disturbance":

"Federal military commanders have the authority, in extraordinary emergency circumstances where prior authorization by the President is impossible and duly constituted local authorities are unable to control the situation, to engage temporarily in activities that are necessary to quell large-scale, unexpected civil disturbances."

[LanternWaste]

27. What precisely leads you to believe that the operation is limited to urban warfare only?

What precisely leads you to believe that the operation is limited to urban warfare only in the seven states being utilized (states which replicate areas Special Operations Soldiers regularly find themselves operating in overseas)? Or that urban warfare not used against other military forces?

[UglyGreed]

33. Talking Points Memo article

Tom Meade, an Army spokesman and retired Green Beret, explained in the accompanying audio presentation why "Jade Helm 15" is considered an "unconventional warfare" exercise. Meade said that while US special forces have been conducting unconventional warfare -- assisting and supporting insurgency -- for over 50 years, troops had adopted a counter-insurgency role over the last 15 years in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We're bringing these guys back and we're dusting off the skills that they already have -- because every Green Beret learns unconventional warfare when he leaves the qualification course," Meade said. "A lot of these guys haven't practiced it in the last few years so we're bringing those skills back to the forefront for them."

The "leaked" version of the slideshow posted by All News Pipeline, the conspiracy theory website, differed somewhat from the one Meade presented to the Commissioners Court of Brazos County. That version contained a slide that said the training exercise offered "the opportunity to work with civilians to gain their trust and an understanding of the issues." Another slide said local residents could expect some individuals to "conduct suspicious activities designed to prepare them for complex environments overseas" or "be wearing civilian attire and driving civilian vehicles."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/what-is-jade-helm-15

[LanternWaste]

34. None of what was written denies that these same tactics

None of what was written denies that these same tactics (civilian attire & vehicles (Iraq), complex environments (Korea and the Pacific wars), supporting insurgencies (Vietnam), are used in conventional wars as we know them.

Historically, a general staff will train its forces for any potential contingency. Seems to me that this training is consistent with conflict operation roles already in use by both U.S. and NATO forces.

[UglyGreed]

37. It is what it is

Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan were not fought to defend our rights and freedoms they were wars of aggression trying to stop the commies, vengeance as in 9/11 and resources as in Iraq. Bin Laden ended up being killed by special forces which could of been done without occupying two countries. This training is to occupy, stop uprisings and perhaps stop riots in this country if needed. IMO it is the reality of the way we use our military might more and more these days. The former Soviet Union did the same in it's day and the funny thing is we now have bases in most of those countries now. I may of strayed from the subject but this is how I've come to such conclusions. Sorry if I rather question things, I've been that way for a longtime, perhaps it is from a level of mistrust I've picked up over the years. Thanks for the reply and not accusing me of having foil on my head

[Proud Liberal Dem]

20. What's taking them so long?!

n/t

[oldandhappy]

21. Donno. Waiting.

When another story takes over the media, we have to wait for the good stuff!!

[jeff47]

22. It really doesn't matter if none of it comes to pass.

If it happens, they were right.

If it doesn't happen, they exposed the devious plan before it could happen. Thus blocking the plan. So they were still right.

[Runningdawg]

23. Yep

Just like they successfully prevented an even larger ISIS attack by calling them out with the art contest. I had a conservative buddy try and tell me yesterday that 64% of Americans - not conservatives, not Texans - believe JH15 is the start of martial law. Rumors are still swirling here daily on what is going on at our Walmart store - even though OK was not mentioned as part of JH15.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

24. Not yet! Obama is sending them bad storms to soften them up first.

[hamsterjill]

32. Yes...and chem trails!!!!

That's what I always hear about from the crazies down here - the chem trails!

[Gman]

25. How did Obama get all those military bases into Texas

and nobody noticed?

[leftofcool]

26. Probably the same way he got all those tanks across Amarillo without anyone noticing.

He's a magic man!

[HassleCat]

28. They have, indeed

The US Army invaded Texas, is now occupying, has taken away all firearms, printed new money with Obama's likeness on all bill, sent all patriots to FEMA camps, and changed all Geographic names to Spanish. What? You didn't hear about it? See! That just proves how secretive Obama can be.

[NobodyHere]

29. Nah

Chuck Norris stepped in. The US Army was one roundhouse kick away from being obliterated.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/05/jade_helm_15_even_chuck_norris.html

[Cyrano]

30. The rest of the world must be watching us with awe and fear

Advanced countries have got to be looking at us and wondering just how dangerous America can become if the crazies ever gain full control. We do, after all, have the nuclear capability to destroy this planet.

Is there a cure for wingnut mindlessness? Or are we all doomed to never ending decades of delusional insanity from the GOP?

[hamsterjill]

31. The crazies are still stoking the flames on Facebook, etc.

I have two former high school classmates that have absolutely, undeniably just gone over the edge. Yes, they are crazy - with the desire to shoot someone, the hate for a black man in a white house, and mad at the rest of us for not buying their ignorant rhetoric hook, line and sinker. They simply cannot understand why the rest of us can't "just see it"!

The answer to any question asked of them about what is going on with Jade Helm 15 or Obama or just about anything for that matter, is normally "because everybody knows that it is"...and that doesn't constitute a factual response in my book.

These people are involved with the "new" type of Christianity. The ones where there's a rock band playing on Sunday morning, the ones that don't talk about denominations, the ones that scream that people who are different than they are in any way will be burning in hell. You know...the ones who think they've got it all figured out and that God loves them most.

As a Christian myself with very liberal views, it's the religion element that really scares the shit outta me. Because you cannot argue with their version of what they believe is the truth. They take solace in the fact that they know and associate with others with similar viewpoints and they are quick to "gang up" on anyone with a differing opinion.

I don't think they've let them in the Alamo - yet, at least, and I've not seen or heard of anything of any real consequence happening. I have, actually, asked several of them if nothing occurs between now and September 15th when the exercises end, will they be willing to admit that they were wrong?

I've yet to get a straight answer...

[Cyrano]

35. I fail to see the difference between Christian fanaticism and

Islamic fanaticism, -- or for that matter any other religious fanaticism.

All are willing (and impatiently waiting) to "kill the infidels." I guess these "Christians" just can't see that there's very little difference between themselves and those they hate and fear.

[hamsterjill]

39. I tend to agree with you.

There are extremists in all religions. These "Christians" simply don't see or believe that they are the fringe. They are very comfortable with spouting scripture, and very comfortable twisting the meaning of it to their benefit.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. Nah. They decided they lacked enough troops to guard that nuthouse.

[NuclearDem]

41. Yes, it has, and you're late for your shift at the Walmart Detention and Reeducation Center, comrade

[PATXgirl]

42. I live about 30 minutes from the closed Walmart. The JH15 exercise doesnt

Start for months. There are links and pics of "proof" posted daily.

It's going to be a long, hot crazy summer.