http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Helm_15_conspiracy_theory
http://soldiersystems.net/2015/03/30/drop-the-crackpipe-and-take-off-the-tinfoil-hat-jade-helm-15-really-is-just-an-exercise/

This is actually quite old now, but I love the off-beat & quirky and boy! this is as off-beat & quirky as they come.

The US Military conduct regular large-scale exercises. This year they will be called “Jade Helm 15”, will involve 1,200 troops (including special forces) and will start on July 18, 2015 & finish on September 15, 2015.

At the end of March this year someone released into the Internet a set of slides used by the military to explain Jade Helm 15. Certain people--mostly based in Texas--began to spontaneously combust. It *may* be that they did not like the name, but I think that it was mostly due to the map, the fact that Texas was in red (almost all other states were in blue) and especially due to the fact that Texas was labelled “hostile”. I think that is why they started to shout:-

A May 13 poll found that 32% of registered Republicans thought that “the Government is trying to take over Texas”. That is possibly the least wacky of all the conspiracy theories that surround Jade Helm 15. Others include:-

• Islamic State is based in El Paso, Mexico and is due to attack the USA
  (the connection with Jade Helm is uncertain for me with this one, though they insist it is there)
• Recently closed Wal-Mart shops will provision Chinese Troops
  Yes, the US Government will import troops from China. Those troops will disarm US Citizens.

Oh, I’m getting bored with this. Some people are nuts, and at this moment Texan people appear to be specialising in it.

The final word has got to go with the Texas governor:

On Monday 27 April U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria met the public in a small room in Bastrop County, Texas to explain some of what was coming up locally in connection with Jade Helm 15. The room was jam-packed full with more than 200 folks present, and the colonel was given a hard time (one sign held up said “No Gestapo in Bastropo”). The following day Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked the State Guard to monitor the whole event:-

It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed. By monitoring the Operation on a continual basis, the State Guard will facilitate communications between my office and the commanders of the Operation to ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect Texans.

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Alex Kemp