OT: Seriously????

[Schone23666]

At first I thought this was a joke, then discovered....yes, the conspiracy theorists have REALLY lost it this time, and it seems they now have friends...

The Governor of Texas has instructed the Texas State Guard (which I find confusing....don't they already have the National Guard) to monitor the U.S. Army as they conduct a military training exercise code named Jade Helm 15 involving Special Operations forces to "safeguard civil liberties" and monitor for any signs of a possible "military takeover or invasion".

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/paranoia-catches-abbott-attention-gov-orders-texas-guard-to-monitor-military-exercises-over-fears-of-federal-takeover.html/

It admittedly does have a bit of a "Milgov vs. CivGov" feel to it, but this is real life, not a game.

I really can't wrap my mind around this level of stupidity, ignorance and paranoia some Americans, particularly the conspiracy theorists, Alex Jones among them, have sunk to. I'm sorry, I can't. Can any of our fellow board members in Texas shed some light on this

[pmulcahy11b]

I heard this and the first thing that came to mind was OMFG...

[Schone23666]

I heard this and the first thing that came to mind was OMFG...

I thought of that quote in your signature, and wonder how it might apply to this.

On another note, my reaction can be best summed as this:

[Webstral]

I will try to shed some light on this event, to whatever limited degree I can, without rationalizing anyones decisions.

The Texas State Guard is the truncated form of the states militia that existed in the state constitutions of the original 13 states and in a number of the states that have come into existence more recently. I cant guarantee that every state is entitled to a militia because I havent gotten to that point in my research. In any event, the National Guard is a federal reserve that the states get to use when the federal government doesnt need the National Guard. The states and the federal government split the bill down the middle, but the federal government is very much the senior partner.

The Militia Act of 1903 finalized the transition of the National Guard from something that was sort of, kind of, like a states militia into the system we know today. In reality, the states militia as the Framers of the Constitution knew it in 1787 had been undergoing a slow transformation from a collection of state forces into a federal force since 1792 or 1793. The reality of this situation dawned on the states in WW2, when the National Guard was federalized and deployed overseas, leaving the states with no military forces of their own, state constitutions notwithstanding. The State Guard movement was born at this time. For the most part, the State Guards died of malnutrition once the National Guard came home.

Texas has the countrys most well-developed State Guard by far. This force is organized more-or-less like its federal counterparts but answers solely to the Governor of Texas.

There has been a reasonably large scale exercise happening in the Southwest lately. The exercise is billed as being practice for managing large scale civil unrest overseas. Not everyone believes this version of the story. States rights types are inclined to believe that this exercise is a practice run at martial law in the United States. In keeping with the character of Texas, the Governor of Texas is ordering forces loyal to the government in Austin to keep an eye on forces loyal to Washington D.C. while they operate in Texas. Provided one accepts the premise that the federal government is preparing to impose martial law, then having forces loyal to the State of Texas keep an eye on federal forces has a certain logic. If one does not accept the premise, then the logic fails.

[kato13]

Provided one accepts the premise that the federal government is preparing to impose martial law, then having forces loyal to the State of Texas keep an eye on federal forces has a certain logic. If one does not accept the premise, then the logic fails.

Except if you want to train for a potential mission, likely or not.

I am sure someone somewhere in the US Army has had a training exercise which modeled a US invasion of Canada. Do I think that such an invasion is likely no. Do I think it is in the wide realm of possibilities yes (Maybe in response to Quebec Separatists).

Such a training mission's purpose would be flex your leadership and logistical muscles, and to feel confident that should a mission with any small thing in common with this one occur, you would be better prepared for it.

Yes this seems like political gamesmanship and a product of the "Don't mess with Texas" ethos, but training for a potential mission, does not seem illogical to me.

[Cdnwolf]

Except if you want to train for a potential mission, likely or not.

I am sure someone somewhere in the US Army has had a training exercise which modeled a US invasion of Canada. Do I think that such an invasion is likely no. Do I think it is in the wide realm of possibilities yes (Maybe in response to Quebec Separatists).

.

And I don't think most Canadians would even notice lol. Read a book called Exxoneration which featured an invasion by the US into Canada to take over its oil resources written about the time of the Twilight2000 books (maybe late 70's.

But I agree with you Kato.

[stormlion1]

The funny thing is that decades ago military exercises did happen in clear view of the public and were barely commented on. My old man used to tell storys of army troops invading the town and setting up roadblocks for a few hours and then packing up and leaving. Its only in the last few decades that the practice has fallen out of use.

[swaghauler]

I have seen an operation like this conducted before. Before the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh. The military will put out a "threat alert" to local law enforcement and then see if any of their "operators" get caught. This is actually good training for both the operators (evasion training) and local law enforcement (counter terrorist training).
It was (still is) also a common practice for SF operators to try and "break into" various government facilities like nuclear plants and research facilities in order to test the security subcontractors who guard it.

[Webstral]

Point of order: the federal troops' potential mission of invading and occupying Canada is supported by Jade Helm, whereas having the Texas State Guard monitor the federal troops in Texas only really makes sense if Austin believes Washington is up to no good in Texas. I suppose the Texas State Guard might learn something about federal procedures by observing them, but I would think direct participation would be more practical if the goal were to impart some useful knowledge to the Texas State Guard.

Every so often I do hear the idea of annexing Canada floated. I've even heard a theory that 10th Mountain is based in northern New York so that the division can be in Ottawa before the Canadians can react. It seems to me that millions of liberal Canadians would be a hard mouthful for conservative Americans to digest, all other considerations aside.

[stormlion1]

There is about as much chance of Invading Canada as there is of me being President of the USA. Of course if I was President of the USA I would so totally invade Canada and make it a territory.

Its just a large scale military exercise. There is more chance of the events happening in the North East effecting the country than Jade Helm.

[kato13]

whereas having the Texas State Guard monitor the federal troops in Texas only really makes sense if Austin believes Washington is up to no good in Texas.

Or they believe that Washington, at some point, has the potential to be up to no good (an attitude i expect the Founding Fathers would be proud of). They may look at this as an ounce of prevention reminding DC that Texas would be a hard pill to swallow.

Look I don't fully understand the Texas ethos, but they are different and this ruffles their feathers. I also realize that there is also clearly some political appeasement of some core group of voters, but as long as they are following the rules I have no issue with it.

Heck if the federal forces ever put the techniques of Jade Helm into action internationally (as is the stated overall mission), they might have UN, Russian, Chinese, or other forces monitoring them, so in a way it makes the training more realistic.

Edit.

I should make it clear that I am not a supporter of the Black Helicopter crowd. When I see a flight of helicopters my first thought is "Neat!", not "What are they up to". Today for example I saw something with a totally different sound from a helicopter over Lake Michigan and was really hoping I might get my first in person glimpse of a M/CV-22. Did not see it long or close enough to identify, but it was certainly more interesting to me than concerning.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

The DoJ and federal law enforcement has been pushing a narrative for 7 or 8 years now that "right wingers" are the new enemy of the state; they consider groups that use "constitutional" and "patriot" in their names or charters to be dangers to be watched and prepared against.

I can see why there'd be a push-back against shit like that.

[unkated]

Texans being wierd

The DoJ and federal law enforcement has been pushing a narrative for 7 or 8 years now that "right wingers" are the new enemy of the state; they consider groups that use "constitutional" and "patriot" in their names or charters to be dangers to be watched and prepared against.

I can see why there'd be a push-back against shit like that.

Let's see what there complaints include...

"Lastoria, in response to some of the questions from the 150 who attended, sought to dispel fears that foreign fighters from the Islamic State were being brought in or that Texans guns would be confiscated, according to a report in the Austin American-Statesman."

Nope, sorry, that's ungrounded idiocy.

Everyone's allowed thir opinion, but that level of paranoia mixed with weapons may be dangerous to anyone else.

I suspect Gov. Abbott's stand has more to do with his wishes for the next election than any concerns about Washington.

Uncle Ted

[Cdnwolf]

Every so often I do hear the idea of annexing Canada floated. I've even heard a theory that 10th Mountain is based in northern New York so that the division can be in Ottawa before the Canadians can react. It seems to me that millions of liberal Canadians would be a hard mouthful for conservative Americans to digest, all other considerations aside.

First off... you are welcome to have Ottawa... but leave the hookers of Hull alone...

Do you really think the rest of the world would stand by and let the US invade Canada You forget it is part of the British Commonwealth (Targan would send in the trained Crocs) and closely allied with some interesting friends (ie China, Russia, France, Germany, the rest of the EU.)

The thought of the US getting its hands on some of the vast natural resources (like the oilfields) would scare the rest of the world.

And besides our perceived niceness... you don't want to get us pissed off. We all have a hockey stick beside our bed (even toddlers) and we know how to use them.

[unkated]

Do you really think the rest of the world would stand by and let the US invade Canada

Who'd know Canadians are too polite to say anything loud or rude like "stop that.'

Beside, if we promise to remove the GST, most Canadians would cheer.

Uncle Ted