could this be true?

[Ken Gargett]

i really am not looking to start some big argument about the rights or wrongs of this (even if that would be fun) but a friend sent me this. he is quite sane and was reasonably highly placed and regarded prior to his retirement and now lectures in law at a university, so we are not talking some conspiracy fruitcake (he actually finds it all extremely amusing).

my first reaction was to check if it was a leftover from april 1.

could this possibly be true? and if so, why has there not been much more about it? it would seem a fairly major thing, or do those outside the states work on a different wavelength?

and i really am not trying to start the big usual argument. i'm just curious.

and a bit befuddled.

it came from something called NPR. i have no idea what that is - possibly a humour site?

Texas Governor Deploys State Guard To Stave Off Obama Takeover

MAY 02, 2015 9:27 PM ET

WADE GOODWYN

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor a joint U.S. Special Forces training taking place in Texas, prompting outrage from some in his own party.

Eric ***/AP

Since Gen. Sam Houston executed his famous retreat to glory to defeat the superior forces of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Texas has been ground zero for military training. We have so many military bases in the Lone Star State we could practically attack Russia.

So when rookie Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was ordering the Texas State Guard to monitor a Navy SEAL/Green Beret joint training exercise, which was taking place in Texas and several other states, everybody here looked up from their iPhones. What?

It seems there is concern among some folks that this so-called training maneuver is just a cover story. What's really going on? President Obama is about to use Special Forces to put Texas under martial law.

Let's walk over by the fence where nobody can hear us, and I'll tell you the story.

You see, there are these Wal-Marts in West Texas that supposedly closed for six months for "renovation." That's what they want you to believe. The truth is these Wal-Marts are going to be military guerrilla-warfare staging areas and FEMA processing camps for political prisoners. The prisoners are going to be transported by train cars that have already been equipped with shackles.

Don't take my word for it. That comes directly from a Texas Ranger, who seems pretty plugged in, if you ask me. You and I both know President Obama has been waiting a long time for this, and now it's happening. It's a classic false flag operation. Don't pay any attention to the mainstream media; all they're going to do is lie and attack everyone who's trying to tell you the truth.

"It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed upon."

- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas

Did I mention the ISIS terrorists? They've come across the border and are going to hit soft targets all across the Southwest. They've set up camp a few miles outside of El Paso.

That includes a Mexican army officer and Mexican federal police inspector. Not sure what they're doing there, but probably nothing good. That's why the Special Forces guys are here, get it? To wipe out ISIS and impose martial law. So now you know, whaddya say we get back to the party and grab another beer?

It's true that the paranoid worldview of right-wing militia types has remarkable stamina. But that's not news.

What is news is that there seem to be enough of them in Texas to influence the governor of the state to react — some might use the word pander — to them.

That started Monday when a public briefing by the Army in Bastrop County, which is just east of Austin, got raucous. The poor U.S. Army colonel probably just thought he was going to give a regular briefing, but instead 200 patriots shouted him down, told him he was a liar and grilled him about the imminent federal takeover of Texas and subsequent imposition of martial law.

"We just want to make sure our guys are trained. We want to hone our skills," Lt. Col. Mark Listoria tried to explain in vain.

One wonders what Listoria was thinking to himself as he walked to his car after two hours of his life he'll never get back. God bless Texas? Maybe not.

The next day Abbott decided he had to take action. He announced that he was going to ask the Texas State Guard to monitor Operation Jade Helm from start to finish.

"It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed upon," Abbott said.

The idea that the Yankee military can't be trusted down here has a long and rich history in Texas. But that was a while back. Abbott's proclamation that he was going to keep his eye on these Navy SEAL and Green Beret boys did rub some of our leaders the wrong way.

Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst tried to put it in perspective for outsiders when he explained, "Unfortunately, some Texans have projected their legitimate concerns about the competence and trustworthiness of President Barack Obama on these noble warriors. This must stop."

Another former Republican politician was a bit more pointed.

"Your letter pandering to idiots ... has left me livid," former state Rep. Todd Smith wrote Abbott. "I am horrified that I have to choose between the possibility that my Governor actually believes this stuff and the possibility that my Governor doesn't have the backbone to stand up to those who do."

There's no argument that after the 2014 election, Texas politics took a further step to the right. The 84th session of the state Legislature has given ample proof of that. But the events of this last week have been an eye-opener for Texans of all political stripes.

You will find the names of Texans etched into marble at war memorials from Goliad to Gettysburg, from Verdun to the Ardennes and Washington, D.C. The governor's proposition that these soldiers and sailors constitute a potential threat and need watching as they go about their duties certainly stakes out some new political ground for the leader of the Texas GOP to stand on.

[JMacSr]

NPR stands for National Public Rabio. And let's just say they're desperate for attention. I'll leave it at that.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dispence]

NPR stands for National Public Rabio. And let's just say they're desperate for attention. I'll leave it at that.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Depending on the program, NPR might be the most balanced news station in the states. I listen everyday and there is always someone arguing the opposite POV on a story. ACTUAL discourse in the USA, who'd a thunk it...

CNN, a FOX news station in Oklahoma City, Breitbart and others have this story as well. I wish it was a joke Ken!

Direct from the horses mouth, the Governor himself:

http://gov.texas.gov/news/press-release/20805

[JMacSr]

Depending on the program, NPR might be the most balanced news station in the states. I listen everyday and there is always someone arguing the opposite POV on a story. ACTUAL discourse in the USA, who'd a thunk it...

CNN, a FOX news station in Oklahoma City, Breitbart and others have this story as well. I wish it was a joke Ken!

Direct from the horses mouth, the Governor himself:

http://gov.texas.gov/news/press-release/20805

Thanks for the link, that's interesting to say the least. I was hoping it was conspiracy theory reporting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ken Gargett]

wow.

given the recent signings by the cowboys, they must have endless state troops guarding the locals from the team.

[Dispence]

Thanks for the link, that's interesting to say the least. I was hoping it was conspiracy theory reporting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

^^^^

Me too brother!

FYI - LSU used to have a great NPR station. Great jazz at nights and on weekends.

There is a show on NPR called Fresh Air and almost every TV show, album, or film they discuss is as solid as they come... I've learned about some of my favorite movies and TV shows by listening.

[Ken Gargett]

i see that chuck norris has expressed concern. and praised ted cruz as apparently, if reports are to be believed (i'm still waiting for someone to jump up and declare it all a prank), he believes it as well.

so a presidential candidate believes that the current american govt could be planning to invade texas. just wow! (and before anyone thinks that this is in any way political, i'd be at least as terrified if hillary gets the nod).

[Fuzz]

This governor sounds like a right nutter. He any relation to our nutter Abbott?

[Jones]

I live in texas, every one who believes this is insane. Abbot (our governor) only issued this order to pander to the crazy right which is his base. He knows it's all bullshit.

[PaulP]

Depending on the program, NPR might be the most balanced news station in the states.

NPR is further to the left than FOX is to the right. Balanced news does not exist in the States.

[polarbear]

This sounds like the plot to some half baked Tom Clancy novel

[smokum]

Jade Helm is a multi state training excersize. I kind of doubt our military would follow some goofy order to take over Texas unless they really like Texas BBQ.

[Dispence]

NPR is further to the left than FOX is to the right. Balanced news does not exist in the States.

I would think the your equivalent might be closer to MSNBC. Other than Morning Joe, it's very liberal.

I turned my conservative leaning brother on to NPR years ago and he agreed outright that they try and show all issues of a story. He listens every day now. They always have the other side give words. I think they run stories of a more "left-leaning" influence... Things like environmental issues, immigration issues from the opposite side of what FOX might put on, but they always give multiple sides of a story. Not some talking heads, but true intelligent ideas from all sides.

I read the Guardian (left-leaning) and the Economist (conservative mag from the UK in a fiscal sense), and I feel for the most part NPR is as balanced in their journalism as these 2 newspapers are. They actually practice ethical journalism - mistakes might be made, but there are serious corrections when something goes awry.

I actually read Drudge and the National Review as well to keep myself balanced. William F Buckley was a very well spoken conservative and I loved his point of view on a number of issues.

Have you ever seen FOX apologize or retract something? They say the same thing over and over again until you believe it must be true. I wouldn't argue that the same could be said for MSNBC.

http://mediamatters.org/research/2011/03/11/npr-is-fair-conservatives-and-media-critics-def/177500

http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/174826/survey-nprs-listeners-best-informed-fox-news-viewers-worst-informed/

[wabashcr]

Couldn't find the video clip, but John Oliver hit this on his show last week. It's always something with Texas. From my perspective, this Jade Helm conspiracy can trace its roots to the same far right-wing fanaticism that thinks Obama is a secret, anti-American, terrorist sympathizing Muslim.

The fact that they think they could, even for a day, successfully fend off a determined US military with the Texas national guard, tells you everything you need to know about these people.

[...]

'Behind that mask, there is more than flesh; behind that mask, there is an idea and ideas are bullet proof'

[Duxnutz]

Texas threatening to leave the union again?!? They're really gonna be pissed when Hilary gets in...

[gr8eman]

i see that chuck norris has expressed concern. and praised ted cruz as apparently, if reports are to be believed (i'm still waiting for someone to jump up and declare it all a prank), he believes it as well.

so a presidential candidate believes that the current american govt could be planning to invade texas. just wow! (and before anyone thinks that this is in any way political, i'd be at least as terrified if hillary gets the nod).

What happened is that somehow a map used for a huge military exercise in the SW U.S. was publicized, with Texas listed as "hostile" territory. I used to conduct military exercises in Europe, and that is a huge No-No. We would make up fake maps with fake names to simulate territorial situations for training, specifically to not confuse people from different countries. Imagine, say the Croatians saw a map depicting their country as hostile while we were training with the Serbs!

You can argue that Texas is its own entity, because it was its own Republic before it became a state, but when someone published the training map which depicts them as "hostile territory", I can see why the Texas governor may have something to say!

[Ginseng]

... I feel for the most part NPR is as balanced in their journalism

I completely agree. I make it a point to survey reporting out to the left and the right and NPR is as close to non-partisan as I've encountered.They are liberalish when you look at the totality of things, but they are very balanced. That said, you just need to be aware of whether the program you're listening to is hard news (more non-part, balanced) or soft stuff (bias to liberal).

Wilkey

[Scroats]

It's all publicity. I don't know anyone that took it seriously. My liberal friends cracked jokes at the governor Amy my conservative friends did like me and just shook their heads and ignored it.

[samuelsmithbeer]

This is Jade Helm 15. In other words the 15th year this has taken place.

[Bclass1]

wow.

given the recent signings by the cowboys, they must have endless state troops guarding the locals from the team.

Those recent signings are part of the reason why Washington stays dead last in the division next year..

Definitely not trying to hijack this thread... Carry on gentlemen.

[Ken Gargett]

Those recent signings are part of the reason why Washington stays dead last in the division next year..

Definitely not trying to hijack this thread... Carry on gentlemen.

not a problem in the least.

hasn't jerry jones just renamed the stadium 'Oz'?

mind you, bit dispiriting to see that there is already a mock draft out for the 2016 draft and they give the first pick to the skins. only happen if we trade up from 32!!

[Ken Gargett]

This is Jade Helm 15. In other words the 15th year this has taken place.

i take it texas held out the first 14 times?

[joeypots]

NPR is further to the left than FOX is to the right. Balanced news does not exist in the States.

Not true. NPR is consistently found to be the most objective news in the USA. People label news that does not reenforce their bias as far right or left.

[DrunkenMonkey]

NPR is further to the left than FOX is to the right. Balanced news does not exist in the States.

I wonder who you think NPR's "left wing but more extreme" versions of Fox's Bill O'Reilley and Sean Hannity are? Are there any NPR examples of ideologically extreme personalities at all? I can't come up with one. Maybe Diane Rehm is your idea of a far-left-wing radical? LOL.