The Pentagon has had to take the step of clarifying that no, they are not about to invade the US state of Texas. There are also reports that Wal-Mart has had to clarify that no, they are not a part of a conspiracy to invade Texas.
That there is even a need for such statements is just the latest in a series of bizarre events, and comes after the state governor of Texas, and two presidential candidates, gave credence to a quickly spreading conspiracy theory predicting a US military invasion of the Lone Star State under the guise of a training drill this summer, called Jade Helm 15.
It’s gone far enough that a Pentagon spokesperson told CNN: “Jade Helm is a long planned and coordinated exercise.
“We are not taking over anything.”
There are also reports that Wal-Mart told Talking Points Memo website ""There’s no truth to the rumors."
The more extreme reaches of the right-wing of American politics has always been fertile ground for conspiracy theorists, but the latest theory has attracted a quite remarkable level of attention, and support – far beyond the usual online realms that incubate such speculation.
Thousands of Texans – from right-wing bloggers, to prominent politicians and actor Chuck Norris – have given credence to the theory that a U.S. military training exercise planned for their state is in fact a federal government plan to invade and takeover the state. It’s gone so far that Texas Governor, Greg Abbot, has ordered the State Guard to monitor the forthcoming operation.
The exercise, Jade Helm 15, is due to begin in July and span seven US states, including Texas, over the course of two months.
A map of the operation plan showed Texas labelled as ‘hostile’ territory in the training exercise, and this above any other factor has fuelled speculation that the true intentions is an invasion of the south-western United States.
The US Army says the operation is: “To stay ahead of the environmental challenges faced overseas, Jade Helm will take place across seven states. However, Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) will only train in five states: Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. The diverse terrain in these states replicates areas Special Operations Soldiers regularly find themselves operating in overseas.”
The conspiracy theorists speculate that the entire operation is a cover for an actual invasion. The predictions of impending invasion have been teamed with speculation that there has been construction of tunnels beneath abandoned Wal-Mart stores –in which recently closed Wal-Mart stores will be used as food distribution centres and bases.
Responding to citizens’ concerns, Governor Gregg Abbot called in the state guard and ordered them to monitor the federal forces to ensure Texans’ “safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed” during the operation.
And it doesn’t stop there on the political ladder. Presidential candidate Texas Senator Ted Cruz, has also given credibility to the claims, saying he understands why, with the current government, citizens might be worried.
“I understand a lot of the concerns raised by a lot of citizens about Jade Helm,” Mr Cruz said to reporters.
“It’s a question I’m getting a lot, and I think part of the reason is we have seen, for six years, a federal government disrespecting the liberty of the citizens. And that produces fear, when you see a federal government that is attacking our free speech rights, or religious liberty rights, or Second Amendment rights, that produces distrust,” he added.
Actor and martial arts expert Chuck Norris also offered his view on Jade Helm 15, saying he believes “there’s something a little more involved than what they’re telling us.”
"Whether deterrence, display of power or something more covert or devious, let's not come with any patronising nonsense of impotence and simplicity when its origin is in Washington,” Norris wrote on right-wing website WND.
"It's neither over-reactionary nor conspiratorial to call into question or ask for transparency about Jade Helm 15 or any other government activity."
The views are not taking root with the majority of Texans, but those espousing them are creating significant ripples in the political world, and that fact has worried some.
“The people of Texas, the overwhelming majority of Texans are not concerned” about a federal government invasion, said former Republican Texas state representative Todd Smith.
“What is a concern is that a tiny, tiny, tiny extreme faction of the state is getting greater and greater influence in Republican primaries, to the point of influencing the Governor’s office.
“Dealing with cranks has always been a part of running for office, but it’s the numbers and extent of it that has changed in recent years,” he added.
