The Bogeyman Is Gonna Getcha!

“Texas, our Texas..” Oh, my, is our state ever again going to be thought of as something other than a bunch of gun-toting, red-neck, conspiracy theorists? I cannot believe the flak that the upcoming multi-state military exercises named Operation Jade Helm 15 are causing in our “great” state. 

Many of these theorists were at the State Capitol recently, toting their handguns on their hips and assault rifles slung across their shoulders as our Texas Legislature was voting on the “open carry” law. (Something that deserves a good long look at as well.)  Wing nut used to be something you put on the end of a bolt to hold it in place. Now it seems that right-wing nut has pushed that definition out of use. These so-called pro-life, gun rights advocates (now that’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one) just have to keep stirring up more reasons to buy more guns.

(Photo from Texas Tribune - Yep, these are Texas citizens!)

When this past March the US Army Special Operations Command announced that they would be training with Special Forces units from other US Armed Forces (including the Green Berets, Navy SEALS, Marine Special Operations Command, and the 82nd Airborne Division) in a multi-state exercise across a five-state area from July 15 through September 15, the conspiracy theorists went crazy! Texas politicians, bowing to the rants of these conspiracy theorists, are speaking out about this operation. After all, the votes of these folks are what put them in office.

Governor Abbott directed the Texas State Guard (separate from the Texas National Guard) to monitor the operation. He wrote: “During the training operation, it is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed.” And Abbott is demanding “regular updates on the progress and safety of the Operation.”  I suppose to be on the safe side, former Governor Rick Perry - who is a presidential candidate, made a public statement that he thought "Governor Abbott went too far in raising questions about the military exercises." He trusts the military, even when you "can't trust the leadership" of our government. Maybe he's distancing himself from Texas... while still getting a shot in at Obama.

The states that were chosen for these exercises have the wide open spaces and difficult terrains that will help our military prepare for combat in other countries if needed. Some are even insinuating that these exercises are in preparation for an invasion in Iran and a Middle East-wide war. Unbelievable. According to the map they are spreading around, Texas is the equivalent of Iran.

I cannot believe citizens in the United States believe that this military exercise is a prelude to Obama's declaring Martial Law in Texas! Some have even theorized that the closing of several Walmart stores across the state is in preparation for using them as “detention centers” or even more laughable, "reeducation centers".

Presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz had to put in his two cents worth. He recently told Bloomberg Politics, "...the federal government has not demonstrated itself to be trustworthy in this administration, the natural consequence is that many citizens don’t trust what it is saying.” “I think part of the reason is we have seen, for six years, a federal government disrespecting the liberty of the citizens. That produces fear, when you see a government that is attacking our free speech rights, or Second Amendment rights, or religious liberty rights. That produces distrust.” Of course! That explains it. It’s Obama’s fault.

Then there is another conspiracy theory presented on the Agenda 21 Radio site that “These states occupy the same territory as the former territory that was Mexico, and the United States purchased following the Mexican/American War. This area is known in Mexico as Aztlan. Aztlan is the legendary ancestral home of the Aztec peoples and is being sought after by activists such as Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán or MeChA and La Raza to be returned to Mexico.” (We aren't the only country that has extremist organizations rallying for aggression.) Really? We're now preparing to defend ourselves against Mexico?

As it’s the “alternative news” sites that are having a hey day with these conspiracy theories, I checked out one of them on Rational Wiki. This one was described thus:

“Before It's News is a citizen journalism outfit, where anyone can write something and have it go up. Or at least, that was the intention, as it was promptly flooded with conspiracy theorists and is now an outlet for an 'unabashedly unhinged' take on world events and religious prophecy. The advertising is for survivalist supplies.” That can probably be said about most of the alternative news sites.

I guess a lot of the ones who are raising such an outcry about Operation Jade Helm 15 were not born yet or were still too young to remember Operation Longhorn that took place in Texas in the spring of 1952. As I was an army brat, I remember my dad was fully involved in those exercises while stationed at Fort Sam Houston. We were in the middle of the Korean "Conflict" which took place from 1950 to 1953, and my dad had been called up with a reserve unit from a small town in Texas.

OPERATION LONGHORN took place in March/April 1952, when Lampasas County, Texas was used to stage a huge mock battle between the Aggressor Force led by troops from the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C. -- and U.S. forces represented by several Army divisions from nearby Fort Hood. Dad had been assigned temporary duty to Fort Hood, and his role during these exercises was as Battalion Sergeant Major. He had been a paratrooper in World War II, but I'm not certain what he actually did during these exercises. Paratroopers were dropped into Lampasas County, Texas for a mock "takeover". We never talked about it. I do have commendations located in his military records that he received from his commander at that time. 

There is an interesting article about Operation Longhorn in the Lampasas Dispatch Record. From what I've read, there were not the paranoid conspiracy theories going around at that time. Training of our armed forces has always been necessary, and as military warfare and weapons have become more sophisticated as the years have passed, of course that will dictate how, where, etc. these training exercises take place.

(Texas Longhorn Cattle)

I also read a cute story in the Tyler Morning Telegraph about someone's grandmother who's ranch land was among the thousands of acres leased in Lampasas County for Operation Longhorn.

"Although things were explained to grandma, she was still a little fuzzy on details. On the first day of the exercise, with rain clouds blowing in, planes flew over and dropped paratroopers within sight of the house. From the porch, grandma watched with interest as they got dug in, then concern as it started to rain. 

'Go down and bring those boys up to the house,' she ordered Uncle Ernest, 'before they get soaked.'

Knowing the futility of arguing, Ernest sheepishly drove down in his pickup to see if the soldiers needed shelter. The lieutenant in charge rode back with him to personally explain to grandma why her hospitality had to be declined."

I wonder if residents of the states where Operation Jade Helm 15 takes place will show the same hospitality! Or would some, like our Texas cowboys, just pull out their six-shooters or assault rifles and start firing on the "invaders"?

Now I've joined the ranks of those who love to make fun of those with differing opinions. All I have to say is 

Peace, and don't let the bogeymen getcha!

Marilyn

P.S.
Friend, Cliffie S., sent me the following photo. This speaks well of our educational system in Texas! The school system textbooks and what they put in them (or leave out) are always controversial.