I grew up in East Texas, running around the woods, camping, hunting and generally getting into trouble. I haven’t been home in a while due to twenty-plus years in the military and now living in South Carolina, but I still have family there. From what they’re telling me, something has clearly changed from my childhood days. Jade Helm, a USASOC Realistic Military Training event, is coming to certain Texas locales, and the population is losing its mind over “sinister” implications. FEMA concentration camps, UN gun-grabbers, and anything else that can be extrapolated, has been. Why? I’ve racked my brain trying to figure out why this exercise has generated such controversy, as it’s truly confusing. How can a state that breaks its arm trying to congratulate veterans, that declared a Chris Kyle day, assume that those same service members they’ve been cheering in the Dallas Airport are now out to enslave the entire state? Truthfully, that’s what really burns me. The men who planned the exercise, and the men who will execute the exercise, are me. Texas, the land I grew up in, is basically saying I – and the men I served with – are willingly planning to round them up and put them into concentration camps. Why? How has the Internet been able to leverage such unfounded paranoia? When did we go from supporting the troops to denigrating them as oppressors?
I think it’s systemic of the divide between the 1% who serve and the 99% who never have, coupled with the Internet revolution. There are so few veterans in the population, it’s easy to convince a non-veteran that something nefarious is afoot – especially when one loony vet begins a tirade. All of the sudden, he’s the voice of reason. And with the Internet, everything becomes true.
Recently, I wrote a blog about how it was misguided for a Texas congressman to push for the MOH for Chris Kyle, and how a non-veteran doesn’t understand the implications. I think the same thing is occurring here with the civilian population, fed by a bunch of Internet trolls who claim expertise. One of the biggest is Alex Jones from InfoWars, and it’s not the first time he’s blathered on about martial law. In 1999, Special Operations Forces conducted training in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas. Hot on the scene was Alex Jones, peddling his paranoia about the Army ignoring Posse Comitatus and preparing to enslave the masses. Back then, nobody outside of a small radius in Texas listened. Now, with the internet, Jones gets a megaphone, and gets away with his outlandish proclamations precisely because there aren’t enough veterans in the local population to dispute it, while he finds a couple of loony vets to peddle his propaganda.
He’s been at it for decades (in case you didn’t know it, the Boston bombing was a “false flag attack” to allow martial law, and the Asymmetric Warfare Group’s battle lab is actually a government concentration camp just waiting on the execute order – I do a lot of work with the AWG, and that theory is so laughable I have a hard time typing it.). 1999 was a long time ago, and the mass roundups predicted by Jones in Kingsville still haven’t happened. What DID happen was that two short years later those same warriors were putting into action everything they’d learned in Texas, taking it to the enemy after 9/11. Every one of them were on my left and right, and I’m damn glad Texas allowed them to train, despite Alex Jones’ raving paranoia. And I’m glad its allowed now with Jade Helm.
For anyone who’s served a day in the military, Jade Helm is just an exercise. It’s not about martial law and rounding up firearms. It’s about training for combat. Honestly, I don’t understand how Texas can scream for the MOH for Chris Kyle, and then turn around and declare that the participants of Jade Helm are practicing to confiscate all of their guns or pattern areas for roundup. Do they think for a minute that Chris Kyle would have participated in such a training event? No? Then why do they think his teammates would? That’s who’s coming to Texas. Navy SEALs, among other Special Operations Forces. How can Marcus Luttrell – who lives in Texas – be treated with such adulation, and yet the men he fought and trained alongside now be derided as evil? It’s schizophrenic, and the theories are absolutely crazy.
One of the worst is that WalMart has closed five stores in Jade Helm areas in preparation for practicing re-education camps. Just think of that for a moment. WalMart, the very symbol of capitalism, a company that has been fighting the present administration since day one, has now decided to CLOSE five stores in an administration conspiracy to allow them to be used for fascist purposes? It’s insane. (As a side note, on the “only poor kids fight our nation’s wars” fallacy, John Walton – the son of the founder Sam Walton – fought in Vietnam with MACVSOG on a Special Forces recon team).
Jade Helm type training events have been going on for a long, long time – way before the Internet had a global audience. At a Bastrop “town hall”, USASOC gave a briefing to quell all of the fears. One man said, “It’s the same thing that happened in Nazi Germany…”
Ridiculous. I promise that man isn’t a vet, but he does bring up an interesting connection to Jade Helm: In 1943, when Nazi Germany was actually a threat, the first mass tactical parachute operation was conducted near the town of Camden, South Carolina, in preparation for D-Day. The townsfolk came out and cheered on the paratroopers as they practiced invading the Fatherland. Lucky for them, they were in South Carolina. If they had jumped in Texas, with Alex Jones and an Internet bullhorn, they’d have been shot coming down under canopy.
The divide between the lack of veterans’ experiences in the local population has popped up in other areas. CNN breathlessly reported that the National Guard, in official orders, had called the Ferguson protestors “enemy forces”, which spun the left up into a tizzy much like is happening in Texas. If anyone at CNN had served a day in the military, they would have recognized that the term came from the 5 paragraph Operations Order, which is standard throughout the Army. The first paragraph is Situation, which is broken down into two parts: 1. Friendly Forces – what assets you have to complete the mission, who’s on your left and right, etc. 2. Enemy Forces – who is opposing you. The threat. It wasn’t a nefarious decision made by the National Guard because they were out to attack the protestors. It was simply the Operations Order format that has been around since WW II. In fact, when deployed for hurricane relief, the National Guard puts the weather itself into the Enemy Forces paragraph. No word yet whether the Almighty has shit a brick over that.
The military has routinely conducted training outside military reservations precisely because such training is more realistic, especially for Special Operations Forces. You can only assault the same broken-down concrete building on post before it loses its training value. Trust me, we’d much rather train in Yemen, but that’s a little bit problematic. For this reason, Robin Sage, the culmination exercise for the Special Forces Qualification Course, is conducted almost entirely off Fort Bragg, in the surrounding towns. The activities in that exercise could definitely be misconstrued as some UN roundup, but the townspeople don’t seem to freak out over it. Why? Because they’re mostly veterans. Jade Helm put out an official powerpoint – which has since been construed in all manner of ways as the spawn of the devil – and some have asked why they “advertised” it at all. The reason is that the local authorities have to be involved, read on, and willing. Otherwise terrible things can happen, as Robin Sage found out. In 2002 (yes, a RMT event from over a decade ago) a sheriff’s deputy pulled over a couple of Special Forces students participating in the exercise, dressed in civilian clothes. He found their military issued weapons and became suspicious. The students thought it was part of the exercise, as several role players are in fact the police. Long story short, things escalated until both students were shot, with one being killed, all because of a lack of communication.
One of the sticking points is that Texas has been labeled “hostile” for the exercise, which has led many a conspiracy buff to believe that the military did that because that’s what they believe. It’s not. Somone’s got to be hostile, I mean it’s a war-game after all. “Pineland”, the fictional country for Robin Sage, is also “hostile”, but nobody in North Carolina seems to get their panties in a knot over it. Camden, South Carolina took great pride in being the “hostile” town the 82nd Airborne parachuted into – holding a ceremony to commemorate the jump seventy years later. Trust me, nobody in the military thinks Texas is hostile. It’s just an exercise.
What’s ironic is that Texas was chosen precisely because the population is supportive of the military. I have had exercises canceled in other areas because the population was – to put it bluntly – military haters. In the words of the official PowerPoint, “The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has conducted numerous exercises in Texas, because Texans are historically supportive of efforts to prepare our soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors to fight the enemies of the United States.” (Emphasis mine)
Which brings up the final truth: Marcus Luttrell endured a hellish ordeal, and the lessons he brought home are being incorporated into training events today. Chris Kyle lamented that the only thing he regretted was the men he couldn’t save. On both counts, exercises such as this help hone our Special Operations Forces for battle, and Jade Helm may be the one that prevents someone’s death.
In World War II people gave up the necessities of life to allow the men to fight, rationing butter and meat, and allowing their towns to serve as vital training grounds for the assault on Fortress Europe against the greatest threat known to man. In the Global War on Terror, it’s the opposite. Even though the threat is just as bad, the ideology just as extreme, people don’t care. Screw that “sacrifice” thing. You guys go fight. I’ll drink my latte and tune in to Alex Jones, railing about how you’re really trying to enslave me.
Sacrifice is a lost virtue known only to the very veterans training for the fight. We don’t give anything but a flippant “thank you for your service”, meeting our obligation while storming Bastrop, Texas to accuse those same veterans of evil intentions. Far from sacrificing anything of value, we don’t even want the military to train in private lands we don’t own.
In the end, the exercise will be conducted, and no civilians will be rounded up. The Walmarts will remain closed (or reopen tomorrow – who knows?), and the UN convoys will never be seen. Alex Jones will move on to another conspiracy, more than likely involving the military like he’s been doing since at least 1999. All that will truly happen is that the lessons learned from the experiences of Texas heroes Luttrell, Kyle, and others will be passed on to a new generation of fighters. Hard fought lessons that might be needed to prevent the very fears being promulgated by an over-zealous Internet rumor pipeline.
For me, I thank God that the Internet wasn’t as prominent in Texas in 1999. And I know for a fact that bad guys in Afghanistan and Iraq feel the exact opposite.
Update 2 May
1. A lot of the comments I have received revolve around a lack of trust in the current administration, and I can completely understand this, but the feeling is misguided when applied to Jade Helm. For one, USASOC is a small subset of the United States Army, and an even smaller subset of the overall Department of Defense. The administration had nothing to do with the conception, planning or execution of Jade Helm. That is done by people like me. Speaking of that, a lot of folks seem to think that when you join the military you trade in every value you’ve ever known and now blindly kill whatever you’re told to point your weapon at, as if the SOF Operators are all taking blue pills like Jason Bourne. That was a movie. This is reality. Texas is the number one producer of recruits for the Armed Services. Do we really think that all of those recruits tossed aside everything they learned about duty and honor, and are now prepared to do something nefarious in their own hometown? I served under three presidents, and to suggest that my moral compass shifted after each election is morally repugnant to me and incorrect.
2. On social media and emails I was asked why the exercise has to happen off post anyway. Up front, I’ll say I haven’t had a detailed briefing on Jade Helm. I haven’t seen the OpOrders or synch matrices, but from what little I have seen, and having planned and executed a plethora of exercises like Jade Helm, here’s what I think: They are training for low visibility operations in foreign urban terrain, thus the intermingling with the civilian population. Doing it on a military post defeats the purpose, as the Operators are in their comfort zone. Putting them in an unfamiliar city full of strangers allows them to learn behaviors that will save their life when they’re being hunted in an urban environment overseas. It also enhances their problem solving. Believe it or not, this sort of thing happens all the time. While teaching at The Citadel, I designed and executed an adaptive leadership exercise for Cadets where I placed them – in civilian clothes – inside the city of Charleston for a week, executing tasks, meeting timelines, and solving problems. The unfamiliar environment – away from what they knew of The Citadel – enhanced the learning. And yes, I had to brief law enforcement, the mayor, and the city council on the plan. Far from stating it was nefarious, LE actually participated, giving the Cadets a “problem” with arrest.
For people who still refuse to believe those two points, I’ll just throw out two more tidbits:
1. Every LE organization, town council, and city hall in every state planned for Jade Helm approved it. Are they also in on a grand conspiracy, or did they see that it was exactly what it professed to be: A SOF exercise.
2. Texas has the largest military base in the United States (Fort Hood). If the military was truly planning something nefarious, why would they bother telegraphing that by briefing Jade Helm all over the state? Why not use a military post located in the center of the state, not saying a word about it? A post where people are used to seeing soldiers on a daily basis? Logically, it makes no sense unless Jade Helm is exactly what it professes: An exercise.
Finally, some have taken offense and claimed I was “disgusted” with Texas, reading in some personal insult. This couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s precisely because I’m from Texas that I wrote the blog. If it had been another state, I would have shrugged and said, “Wow, are they off base. Glad I don’t live there.” Because I DO know the state and its historical support for the military, I was surprised and chagrined to see the uprising about Jade Helm. It confused me. My wife is from Fort Worth. My inlaws live in Dallas and Austin. My mother and sister still live in East Texas. I could no more be disgusted with Texas than I could be disgusted with them. Actually, I’ll give you a dirty little secret: Growing up in Texas, I hated being asked where I was born, because native Texans take that to heart. I was born on Okinawa, Japan, while my dad was fighting in Vietnam. I should have been proud of that, but instead, it was drilled into me that I was not a “native” Texan. Because of it, I became more staunchly Texan than anyone else. That sounds stupid, but try being a child in grade school in a small Texas town. Others reading this will scoff, but you Texans know what I mean. My first memory of life was from Texas, so if you want to accuse me of no longer understanding – as one radio show host did in Texas – that’s your right. But it’s simply not true. Actually, I’ve wasted words here. Just go tell my sister I’m not a Texan. Then pick your ass up off the pavement when she clocks you. If you still have some fight left, you’ll see her husband. He’ll be the guy in the beard with the Harley. Whose son is in the U.S. Army.
Update 3 May
Here’s a great example of the lack of understanding of the military. As I answered in a comment below, the name Jade Helm is just a random association of words spit out by a computer. It’s done on every exercise and actually, even on real world missions – unless the real world mission is going to get national attention. Operation Just Cause in Panama was known as Blue Spoon before the bullets started flying. I’m sure someone could laboriously create what B.L.U.E. S.P.O.O.N. stood for, but they’d be making it up out of whole cloth. It stood for two things spit out of a computer: BLUE. SPOON. I used to conduct exercises in Thailand that were called Baker Tepid and Balance Torch. Now, some idiot on the internet has “deciphered” the secret of what Jade Helm “means”. Trust me, this is incorrect and just another example of how the internet can fan the flames. The name Jade Helm is just as innocuous as the exercise itself. It’s just two randomly picked words.
True – and sad. Your paragraph regarding the lost ideal of “sacrifice” really resonates. We’ve turned into an entitled population of “militant narcissists” and I don’t see us veering from that path. The internet has allowed self-proclaimed “experts” like Alex Jones to preach their sermons of paranoia and conspiracy to a congregation that is all too eager to believe and too lazy to pursue any critical thinking of their own. These morons that spew 9/11 Truth, Sandy Hook, and Jade Helm conspiracy fantasies are (in my opinion) sad little people whose own lives are so devoid of any real purpose that they latch on to this supposed “inside” information in an effort to bolster their own pathetic egos. Their actions and the ignorant positions the espouse border on treasonous in my book.
Well, I, for one, am happy to see this rebuttal to all the information floating around the internet. Thank you. And I have often wondered WHY our military would carry out such nefarious deeds against their own family, friends and the people of their nation. That said…in the wake of O’Traitor being “questionably elected” POTUS, his communist family history, his 20 year membership to a “God Damn America” church, his “wife’s” shame for America, both of their backgrounds in corruption (she lost her law license in lieu of fraud charges)…oh let’s see…the list goes on and on and on! Fast forward to O’Traitors despicable treachery over the years…saying all the tight things to propel him forward…until he got where “they” wanted him. Now he is singing a completely different tune that is NOT constitutional in any way, shape or form. It is subversive at best…TRAITOROUS if one is realistic. Not only that…he has eliminated ALL of the military high command that could oppose him. One of my biggest questions IS…how can our military allow this to happen??? When our military command is hijacked and replaced with subversive grunts willing to lock step to the commanders will…what are we supposed to think? When our POTUS and his appointed staff work diligently to foment racial dissent and hostility…what are we supposed to think? Again, I thank you for your equalizing input. God bless you and all our military and vets!
Seriously, you’re going to call me and others like me subversive grunts willing to lock step in service to a traitor and THEN turn around and ask for God’s blessing on us?
Dude, you need to get a grip. Also, look at logistics.
Your post wreaks of ignorance Sorry but you are spreading the usual mistruths. Study the topic sincerely before splattering nonsense please
I am a disabled veteran. My government takes care of me for my service to my country. I can never nor will never speak I’ll of the country or government I love! People are freaking out over all the internet chatter and not putting faith in the fact that our government protects us against threats foreign and domestic. There will always be structure in our government and time tested chain of command that has not broken. Believe in America and always do your part.
Whatever is said on the internet, I am glad it exists, it is inevitably full of lies and truths but is not owned and controlled by a few trillionaires as is the TV and mainstream press.
I have always considered myself a critical thinker who questions everything and believes nothing. I try not to consider every event as a conspiracy or all questioning as conspiracy theories. However as someone who has worked as a blacksmith and knows about steel and as an ironworker and knows how high rise buildings are constructed. I knew 911 was a vast conspiracy the instant I saw the south tower fall. There is no remotely plausible explanation as to how a jet plane could have brought down the towers (which were designed to withstand a 747 hit) and melt most of the steel leaving a lake of molten steel underground for a month. Only thermite can do this and it was found throughout the debris. Obviously the ironworkers who worked at ground zero were not buying the official story either and had some of the dust independently tested abroad, thus proving it was a controlled demolition. Without the internet, information like this would never be available. we would all be on the mushroom diet ie, kept in the dark and fed shit. Of course over consumption of certain mushrooms can cause paranoia, just like the internet, but life without it would be far worse.
As for Jade helm, I can’t comment as I know nothing of the military. I found myself on this site because i looked it up on the internet. I have heard Jones take on it, my instincts tell me Brad Taylor is more qualified to talk about it, being a military insider. I hope he’s right, but after 911 I’ll never trust any government federal or local or anyone who works for one till the day I die. period.
Joe – I totally agree.
Joe/Terri-
Please don’t ever get together and reproduce. Even stupid has a critical mass, and you two just might reach it.
Well said, Chris B, well said…….
Sorry Brad, but you’re a little mixed up, this has nothing to do with Texans trusting or holding dear the Military, this has to do with our trust of the Government, yes, we don’t trust the government. And they ultimately have the final say. If you don’t know that, you’re way out of touch. And, show we when our special forces participated in a training exercise of this magnitude, within and around “cities”. I’ll wait for the final analysis but I’ll also don’t trust what someone says just because they spent 20 years in the military, and yes I was in the military as well.
Yeah, I’m mixed up and out of touch. Okay. I’m assuming, since you commented as a reply here, that you believe 9/11 was an inside job. If so, we’re done talking. If not, for the record, I’ve participated in MULTIPLE exercises in the state of Texas in and around cities. I cited one that made the news in my blog, with Alex Jones ranting about martial law from over a decade ago. I’ve done exercises in cities all over the United States for decades, as have most of SOCOM. It has nothing to do with 20 years in the military. It has EVERYTHING to do with 20 years conducting exercises just like this. As for the “magnitude”, the footprint is nothing like everyone is paranoid of. You’re talking about a couple hundred guys at any given time. It’s a little over a 1000 spread out over four states and two months. Yes, the exercise is robust in theory, but each component is no bigger than a plethora of exercises before. Please read the 800 comments below this, because I’m not going to repeat again how this exercise has absolutely nothing to do with the present administration, trust or no trust. And actually, it has EVERYTHING to do with not trusting the military for no damn reason whatsoever. I appreciate your service, but, while in uniform, if you would actually come back to your state and start rounding up guns, then you served in a different military than me.
Brad is it your contention that US military has never participated in mass round up of fire arms ? I to am a vet. I also remember having to straighten young soldiers out about the Constitution and what it says during scenario based training.
My contention is fairly basic, although several commenters before you want to drag it one way or the other. It is simply this: Jade Helm is a USASOC Special Operations Exercise, and nothing more. It’s not a mass roundup of weapons, a conspiracy for FEMA camps, a collusion with Walmart, or anything else. It’s just an exercise. As for the soldiers participating, they aren’t young troops straight out of basic training. They’re experienced SEALs, Special Forces, and MARSOC (now Raiders).
Chris,
I WILL tell you when such operations take place in MAJOR urban & populated areas…..EVERY 6 MONTHS x 2…..that’s when. The Marine Corps conducts a “TRUEX” (Training in an Urban Environment)every 6 months as part of the MEU work-up training package to become “special operations capable” qualified. During TRUEX the MSPF/Maritime Raid Force (the Force Reconnaissance Platoon) conducts direct action raids and assaults of urban fixed positions. These unit(s) may not be part of JSOC specifically, but this training has been OCCURRING FOR DECADES….in EVERY MAJOR CITY you can think of….: Chicago, Houston, Charlotte, Baltimore, Dallas, Atlanta,
Get a GRIP man. The media spin the population up like damn marionettes with puppets when they spew trash like this. It is a regular and nightly occurrence to watch the major new channels insidiously & subtly publish stories like this just for the SENSATIONALISM AND RATINGS THEY GENERATE.
FIND BETTER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.
By the way, if you don’t trust the gov’t ….VOTE new politicians into office.
Thanks for calming my fears Chris. USA USA!!!
Great Blog, and well said. I would hesitate to give these Jade-Helm conspiracy nuts too much credit though. While I have heard chatter about it here and there, I have met NOBODY who takes it seriously enough to dig in and arm up, or perhaps flee. That tells me that even those that are chattering do not believe it. Its analogous to some loud mouth rattling off “facts” about the moon landing being fake. People may listen, or even asked questions, but nobody believe him.
Well said, folks in this country doesn’t trust the federal government, I agree with you I also participated in various excercises throughout my 22 years of service.
Hey Brad, great commentary & analysis. Also, a great clarification for the less-experienced, vet & non-vet alike. When I served [ODC & Co D (S&S), 5/19 SFG(A), 80’s & 90’s], I never witnessed negative/uncooperative behaviors from any local/citizen source, to include any state/county/municipal public safety entity. Always prepped with clear & appropriate communications, and the results were respect, consent, trust, and pleasant relationships with the “indiginous personnel.” THANKS, & btw, please keep writing great stories! PS: could Alex Jones possibly understand & accept that most, okay, ALL who are able to maintain a membership in a USSF/USSOC org actually do take the words “de Oppresso Liber” to heart?
Most people don’t hate the military or veterans, unless you’re a screaming liberal. But very few people trust or believe a U.S. Gov’t that has lied to us for many years. We have a congress and executive branch along with the IRS, DOJ and banking industry that are proven to be corrupt and self-serving almost beyond belief. Almost daily a new lie or theft is uncovered.
So yes, everything our current government is involved in is suspect. It’s really quite simple. Want us to believe and support you? Start telling the truth and stop our so-called political ‘leaders’ from pitting us against each other for political gain.
If by “believe and support YOU” you mean USASOC, they’ve done nothing but tell the truth. It’s others who twist the words and refuse to believe the truth when it’s given. Sorry, but DOD doesn’t run the IRS, DOJ, or the banking industry. You want to rail against them, I’m right there with you, but don’t conflate the US Military with every other government organization. Would you lump in your local firehouse into that equation? Refuse to let them train because the IRS or DOJ is screwed up? Why not? They’re part of the giant government conspiracy as well.
Notice the rank and title of ADM McRaven when he ordered the destruction of requested documents pertaining to the bin Laden raid. Today, McRaven is the Chancellor at the University of Texas and is best known for denying and hiding financial and admissions records from the UT Board of Regents.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/pentagon-destruction-of-bin-laden-death-photos/
U.S. Special Operations Commander, Admiral William McRaven ordered his subordinates to “destroy” any photos they may have had “immediately.” Judicial Watch had filed a FOIA request for the photos 11 days earlier.
McRaven’s order was first mentioned at the end of a 2011 draft reportby the Pentagon’s inspector general (IG) examining whether the Obama administration gave special access to Hollywood executives planning the film “Zero Dark Thirty.” According the draft report, “ADM McRaven also directed that the names and photographs associated with the raid not be released. This effort included purging the combatant command’s system of all records related to the operation and providing these records to another Government Agency.” The reference to the document purge did not appear in the final IG report.
Does destroying and purging combatant records and then scrubbing the IG’s report count as having “done nothing but tell the truth”?
A. Your statement is incorrect on many points, but I’m not going to debate them here, as it’s classified. Suffice to say, just because you say ADM McRaven did something doesn’t make it so, anymore than Judicial Watch saying there’s an ISIS camp across the border from El Paso makes it true (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/nationworld/mexico/20150418-mexican-border-town-scoffs-at-terrorist-cell-report.ece) For the record, ADM McRaven was my boss, and I’m a UT alumni, so I’m sure that’ll cause some fits.
More importantly, B. What on earth does this have to do with USASOC doing “nothing but tell the truth”? In your extensive research/experience, you do realize that ADM McRaven is Navy, and USASOC is Army, right? But I guess since they’re all military, it’s okay to extrapolate a conspiracy theory from UT to an Army exercise. The next thing I’m going to hear is that the military had a presence on the grassy knoll in Dallas in ’63. And by the way, I’m not “Really really burned”, as you said on Elephant Radio today (30 APRIL 15). I just think this is a little ridiculous. Sorry you don’t get to see the Ranger drop at Camp Bullis. But that doesn’t make it evil. And to be clear: I’m not “chastising” Texans, nor am I “disgusted” with Texas, but I appreciate you psychoanalyzing me, to include the fact that since I no longer live there, I have not a clue. Questions about Jade Helm are fine. In fact, the questions came out precisely because USASOC fully briefed the exercise to appropriate LEO and town councils. Nobody ever said “nothing to see here, move along”, and nobody has tried to hide anything. What’s perplexing to me is that even when given all the information, people are inclined to discount it, looking for the grassy knoll instead. All I’m saying is “This is Jade Helm. Period. It’s not nefarious.” If the exercise is designed for some nefarious reason, why is it that every city council that was briefed approved it in all of the locations in Texas? Are they also in on the plan? I appreciate you stating that Special Forces are the oath keepers. If you had bothered to check my bio, you would see that I am, in fact, Special Forces.
If you’d actually like to talk to me, instead of shooting me in the back on your radio show, I’d be willing to do that.
This whole thing is an embarrassment to Texas. I am former Air Force, UT grad and a liberal. My father was National Guard for over 30 years and my uncle served at Bastogne. McRae was not Chancellor when the records controversy arose at UT…the complaints were about Bill Powers then UT President (Cimarron was chancellor). Now we are frightened of USASOC, did anyone bother to be frightened by the US Army presence at Ft Hood? What about Bliss? The US Army has entire armored division sitting in the middle of the state. I am so embarrassed. Go Bill! Please straighten these idiots out. I am proud of our military and all who serve.
As retired member of the military and Low Observable Tech that has years of experience in SAR related matters, the only thing I can say about Jade Helm is that many of the players that I know that are going to be in it are as confused as the public is, why ?, because they don’t even know what this exercise is really about and so comes the confusion.
My only answer to why people are suspect , is because in recent years we have been getting some very mixed messages from our Government and it seems the goal has been to pit Americans against each other and I really have no answer to as of why, but it is pretty evident that this is happening.
Also I would like to point out that yes, indeed the Department of the Navy will be involved in this exercise, not just the Army as stated before, The Marines are playing a very large role in this exercise also.
Thanks for the comment! But for the sentence about the Navy playing in Jade Helm, it’s clearly stated in my Blog. Not sure what you meant by “as stated before”, because I never stated that.
Listening to you speak, I have to assume that you believe ALL governments (local, state, county, federal) and military personnel are ALL corrupt and capable of evil….right??
I mean as you said, “almost daily a new lie or theft is uncovered” ……you seriously live in a WORLD OF FEAR spurred by the media (alittle) and your own mind (mostly).
You probably believed that preacher who said the “rapture was coming” too right? Or what about that Mayan calendar and the world colliding with the sun??
How do you get out of bed every day????
Get some med’s my friend.
Well. I sit here and don’t quite know what to say after reading this. . I live in Bastrop and my husband was at the town meeting. We were both suspicious about Jade Helm. Neither one of us have anything to do with Alex Jones. We both think he’s a nut. But anyway, I’m sitting here trying to figure out why I am so distrustful of what is going on with this exercise. I,love our military and respect them so much. So, what’s my deal, I ask. In my mnd, why have I separated my military guys from this operation. They ARE the same. After some serious thought I just don’t trust the President. I don’t feel our Commander In Chief has my best interests at heart. It’s crazy. I wouldn’t have given Jade Helm two thoughts if it was a different President. I deeply apologize to you, the U.S. Military, for distrusting you even for a minute because of that man. I shouldn’t have let him put a wedge between you and the people you protect. Thank you so much for writing this. I am sending it to all my friends. Signed–a changed mind.
Thank you for this response.
My first time here on your webpage forum, and all I can say is WOW…..
Either your forum was just overrun by paranoid conspiracy theorists…or there really are a lot more people spun up about this media generated garbage than I ever thought. I must be an optimist to think clearer heads and common sense will prevail — and that most people won’t buy into this stuff. (And then reality hits me when I am reminded that there are ALOT of people who really believe Hillary would make a good President.)
Love your books. A lot of people attempt to write in the same genre, but few do so realistically. Flynn, Berenson, and YOU; all different but very well done. Quite a few others (I won’t be insulting and give names) try and fail producing only comic-book, super-hero, “HALO” trash best meant for a 6th grader…..and that’s not meant as a knock on 6th graders. Even Clancy’s last few books before he passed—with the “new” characters were not stellar. I certainly hope that other readers duly recognize the “quality” of research/work you employ when you do things like relate a story’s premise back to the unbelievably heroic Cambodia/Laotian SOG missions of Vietnam.
Keep up the great work and I will keep buying.
As Reagan said, “trust, but VERIFY”.
As a WWII vet, thank you for your service. Myself, as a vet of both the Cold War and the War on Terror, I find it insulting that you would compare me to the USSR. That’s what today’s citizen feels about the modern day military? They can only be trusted as much as the USSR under Reagan? Thanks. I’m so glad I served. As for verify, by all means, verify, verify, verify. USASOC has nothing to hide. Verify doesn’t mean “Prevent the exercise from happening”.
Brad Taylor, first, thank you for serving out Country. I deeply respect those who are in service or whom have served in our Military. Thank you for writing and posting this as well, it is very straight forward My maternal Grandfather served in WWI and WWII, My Father served in the Navy and an Uncle in the Marines, Korean Era, my husband was a Navy Sea Bee, Viet Nam Era. He did not go to Nam but he spent 15 mo. int the middle of the Indian Ocean, at the time it was a secret mission. A building project, it is now being used as a re-fueling and munitions base, Diego Garcia. My brother seved Navy out of Norfolk, Viet Nam Era. My son served 6 years Air Force out of Tyndale, a munitions specialist and is now serving Iowa Air Guard. All of them enlisted men. I am proud of my families Military service. I say all of this because I want you to know I am not anti- Military. I am however anti-Obama administration, I have many reasons but, the ones that I will mention here are the actions of this administration against our Constitution and out Bill of Rights as in using the Supreme Court to force law, as in Obamacare. Which is really a non law that is being enforced by an unconstitutional administration. There are many other unconstitutional actions I won’t go into now but could argue them if need be. It is the threats that have been made by this administrationn against our 2nd amendment rights that I am most concerned with in this writing. I stand on this; our 2nd amendment rights “Shall not be Infringed” the main reason for this right to bear armes is to be able to keep the government in check. In other words if it, the government, should become so corrupt or tyranical that the people find the need to remove or change it., they can do so. The governmenrt is not our athourity, we are the athours of this government. Our Founders were anyway and, they saw fit to make sure we could be a free people even if we had a government to provide order by Constitutional consent and rule. Our Bill of Rights however are our guarentee that the government can not, should not be able to rule the people by force. The real concern now is that this dministration is trying to disarm us and they are convincing many through various methods that is is a good idea. This administration has gone to great effort to promote the the people that are Constitutionalist or our Veterans and the Oath Keepers and the Tea Party as a threat or an enemy. They, the administration, have spent multi millions to store up amo in the various governmental departments, like the DHS and others that are involved in government control now, why? Obama himself said he wanted to build up his own private military, not our Military, his own. JADE HELM 15 an exercise as you have clearified for us, is happening at a time when people are very concerned about the over reach of the President and his lack of respect for our Constitution and our Bill of Rights and our Congress. His administration and it’s various departments have labeld many American citizens as radicals and a threat but has not done so with the real threat such as radical Islam or the illegals flooding our boarders. So when Americans are called the real threat and the real threatis not called a threat, as well as the purge of our Military leaders that we have seen. Is it any wonder that we the people might be concerned about what this administration is really up to? Now I believe that our own Military does not want to do anything bad to our own citizens, I know some of them and they assure me they do not want to and I believe them and you Brad Taylor. What about the big push for amnesty for illegals and the suggestion of some in leadership are making that a way to citizenship could be to allow these illegals into the Military? What about the deliberate cow towing to Muslims and their freedoms and beliefs, while at the same time restricting Christian beliefs, such as speaking the name Jesus Christ ? We know tha Obama is bringing into this Country more Muslims daily. These things are not peoples imagination, these kinds of things are happening some in the Military and most in our society in general. These things are real cause for concern and I happen to be one of tose concerned about them. How about the UN arms treaty that would overide our 2nd amendment if this administration has it’s way? I think what I and many people relly want to know is, if that kind of treaty is accepted by this administration and becomes the so called law, unconstitutionaly I might add. This administration will want to use that treaty to disarm us. The question is, who will they use to try and do so? That treaty is not a conspiracy, it is real and this administration is willing to accept it and that is a real threat to us and our soveriegnty. I do not think our concerns about this is crazy, I am not crazy.. .
Oops sorry for some of the misspellings in my post above, I noticed them after posting and could not edit them.
I hear you, and understand. Believe me, I understand. All I want is our SOF Operators to live in a firefight against the very terrorist you – and I – fear. The fight against the administration is not this one. The fight here is misguided. All this is is an exercise to ensure our – OUR – operators survive to defend the very rights you profess.
Focus on the fact that the people who are supposed to be doing this are the regular people who are in the military. You can’t reason with the kind of silliness that Diane C is spouting. It’s too far from a rational point of view. All you can do is point to the individuals who comprise the military and say “These are the people who you are at once both praising as the god loving keepers of all things right in the world and at the same time calling them the devil incarnate. Make a choice, and stick with it.”
Thank you Diane, I agree with everything you have said, and everyone I know has the same concerns.
I don’t think I am crazy and I know that everyone I know isn’t either.
Nobody has said that the .mil can’t train, or that we don’t as a rule support the troops. You asked why people don’t believe what the gov’t says, and why outlandish (and some that aren’t quite so outlandish) conspiracy theories get the traction they do. And I have given you the probable reasons. Believe them or don’t. No, the DOD doesn’t run the IRS or the DOJ, or the DHS or the congress or the white house. But the same self serving political hacks and shameless opportunists, many considered to be traitorous liars, that do also control the military. The top echelons are no longer controlled by the likes of Patton and MacArthur, neither does John Wayne or Kirk Douglas.
Nowhere in my blog did I ask why people don’t trust the government as a whole. I asked why Texas doesn’t trust the military. Period. And yes, EVERYWHERE people are precisely saying we can’t train. You’ve extrapolated it to the overall government because you want to vent, but this answer is precisely why people need to be educated on how the military runs. This exercise was created by the United States Army Special Operations Commmand (USASOC), a small subset of the Army, and an even smaller subset of the overall DoD. The administration had nothing to do with the inception, planning or execution of Jade Helm, and neither does the “top echelon”. It’s just a SOF exercise. Period. As I said above, going crazy over Jade Helm because the IRS targeted conservative groups makes as much sense as going after your local fire department when they want to train. .
Mr. Taylor I find it somewhat offense that you find all of us so offense. Why have we had any reason in the last 6 plus years to trust anything we are told. The administration has lied to the American people in every way possible. I no longer believe a single word that comes out of Obama or any of the others lips. Obama has seen to it that over a hundred of the top military leaders have been force to retire or quit. Way to many of the ones left either cow to him or see things the way he does. He is doing everything in his power to rid himself or every possible American service man or woman and put illegals in their place who will be completely loyal to him and the Democratic party. I know from personal experience that do the slightest thing and you will be boot out of the arm forces, my nephew, who loved the army, was done that way. I believe Obama will do any underhand, dishonest, disloyal, illegal thing he can to destroy this country. I would like to believe our military would not follow him and would even stop him. However I have seen nothing to indicate that will be the case. Obama calls it his military when I thought it was the American military, but I have seen nothing coming from anyone in command to make me feel that is the way they see it or to do anything but back up this lawless commander in chief. When they make me will safe in my country again, then maybe I will once again trust the military my dad fought for in WW2, my granddad fought for in WW1. But right now I have seen nothing to make me feel safe for myself, my children, or my grandchildren and nothing you have said in your loyalty to the military have made me feel that your loyalty is the same to the American people. You stand solidly behind the military, when will you stand solidly behind the American people so that we might believe you and once again feel safe in our country. I am sorry you are so disappointed in the Texas people and the injustice you feel we are giving the military. I have always support America’s military and have been so proud of all who have served. I hope someday I can once again feel that they will always protect the America people and support us and not a lawless administration.
If you feel so strongly about it, I’d suggest you demand the closing of Fort Hood and Fort Bliss instead of worrying about a simple exercise. Clearly, they’re a danger to your way of life. And how dare you say that my loyalty is greater to the Military than it is to the American people. That was PRECISELY the point of the blog. They’re one and the same. For some reason, people like you who have never served seem to think that you trade in your personal values when you join the military. That’s not the case. As I said to another person who commented, I served under three different presidents. To suggest that my moral compass shifted after each election is a disservice to me and anyone who’s worn the uniform. Maybe that’s how you would act, but I find it morally repugnant and not how I was raised. In TEXAS.
The military, its personnel, its bases, and its training evolutions are not your enemy.
The government may be from the sounds of it, but JADE HELM is merely TRAINING.
The US military has been doing this for DECADES with little to fanfare or problem…EVER.
It’s not the military that’s is being distrusted, it’s the Government, not to mention some higher ranking military members that have made comments as to wanting to disarm Americans.
It’s about the Military being tricked by our Government to believe they are doing one thing when they may be actually doing something else.
I think the issue that Brad is missing is that more than anything it’s an issue of trust. Perhaps the reason that so many are now quick to jump on “conspiracy theory” is because of the total lack of trust in what our government has become and what it just might do.
While Brad has some very valid points, we might also point out that the military has been getting “culled” for 5 years now in the application of the “litmus test”. Whether or not a soldier will stand on their oath to preserve, defend and protect the Constitution or follow the orders of their Commander-in-Chief. We had this “litmus test” confirmed by an Army Lt. Col friend of ours that was forced to retire because he repeatedly made it known he supported and affirmed an oath to our Constitution. Most of our upper-mid-level command structure has now been “culled” of those not willing to follow whatever orders are given by the Commander-in-Chief… constitutional or otherwise. While I would still hope, as Brad points out, that most of our military are still patriots and would fight for our Constitution… I’m not so sure about the command structure these days who seem to be more GLBT liberals than anything else.
The bottom line is again, it’s all about trust…. do you trust your government today? If you do, you’re a blind fool because I can’t remember the last time our government did anything that could be said to have instilled trust.
But in reality, we, as civilians, have little real knowledge of what’s going on with Jade Helm other than what we’ve seen and read on the internet… and yes, we agree with Brad, about 120% of what’s on the internet can’t be trusted either.
Bottom line.. whatever the goals, reasons, etc. for Jade Helm, there’s really nothing much we as citizens can do about it… but we remain vigilant… VERY vigilant as we would contend is the responsibility of EVERY liberty loving citizen.
Only time will tell what the outcomes will be… and it could be at least an interesting summer.
,
I agree completely on the trust issue, but disagree wholeheartedly on the “litmus test”. That is absolutely false and I’d challenge your friend to contact me personally about how and why he was “forced to retire”. I have never, ever been asked about a “litmus test”, and I have re-enlisted hundreds of soldiers. Each time, I – and your friend – swore an oath is to “Support and defend the constitution of the United States.” Period. To “hope” that “most” of the military are “still” patriots is exactly what I’m talking about. I served under three presidents. To infer that my moral compass shifted after each election is a gross disservice to me and to anyone who’s served. It’s revolting and completely counter to how I was raised. In Texas.
http://personalliberty.com/texas-ranger-drops-jade-helm-bombshell-there-are-trains-with-shackles-on-them/
I believe that JADE-HELM 15 is here. No it is not just a name they came up with…GOOGLE —JADE-HELM 15 and see what you get. Then read up on it and decide for yourself what you think is going on.
Wow. This is precisely the point of my blog. In fact, it’s so good I wish I’d had it as a link for the paranoia. Did you read my blog? Do you really think that I – and all of the men I served with – would have the audacity to do what this article says? I’m YOU. I’m your neighbor. I’m your brother. I’m your protector. I’m a Texan, and an American. Do you really think USASOC is in cahoots with ISIS? This is ridiculous. And I don’t mean just because of the inferences in the article. The article itself is ridiculous – and proves again that some education on how the military operates is needed in the 99% who hasn’t served. From the article, “First it was the Patriot Act. Now it’s the National Defense Authorization Act….” I hate to break the news to you, but the NDA has been completed every single year since 1947. It’s the bill passed by congress that funds the military. It’s a budget resolution. Oooohh…Evil stuff indeed. Exactly as I said in my blog, people with an agenda twist words to have meaning to the uninitiated, scaring the hell out of the population, when the truth is much, much more clean. Google what you want, but it doesn’t make it true. The best thing I’ve seen about the internet was the quote from Abraham Lincoln: http://cheezburger.com/4777806080
Again Brad while I do not disagree with most of your points. Is it your position that NDAA is nothing but a budget resolution ? Never used to pass legal legislation ?
I’m not getting into a debate on the overarching NDAA or other aspects of defense and/or foreign policy. I just don’t have the time. This blog is about Jade Helm. Maybe I’ll write one about the NDAA later. My position, as I stated above, is that Jade Helm is an exercise. The NDAA is a budget document that has nothing to do with the exercise. That was my point. Has it been used to hold administrations and/or various parties hostage because national security is a no fail event? Of course. But it’s not indicative of a nefarious plot to enslave everyone, as the link the other commenter posted stated.
I love our military.. my concern is what just happened in Baltimore .. a stand down order from chain of command while looters burn, destroy and cause serious damage. I mean what? “This government gone wild” is why the military does not get support! Where is the outrage of those serving? What will happen if active military speak out about prophet Obama? If the govt can yell police to stand down while criminals do crimes.. then why would the military not take orders from their president?
Brad; can you tell us what the acronym JADE HELM stands for?
It’s just an exercise name. It’s not an acronym. It’s picked by a computer. Basically, there are two lists of words that it picks from, spitting out a name, with the name now locked in so nobody else accidentally uses it. Yes, the name can be changed. I’ve had exercise names that came out sounding really lame, and I went back and had it spit out two more. Nobody wants to participate in an exercise called something like “Infinite Stupidity”.
Actually, Jade Helm did exist when America was under British rule, in fact he was known for being a sort of a fortune teller and his family can be traced back to the Salem Witch trials.
That may be so, but it’s also just a coincidence. There’s also a police officer named John Mcclane, but that doesn’t mean Die Hard was about his life.
Jade Helm stands for Joint Assistance for Development and Execution. Helm stands for Homeland Eradication of Local Militants. Sources: Department of State Publication 7277 Disarmament Series 5 released on September 1961 and Air Force Research Laboratory dated 2001.Just put both of these in google search and both will come up.
Please read my earlier comments, both which debunk this wild conspiracy theory. I honestly don’t have the energy to revisit it. Yes, JADE is an acronym out in the world, but the one you use isn’t the only one. In the military, JADE also stands for Japanese Air Defense Environment. Like I said before, maybe JADE HELM is an invasion of Japanese? You can make it what ever you want, and apparently will do so. As for the ludicrous HELM acronym, I challenge you to find that ANYWHERE in official correspondence. Although I like you quoting a 1961 manual. Wow. How about posting a link to this decades old manual so we can actually see the nefarious stuff you envision?
The term JADE HELM is merely the name they chose for this specific training op. The aviation unit I was in had training exercises we did across the state with names like JADED THUNDER. It’s just something someone wanted to call op.
Here’s why, Brad. In bullet point format, in no particular order:
Mt. Carmel
Ruby RIdge
Bundy Ranch
Sugar Pine Mine
If you like your insurance you can keep it
Benghazi
Kelo vs. City of New London
IRS targeting
Fast and Furious
Operation Choke Point
…..just to name a few. I served proudly. I took an oath I haven’t yet renounced. But it appears far too many in today’s government have put personal gain ahead of selfless service and unfortunately, with the purge in upper ranks over the last few years, I view the military as circumspectly as I do any other branch of the government.
So now instead of giving my trust blindly, I’m going to have to ask ANY government employee to earn it.
I am a veteran, US Navy. While this is very likely just a normal exercise, for any veteran to ignore what has gone on within the active military the last 6 years and the direction the federal government has been taking, is seriously short sighted. To take things like Jade Helm with a cautionary grain of salt and caution is wise for ANY people. To call out those of us who watch it warily is the height of folly. Ignore potential dangers at your own risk, do not expect me to blindly close my eye to any potential danger I see. BTW sir, there were a lot of Japanese americans who never thought they would see the inside of a PRISON CAMP, here in the USA. Yet, they did. Do you know what those camps would be called today? FEMA CAMPS
I’m with you 100%. I’m not saying don’t question. All I’m saying is listen to the answer given. Take it for what it’s worth and don’t try to make it into more than it is. It’s just an exercise.
Thanks for posting this article Brad. I’ve been having arguments with fellow Texans over this misguided lack of trust in our military. I just don’t understand how Americans can on the one hand love the military, and on the other come to believe that our brothers and sisters in uniform would conspire with anyone to take our liberties. I keep telling them that soldiers aren’t robots without the ability to think. We trained took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. We also trained to follow LAUFUL orders.
Again, thanks for posting this article of opinion!!
RLTW
Most is accepted as logical thought, but you must remember the countless lies and scandal cover ups that has come from this administration…the public has a right to be skeptical, Obama still commander in chief!
Why would Wal-Mart intentionally shut down stores and loose all of that revenue??? Plumbing problems??? They have not filed for any work related permits and one of the stores is brand new!!! How will they recover from that lost revenue and how will local governments make up from this loss of taxes??? This all makes no sense until you wonder who may have the funds to make this unthinkable event a reality…Federal Goverment???
You give your answer in your statement. WalMart is the biggest employer in the United States. WalMart would never shut down stores for some conspiracy theory. They are not in league with the devil. I don’t need to prove this. All I need to do is wait until the end of Jade Helm.
“The governor’s hailing of the members of the U.S. military even as he registers concern about potential threats to Texans rights and liberties seems to be waving toward two sets of attitudes among his conservative base,” Henson said, citing recent polling.
“While the governor’s letter certainly invoked respect for military personnel, the fact that it opened with concerns about safety, security, and protection against the infringement of rights and liberties suggests that he was also seeking to frame his response around Texans’ — and conservatives’ — negative attitudes toward the federal government.”
I think the paranoia around the military begins with the mainstream news media and the way the Fed has handled it’s responsibility to the people. The previous quote is in regards to gov. Abbott’s letter to the Texas State Guard. Texas supports its troops, that’ll never be questioned, it is simply the Fed that most no longer trust or support. With many military installations having full mock cities (been to them, trained in them) and with the wide range of terrain, I disagree with such training to be carried out in public. First, it can (CAN, not will) give those that don’t trust the military fuel for further speculation/accusation/rumor/etc in regards to what MIGHT happen in the future; 2. it also gives to anyone with nefarious intent, i.e. terrorist types, a certain bit of tactical info; and more…just a thought…..
I am also a veteran, U.S. Army, 2000-2007, SGT, trainer, team leader, MP…I swore an oath and even after 7yrs out of service, I maintain the oath, it is a lifetime commitment, regardless how long one serves. The 7 Army Values are fully lacking within the Fed today, or even among many of the citizens: LDRSHIP (For those that might not know the acronym — Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage)
In all fairness…
is it any wonder that the people of this nation are paranoid? With the president and his administration breaking the law on a daily basis, covering up every scandal, lying to the American people with straight faces, demonizing those who voice their opposition to their agenda, and turning the institutions of this nation into bludgeons against them, it should come as no surprise.
So tell me Mr Taylor, why the Texas Governor would put the State of Texas Guard on watch over the US military JADE HELM 15 activities and report regularly back to him if He, the TEXAS GOVENOR didn’t have a reason?
I love and support our troops as do most people in the South. I’m praying and believing that our soldiers would choose to do the right thing if they are given an order to treat their American Brothers & Sisters as enemies, I pray they would choose to do the oppisite. I’m choosing to trust God and his infinite wisdom. I’m choosing to support our troops as always but I will also choose to be alert, cautious and prepared. To say that by being cautious and alert is putting down or not supporting our soldiers is very wrong.
I do not trust the hierarchy of government currently in power and I believe anyone can be brainwashed.
The saying “walks like a duck, talks like a duck, must be a duck” has saved many .
My grandpa, Dad, uncles, great uncles, cousins, my husband’s dad, uncles and our friends are proud vets. They Are also cautious, and alert for the near future of the USA.
Maybe because he’s a politician and you’re a voter? Ft Hood is the largest Army base in the United States. Why hasn’t Killen demanded the State Guard start watching the front gate if our military is so suspect? I guarantee if the heinous, duplicitous, stormtrooper military decided to pull up stakes and move from Texas, Governor Abbott would be singing a different tune.
Hey Brad, speaking about Ft Hood, I don’t believe that Governor Abbott thinks that our Military on that base or any other base in our Country is evil. He like many of us may not trust Obama He is having the exercise watched because of peoples concerns that the exercise might be used to disarm citizens. We know that is not what the Military is commissioned to do and it not what their oath is about but, many of us know that it is what this administration wants to do. The question is, who is in charge of the Military and whos orders do they obey? You have let us know that JADE HELM 15 is just an exercise and that it was planned and is being carried out by this one group, right? I guess that any other information that any of us have read or heard on the web or otherwise about any other agencies being involved is all just hot air and part of a conspiacy than. Speaking of Ft Hood, a few years ago, when the maniac Muslim Military guy stood up and shot his supposed brothers and sisters in the Military, who stopped him? It was not a Military fellow, was it? No because they were unarmed on their own base, right? Why is that? It is rather scary that this Muslim man was prometed to the position he was in and was not on any radar about his connections to radical Islam. We can only wonder how many more of this type might be in our Military under this Obama administration. Is that a crazy or unreasonable thought?
I have no idea how the tragedy at Fort Hood has anything to do with Jade helm. You want to extrapolate that into a SOF exercise, that’s your right. I suppose we should be wary of Sony because they’re putting out the next Avengers movie. Must be their fault for the the massacre in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater.
Ft Hood.. the place of workplace violence? Or so labeled by our trusting leader. All those killed while shouting Allahu Akbar.
YES! You’re exactly right! A TERRORIST killed people at Fort Hood, therefore Jade Helm is a TERRORIST PLOT! How about sticking to the topic? I despise what happened at Fort Hood as much as you. Actually, much, much more, since it affected me personally, but it has nothing to do with Jade Helm. On second thought, it has everything to do with Jade Helm. You want to fight that issue? Quit bitching about the exercise. They’re doing it precisely to defend the U.S. from such acts.
My main point about Ft Hood was that our Military was not armed on their own base and that is why that terroist was able to kill so many people before he was stopped. Why are our troops not armed on their own bases? Also, how many of these more of these typs of terrorist have infiltrated our Military under this administration? I did not say or imply that JADE HELM was a terrorist plot. I am trying tto point out that there are reasons that people are freaked out about this President and his administration in charge of our Military. I also stated that I understand that you are telling us that JADE HELM 15 id just an exersise.
I apologize. I typed those words after answering ten other comments and my patience was at an end. It was unprofessional and I shouldn’t even post if I can’t hold myself to the same standard I’m asking of everyone else. Your point is noted, and I agree with you on why people are “freaked out”. I’m simply trying to allay their fears with facts. Once again, my words weren’t chosen wisely. Thanks for coming back and replying.
I’m wondering why my comments were not posted?
Because I just woke up.
Just because you serve our country doesn’t make you an expert on the matter. Better safe than sorry….especially with the type of Presudent that we have. He’s gotten away with so much in the last six years….no one would be surprised if he tried to pull off something so horrific.
Actually, it does make me an expert, having planned and executed a multitude of training events just like Jade Helm. I appreciate the distrust in this administration, but they had nothing at all to do with the planning and execution of Jade Helm. Every LEO organization and City Hall in the locations for the exercise in Texas were fully briefed on the plan and gave approval. Are they also part of the giant conspiracy? Or did they realize it’s just an exercise and the training might actually help defeat our enemies?
Germany trusted their soldiers and look what happened to 6 million Jews. Considering that, what the Christians have heard out of the POTUS has put extra fears in our hearts that we and gun owners could end up like those Jews in reeducation camps. Not to mention, mass purchasing of bullets and such by even the USPS fed our fears as well.
I think we all get it that you wouldn’t be behind him on that agenda but, just like Hitler got his plans carried out by men in uniform, why do you find it is so hard to put yourself in our shoes when worrying about so much military swarming down to the southern border with mass weapons of destruction when they weren’t even sent there to stop the flow of illegal aliens that cost us all billions in free handouts? It doesn’t add up to us. Why didn’t those who swore the same oath as you swarm the border during that incident where thousands were coming through when POTUS pretty much called a free-for-all? Our instincts tell us it’s because we believe you do what you are told.
We all feel hes out to take this country down and feel he certainly wouldn’t have his golf club helping carry out his evil (we believe) plans. We’ve been fed scenarios of him using foreign troops. How are we going to know the difference until it’s too late? Thanks for ypu serbivf
I can’t compete with such irrational fears. I’ve tried logic. IE – if POTUS wanted to use the military, why would he send the military to brief everyone about an exercise? Why not just use Fort Hood and Fort Bliss? And quit comparing the United States military to Hitler. It’s insulting and proves my point. Logic: The Hitler analogy doesn’t work. The majority of Germany had nothing to fear from the military. Only the Jews. It wasn’t Jewish soldiers that did the roundup. It was German. So, if you’re saying that gun owners are like the Jews, the analogy doesn’t work. Jews didn’t round up Jews in Germany, and 90% of SOF – the men in Jade Helm – are gun owners like Chris Kyle. Gun owners aren’t going to round up gun owners. Even if the comparison wasn’t so hyperbolic, it makes no sense logically. Please stick to facts when talking about Jade Helm. There isn’t going to be “so much military swarming down to the southern border”. We’re talking about a thousand guys spread out over four states and two months. Hardly enough to enslave the state. Finally, would YOU do what you were told? Because the soldiers aren’t from some strange foreign land. Quiet a few are from Texas. Maybe you would, which is why you think I would, but I, and the men of USASOC, are cut from a different cloth. Honestly, I can’t believe you type this and then thank me for my service. Seriously? You’re thanking the very person you think is out to enslave you?
Brad, I also know of many people that are experts in your area and one happens to be a popular Writer these days and I will just say his first name and you can figure the rest out, his name is Kurt.
Anyways as he and many others tell me being suspect and wanting to know what is between the lines is as American as Apple Pie and if not for people questioning or suspecting everything, America would not be the power it is today, nor would our economy work if not for those that question.
My point is, you should not get mad, feel insulted, or think people are questioning your loyalty, just take as knowing it’s part of our American culture, I mean look at the Hell Bush had to go through when he was President ?. He didn’t get mad, he is letting history decide who is right and who is wrong.
I already answered this in my other comments. I’m not mad, nor insulted by Jade Helm. I said this in the blog, but people read what they want. I do get a little insulted with all the Hitler comments. Sorry, but there it is. The the whole point of the blog is precisely to answer questions. I didn’t write it simply to vent. As I said in multiple other comments, question all you want, but listen to the answers given. What’s happening isn’t really questioning, it’s simply fear mongering. USASOC had a Town Hall to answer questions in Bastrop, Texas, and all the uniformed member got from the audience was, “Thank you for your service. You’re a damn liar.” I don’t know who your friend is, and believe you that he told you to suspect. That’s fine. All I’m saying is from where I’m sitting – with over twenty years of planning exercises just like Jade Helm – there is nothing to fear. And, as you say about Bush, I’ll let history decide who was right and who was wrong.
It was not only the Jews murdered in the holocaust. Many others fared the same and non Jews also were rounded up by hitters. Army. Maybe we need to talk to the remaining old timers who remember it happening. They know and so should we. But I don’t think folks are ready for the truth. Not until we are forced to live it too.
Today we are told that genocide was a holocaust event targeting only Jews. I wonder why the perpetual lie….because today we are told that our military air strikes kill terrorists and fighters and these are the reported casualties. Speak to someone that lives in this scenario and the might tell you that genocide is still ongoing as many civilians are killed. These kills are not reported and these countries do no keep census records.
Lies. Why must we use lies and why must we believe them.?
Evil dies hard and genocide has continued . America has been spoiled as few here outside of military have faced war and thus we are given a false sense of security.. The holocaust never ended. It just morphed into healthcare and various other mechanisms to purge populations. Red Cross included.
Either it will end or we will end.
We can end it …and if we could not…why then would we need the lies? The death heads fear us more thabn we fear them
But we are too busy chatting up conspiracy rants to do anything about it. Comfortable in computer la la land.
First of all Mr Taylor it’s spelled Killeen Texas.
Second I didn’t say watch the military. I said the military actions of Jade Helm 15. I believe our Governor supports our troops, it’s their Commander he does not support.
Sorry about the spelling. Like I said, I just woke up. But doesn’t your answer sort of spell out why I find this so ridiculous? If the military wanted to do all of the nefarious things people are saying, wouldn’t it be better to do them from a giant military base, where the soldiers are walking around daily? Where nobody would suspect them of it? Why would the military go and brief all of the LEO organizations and City Halls in Texas before Jade Helm? Why not just use Hood, Bliss, and all the other posts, full of soldiers that live there? It just makes no sense, unless, of course, Jade Helm is exactly what it professes to be: an exercise to train our SOF Operators for combat.
Brad,
Unfortunately, people latch on to crazy ideas floating around the internet. People like Alex Jones are expert manipulators of the truth fully knowing that it is impossible to disprove something that does NOT exist. They plant the seed of doubt, and they then feed it until it becomes a full blown conspiracy theory.
At the end of the day, the people believing this crap usually have way too much time in their hands, and hence way too much time to spend in front of their computer. I thank you for calmly and patiently addressing concerns posted here. Without a doubt, you have the virtue of patience.
RLTW
Thanks for the reply!
I don’t think we so much think the Military will turn on us as we are thinking they are setting up for something the general public is unaware of and calling it a drill. China owns and wants much of our land. Mexico wants the southern states. Were we not told that if we armed Ukraine then they would arm Mexico and encourage them to take the southern states? No, it’s not the Military we are afraid of, it’s the fact that America is hated for being the bully on the playground and other countries are chomping at the bit to get a piece of her.
First off, anyone that tries to defend the Gov. ,whether it’s Fed., Local ,Or Military, it doesn’t mater, is just as dirty and crooked as them .I spent time in the military and I know the missions we were told to carried out that were dirty ,so that being said I can see the Gov. at all levels working together to really do something like what is believed , you and other personnel only do what you are told and have no clue of the big picture that is to take place .The less you all know the better chance of the real mission to be carried out .You may be right about it being a training mission ,but only they know the true end game .If something is afoot you can bet a good soldier will be the last to find out if he/she has a closed mind regarding what they are being told and told what is supposedly going on. Lets jest hope you are right and we are wrong ,but we have been lied too to many times by all forms of the Gov.
In the interest of fairness, showing all sides, I’ve approved this post. With a caveat: You saying I’m dirty and crooked because I served in the military is disgusting. I guess I can finally see why Jade Helm has caused such controversy.
For the record: I didn’t wander around in a daze, just doing “what I was told” and I do, in fact, have a clue of the big picture, as I have designed and executed exercises like Jade Helm based on experiences in combat. If anyone is missing the big picture of how Jade Helm will save US soldier’s lives and help the United States defeat our enemies, it’s not me. It’s you. And I seriously doubt you “spent time” in the military, carrying out “dirty missions”.
You are Jade Helm but you just don’t know what you are training for……… YET. The fast and furious operation was never believed and sounded like insanity too until it was proven. You better get a little more curious about what is really going on. Those WalMarts are NOT all closing for plumbing issues, none have even applied for city work permits. You need to do some searching man.
I grow weary of answering the same thing over and over, and the men in Jade Helm know exactly what they’re training for: Killing terrorist hell bent on harming you and your family. Please see my other responses RE Jade Helm. The sound bites:
1. Why is it that every single municipality, city hall, and LE organization that was briefed in Texas gave approval? Are you saying that even your local government is in on the plot? Or maybe they saw that it was JUST AN EXERCISE.
2. Texas has the largest US Military base on the planet (Fort Hood). If the military wanted to do something nefarious, as you suggest, why would they go around briefing everyone about Jade Helm? Why not just do it secretly, from a military base everyone is used to seeing soldiers on? Maybe because Jade Helm is what it says it is: AN EXERCISE.
As for Walmart, neither I or the US Army can state what’s going on with them. Plumbing, labor, or something else – I haven’t a clue. You’d have to contact Sam Walton about that.
Terrorist funded by the same? If the US concentrated their efforts on homeland and stopped the proxy wars they start. We would not even be posting! Good grief.. American people have every right to question a govt hell bent on it’s very own greedy destruction.
Thanks for stopping by. I guess your end state is the US Military should never train. I’d fight that answer, but honestly, I don’t have the energy. I guess you’d be happy with American deaths. And I don’t appreciate you calling me a terrorist “funded by the same”.
Were those briefings carried out in an open to the public meeting?
Depends on the briefing. Bastrop had a town hall where everyone was invited.
Brad, looks like there are a lot more Alex Jones listeners than you thought…. But seriously people, the military, just like police are people with families they love just like we do . These military and law enforcement personnel are acquaintances, friends and members living and taking part in your communities; put faces on them. Do you think they would take part in actions that they believe would target their friends and family? They have the same distrust for big Govt we all do. I remember these same stories being circulated and whipping up fears back when i was in in the late 70’s. It was just that, something to whip up everyone into a frenzy. We have much more to fear from the divisive civil unrest coming to our communities as a result of the media’s race bating than we do of Jade Helm..
Yes.. and as in Baltimore over 100 police hurt because of a stand down order from chain of command..so rioters could have “space” to loot..burn.. and destroy!! I know I feel secure.. that’s why I have guns!
For those close to the spec ops personnel, it is understood and well demonstrated that these folks, by far, are God and country people, period. I have never met one of whom any tyrannical government should not fear. They are probably on some kind of possible “terrorist list” for their intense dedication to the principles and people of this country. 🙂 I have and will gladly encourage their training in the states where it is, otherwise, safe to train. Where else?! These may be our only truly first and most capable immediate defense should a despot government ever try to rise up and enslave us. Better support them and encourage their best abilities! I definitely want these guys on my side!, Thanks Brad!
This is a wonderfully thought out and well written post. Our family comes from a long line of military, fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, our oldest daughter even plans on going into the Navy after graduating next month. We support our military, veterans and community in our home. None of us have ever been conspiracy theorists, usually we laugh it off. However, when one of your family members is a high ranking military officer and he tells you to be prepared because there is more to Jade Helm than what the average person knows, then that instills fear and worry. When the veterans in your family who have never voiced a negative opinion of any drills, training, deployments etc, suddenly become wary and distrustful of the actions of the government, it breeds fear. When the servicemen in your family receive a questionaire asking them if they would obey a direct order to act against the American public, it draws doubt. When those servicemen’s commanding officers were forced into retirememt shortly after answering that they would NOT obey the order against America, it screams of danger. When your family can be classified as a terrorist because they store more than 3 days of food, have US military ties, attend a Christian church among other thing, it makes you scared. We do not live on base, we dont even live near a base, yet one day early last week a Chinook was circling low over our property and many other areas in our rural location. One day late this week, I was picking one of our children up from an afterschool practice. A Chinook was circling just as low around the school and the surrounding neighborhoods. Both times it was flying just high enough to avoid hitting the tops of the trees. We have had no reason for our private lives and homes to be invaded in this manner, yet here they are. Rather than show disgust at anyone, step back and take a look at why we have become so worried and fearful, take a minute to see how things look from our side of the divide. I have no clue who this Alex Jones person is, I will have to google him to see, but I do know that the name calling and finger pointing is not going to quell fears and put anyone at ease. America as a whole has been violated from within and it is time we stood up and took our country back.
Thank you for the post. I did not mean to name call or finger point. I gave my opinion from over twenty years of service as a Texan serving under three different political administrations. I – and the men of Jade Helm – would no more conduct anything against United States citizens than YOU would. What divide do you speak of? I AM YOU. That is precisely the point, and something lost in the debate. I, and everyone conducting Jade Helm, are YOU. U.S. Members of the UNITED STATES military. The same damn military the state of Texas provides more members than anyone else. It’s honestly confusing to me.
This is nuts and so is this Alex Jones Hammerhead. Who are these people in my wonderful state of TX!? The Military environment I was in for 25 years would not do an attack on their fellow citizens. Even the current batch of perfumed Princes would not be stupid enough to execute any such bovine excrement. I’ve never met a enlisted soldier that , without very extreme circumstances, point a rifle at a fellow citizens. It just not going to happen. I was not a SO soldier, but I’d be willing to bet these are normal regularly programmed exercises and I think my governor has over reacted. I am a supporter of his, but this is silly.
I’m an member of Oathkeepers and I for one am not concerned.
What I do worry about is what will be the catalyst that brings the nut jobs out because of the branches of government are no longer working for the good of the people, but their self-serving needs of the parties. Because of the government especially the executive branch, and the lame stream media the threshold for violent action against the government is probably pretty low with the nut jobs and it’s those folks who will create crap that will lead to problems not readily fix.
As commenters here may agree with your summation of the Jeff Helm military training conducted in Texas, it is quite apparent they continue to believe the Alex Jones et.al. propaganda regarding President Obama…
Sad really that our countrymen are so willing to be brainwashed evidently unable to conduct critical thinking.
I appreciate your military service and clarifying Jeff helm training…yet you cannot conjure up the truth about your Commander-In-Chief.. The majority of the comments written here are simply not true regarding President Obama.It is mind-boggling that way too many are so easily led by far right wing political pundits.
Brad Taylor – I just want to say thank you for serving – I believe you – and thank you for putting this out here!
Thank you for your post. The dialog that has resulted shows how hard it is for even you, a recognized veteran and subject matter expert, to break through the noise of a vocal few spreading misconceptions and misinformation to suit their own biases. Fungus grows best in dark places, so I am glad that you’re shedding light on the scourge that is selective media consumption to justify bias. As a veteran, and like you, I served along men and women who held different beliefs than me, but we were all serving for the slice of America we believed in. Together we defended our rights and those of our neighbors even if they believed differently. United we stand, divided we fall and I stand against those who seek to divide us with their ignorance and paranoia fueled by commercial greed and political hunger for power. It’s not what I served to preserve. Thank you again for speaking out!
Fair or not fair, the military gets equated with law enforcement and therefore lumped in with a person’s feelings, especially if this type of training is ‘unheard’ of. Many folks would rather not have anything to do with law enforcement, good or bad. Plus with the internet, the bad law enforcement is much more exposed. Let’s not forget the numerous military occupations that continually take place. Of course all of this will cause fear; most of the American public is truly defenseless, whether they are armed or not, just like the public around the world. Most people will just pay more money for security and laws.
The law enforcement example of Boston is an example of poor law enforcement. There are now blatant examples on the net of THUG cops, but are ‘regular’, just like everywhere around the country. Plus, many people, aka civilians are so clueless they actually applaud these THUG law enforcement actions such as those that happened in Boston. That is the state of the union. 99% of the population has not read the constitution. Civilians will not sacrifice to uphold their duty to freedom, civil liberty, and respectful freewill, let alone to SUSTAIN the land that we inhabit. All anyone is doing these days is USING. Been this way for a long while.
At the end of the day, most people in military, law enforcement, and government positions are just regular people. Most these regular people cannot differentiate logic from reason, vice versa. The system is based on reason and belief. Logic is absent. How would one like to get tried by that jury?
The people of today don’t care for anything but themselves and their immediate friends and family and will for the most part do what they are told. Very entitled, very dependent, very ignorant, but they are good Americans, definition american dream with a house, family, status, bunch of junk, land that is their personal dump, etc.
Look around next time at the grocery store, most of the time it looks like overweight casting for total recall. Look at the people who work for government jobs and their inefficiency and lack of productivity, yet willing / happy to continue to work those jobs. Look at cops working in police states and continue to work and love those jobs and force ‘the law’.
Another issue is how different the people are across America in ways and ways of life. Being in the eastern USA and Texas with nearly all private land makes a westerner sick to the stomach. But easterners love their life styles and private land. Westerners prefer public land, open and natural spaces. The eastern USA lost one true essence of America, i.e. the natural land.
What make all of this really sad is today’s society and tomorrow’s. Think how smart and how much intellectual prowess some humans have and have displayed through history. Think about the sheer amount of knowledge available to everyone in America alone. A law of nature is even the strongest can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Who can’t wait until there are 400 million people in American? Who can’t wait until there are 8 billion people in the world?
Question your own ignorance.
Lead by example.
Belief is not truth.
Quite frankly, the entire uproar over this has me completely embarrassed to be a Texan. My sister is a Major in the Air Force, and has spent 2 tours of duty in Afghanistan. Her husband is currently in Iraq. This feels like blatant disrespect for her, him (and every service member’s) sacrifices on our behalf. I sincerely appreciate your service, and I thank you for being a voice of reason in what is so obviously ridiculous to the rest of us.
Brad,
You’re wrong. This is the evidence. Please do better research.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/prodigy/Web/Mixed-init/Jade/base.000.html
JADE stands for Joint Assistant for Deployment and Execution
In the past at least, JADE exercises have been associated with insurrections.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/prodigy/Web/Mixed-init/Jade/base.007.html
I’ve done the research, trust me. Twenty years of research. Just because there IS an acronym called Jade in no way means it’s being USED as an acronym. If there was an exercise called SHARP ANVIL, it doesn’t mean that SHARP is referring to sexual harassment and rape prevention (the Army acronym). Or any other of the acronyms in the US Military that uses S.H.A.R.P. See this:http://www.acronymfinder.com/Military-and-Government/SHARP.html JADE is also an acronym for Japanese Air Defense Environment, so maybe JADE HELM is really an invasion of Japanese aircraft.http://www.acronymfinder.com/Military-and-Government/JADE.html
It also makes sense that JADE HELM is training for an insurrection. Just look at the official slides. On the map of California, a pocket is painted red and the arrow says “insurgents”. What are insurgents? Those involved in an insurgency or insurrection. Texas is also painted red. Come on man just do some simple fact checking next time. Here is evidence that JADE exercises have at least in the past involved military enforcement of law, i.e. martial law.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/prodigy/Web/Mixed-init/Jade/base.008.html
Jesus. IT’S A SOF EXERCISE. ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY MISSIONS IS COUNTER INSURGENCY. You ask who an insurgent is? IT’S ISIS! Simple fact checking? Maybe you should look in a mirror. Why do you insist on supporting your facts with a CINCPAC carrier fleet exercise? It makes no sense. By the way, the Department of Defense quit calling combatant commanders “CINC” in 2002. This tells me all of your slides are over a decade old. Research…
http://www.dodccrp.org/events/5th_ICCRTS/papers/062.pdf
More information on JADE. Its real thing, not a random word. You’re calling people who do research “idiots”. That is quite unfair when you have not done the proper research yourself.
That’s a COMPUTER PROGRAM that’s replacing the aging JOPES system. It has nothing to do with Jade Helm. Wow. It’s no use. Go ahead and believe what you want, but how about check out JOPES as well. It’s been in place for decades, but I’m sure you can make some nefarious hay out of a computer program designed to force list and stage military forces for major contingency operations around the world.
The Joint Assistant for Deployment and Execution (JADE) offers a new technique for rapid force deployment planning, especially in crisis situations. JADE is being developed by BBN
Technologies under contract to the Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
See my other comment. I did, however, notice you completely stayed away from the loony HELM acronym. Why is that? Couldn’t find any references to it in your extensive research? Wonder why that is, since you accuse me of not doing the research so blithely. Maybe because it’s NOT TRUE.
Why are you writing it as Jade instead of JADE. The military is writing it as JADE. Typically military acronyms are ALL CAPS.
Look at the slides and see that everywhere there is an acronym it is ALL CAPS.
http://american3rdposition.com/wp-content/uploads/Jade-Helm-Martial-Law-WW3-Prep-Document-1.pdf
Because I’m lazy I guess. The military just uses all caps for exercises. Here’s a SOF posture statement I found from 1996 on a quick google search. It details exercises COBRA GOLD, ULCHI FOCUS LENS, BALANCE TORCH, FOAL EAGLE, etc, etc, etc. Now, either all of those are some acronym (having participated in every one, I can assure you they aren’t) or the Army just likes all caps. If you scroll through, you’ll see exercises like ROVING SANDS, BLUE FLAG, and IRIS GOLD. It’s not proof of anything. https://books.google.com/books?id=bdo14krj6oMC&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=exercise+Balance+Torch&source=bl&ots=ZXRHcAzDif&sig=F879Rlc14e5dk5B4yETfP02pV9I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gKZLVYelHoHjsAWi_oDgCw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=exercise%20Balance%20Torch&f=false
Far from being a conspiracy theorist, I am a veteran of the US Army Infantry and a scholar. Don’t you think that is completely possible that JADE actually stands for the computer deployment system? I’m sure it is something that they want to train on and test. There is nothing controversial in that whatsoever!!
Here is the part of JADE HELM that is concerning people in Texas. The Insurrection Act ( 10 U.S.C. §§ 331–335). The military itself is even fully aware of the slippery slope argument regarding recent modifications to the Insurrection Act http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/call/docs/10-16/ch_14.asp
The Insurrection Act has been used by past President’s with regard to matters that had nothing to do with national security. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act
Every branch of our government is political (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial), and is thus motivated by political desires, at least somewhat. Furthermore, nearly every agency of the government is becoming more and more politicized (EPA, IRS, FCC, NLRB, ect).
It is not completely outside of the realm of the imagination that this politicization trend might someday affect the military. I mean look at which states/areas were labeled as hostile.
Now having served with countless other decent, patriotic, and noble soldiers, I am not in the least bit concerned that US military forces are about to suddenly come and take my guns or freedom.
However, US States should not be labeled as “Hostile” on military maps, training or not. Why not utilize fake names as the Special Forces does during Robin Sage (Pineland). Pineland is a fictitious country located in North Carolina, developed by the United States Army Special Forces Command to train Special Forces, Psyops and Civil Affairs in unconventional warfare. The basic scenario of Pineland is that the government has been overthrown through a violent coup and US forces are now assisting a guerrilla force that aim to overthrow the de facto government and restore order to the nation. Why associate Texas and thus all Texans with this? It is not necessary, and furthermore, it is not productive or conducive to good relations between the people and their government. It would have been better for the military to use fake names and fake states with fake boundaries.
Having said that, you know what would be a terrific idea for a book title? JADE HELM. A rouge President with 18 months left in office and concerned with his legacy utilizes a “training” operation to take over the main State causing his administration the most problems. The State that has sued him multiple times in Federal Court. On bookshelves soon!
Other book titles for this work could be THE GOVERNATOR, LONE STAR RISING, SOUTHERN HOSTILITY, OPERATION BLUEBONNET, COME AND TAKE IT, or REMEMBER THE ALAMO (AGAIN).
Those are books people would buy, you know why? Because JADE HELM has captured the whole country’s imagination, and it is all that people here are talking about…including yourself.
Thanks for responding, I greatly appreciate good and decent debate (because its so hard to find anymore in this country).
I’m with you on the name. That was a mistake that USASOC will NEVER make again. I’m sure they’re face-palming themselves over using real state names, especially since we’ve been fighting the country of “Krasnovia” on the plains of Kansas at CGSC for decades. As for JADE being a deployment system, that system you referred to is for huge movements and not something a deployed force the size of SOF would need or utilize. The paper you provided even talks about integrating with JOPES, which is used for Desert Storm or Iraqi Freedom type deployments (and by the way was written at least ten years ago. Not sure if SOF would want to test it now). Not for SOF. BUT even if it is, they wouldn’t reflect it in the exercise name anymore than testing a new weapon would be included in the name. The very fact that JADE exists as a piece of technology tends to prove it wasn’t picked on purpose for an exercise name. Appreciate the debate as well. Sorry I got a little snide.
JADE’s earliest reference that I saw was to an insurrection in the Philippines and it did utilze special forces. In this case an MEU SOC ( special operations capable ) deployment.
JADE HELM involves every branch. Plus Green Berets, Delta, MEU’s, Marines Special Forces, Air Force Special Operations, Navy Seals, the 82nd Airborne Division, and interacency partners (presumably DHS FEMA FBI).
All that is quite a bit more than a simple A Team detachment.
It’s over 1,000,000 mi.² If the entire American Southwest plus Texas and operations in Mississippi and Florida isnt large scale, then what is?
That reference was a CINCPAC EXERCISE involving the testing of the very system you’re discussing within a Carrier battle group, which has a MEU SOC attached to it, along with a platoon of SEALS. As far as I know, it was all virtual and nobody even moved a single body. Just because someone created an exercise does not mean someone deployed to the PI. I mentioned fighting Krasnovians on the plains of Kansas, but that was all done in a conference room, using maps of Kansas and a fake army. We had slides dictating the enemy and friendly, using a healthy section of the midwest, but NOBODY actually did anything. It was a map exercise, period. You could find those slides and determine that a gigantic tank battle occurred, but you’d be wrong. Yes, Jade Helm is bigger than an ODA, but it’s still under a 1000 guys – and that’s WITH backside support, over a phased timeline spanning months. Read: at any one time, there will be a few hundred in play, not the tens of thousands the system is designed for. It is a logical fallacy to take the totality of the square mileage of the states represented and infer that USASOC is using every square inch of that terrain. Far from it. In fact, if it were, why aren’t the town councils in El Paso, Austin, or any other city not screaming? Because nobody came to brief them. Because Jade Helm won’t be there. In some exercises I have been in, they paint the enemy situation so broadly it encompasses the entire United States, and you had to get from “Bad Guy” land to “Good Guy” land. Did that mean we used the entire United States? Hell no. It meant it was a situation written for an exercise. Please stop reading into singular slides from various exercises and extrapolating that they are, in fact, specific to real world events. It’s an EXERCISE. They make stuff up for realism.
Mr Taylor…its a pleasure to have run across your article…I am jade helm….. I now have found new alternative media…in reddit… The discussion I see has died out for some reason I also grew up running in the woods…with wild imagination of all sorts
I’m having a beer and listening to CCR..have you ever saw the rain.. Some thoughts ….I looked at your bio….very interesting…I might wonder if your one that will be blending in…down there in bastrop…lolto find anything on this jade helm…has turned out to be fetish for me to seek……lately. I do wonder why key words in your blog goes to some pipeline… Are you a 4 minuteman?…an orrater….one must doublethink
What’s your thought on chuck Norris’
http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/05/jade-helm-15-crime-stoppers-and-ksk/
What is your thought on this URL….
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-04-16/conspiracy-theorists-bloggers-compared-isis-during-congressional-hearing
A. I have no idea what you mean by “key words” in my blog. If they’re going to some pipeline, it must be a conspiracy.
B. I think Chuck Norris is off base. I think he’s walking the same line I discussed in the blog – namely that some nefarious “string pullers” in Washington could get the military to start rounding people up. Hell, he even has the same schizophrenia I mentioned in the blog – namely he quotes Marcus Luttrell as an upholder of liberty, yet fails to see the irony that it’s Luttrell’s teammates who are doing Jade Helm. If Luttrell would never do any harm against the constitution, why on earth would the men he worked with?
C. Whatever someone in congress said, Russian TV is, in fact, Russian TV. It would be ridiculous to assume they weren’t targeting us anymore than Voice of America targets them. My take? Probably not a well-researched article. Just read the comments below it for a slice of who it’s aimed at. 9/11 was a conspiracy, the boston bombing was a conspiracy, etc etc.
The acronym is the least interesting part of the exercise in my opinion. What this really represents is how everything in this country has become politicized. It is a bit hypocritical for those in the administration who are politicizing everything to say hey why are you lunatics in Texas politicizing this exercise?
If a similar exercise under President Bush labeled Texas the good guys and San Francisco as the bad guys the left would be upset as well. People who are criticizing decent Texans should be more aware of that. And how they would feel if the shoe was on the other foot. The reaction to this exercise is not the problem. It is but a symptom of the problem.
Don’t forget that freedom also means freedom to question the government. After all, what is freedom without that?
Yeah, after all of the feedback, I realized it is symptomatic of the current political environment, from the IRS to the Border Patrol. The problem is USASOC has nothing to do with the administration, but nobody understands this because they don’t understand the military. Hell, I just had a comment on Facebook where the guy said, “We’ve all heard the stories that it’s a requirement to agree to fire on citizens in order to serve.” I was literally flabbergasted. As I said to another commenter, would you refuse to let your fire department train because of the abuse of the IRS? After all, they’re part of the evil government as well. As for your “similar” exercise, you bring up the primary irony of Jade Helm. They picked Texas because Texas has habitually supported the military. In no universe that I’m aware of would USASOC even consider training in San Francisco. It would be laughed at if it were even brought up. And when you conduct an exercise, where would most of the “action” be? In friendly areas, or hostile? Answer: In hostile. So, USASOC said, “Which state will allow us to do the most training?” Answer: TEXAS. “So, let’s make that state the hostile one.” And what happens? Everyone shits their pants. It’s actually a compliment, but nobody can see it.
AND ITS NOT AN ACRONYM!!!!
No we saw that it was a compliment, we are just conflicted. I mean on the one hand Texans love the military more than just about anything else…but it seems as if we fear martial law more than just about anything else.
So we are stuck between what we love and what we fear.
The military should have said in more detail about what the training actually is though. Instead of just saying master the human domain. Whatever that is. Actually I know what it is because I read about it but most people I’m sure don’t. Otherwise you just invite paranoia. Now either they didn’t do that because they knew that the type of training that was going to occur was too controversial or maybe they don’t want the enemy to know what kind of training they are undertaking. Or possibly they didn’t think it would be controversial at all which was a mistake on their part. But when you are training among civilians and off of military bases I think you should err more on the side of openness.
Once again, that’s just reading into a slide. The Military DID say in more detail. Just because a slide deck was released on the internet in no way encompasses the coordination conducted by USASOC. “Human Domain” is nothing but a buzzword developed by SOF after Iraq and Afghanistan, referring to the fact that seizing terrain in an insurgency won’t win the war. It’s about the humans who occupy the terrain. The “Human Domain”. I assure you that all of the city councils in all of the states for Jade Helm weren’t just sent a slide show. They were completely briefed on the purpose and execution of the exercise, focusing on the impact to the local community. Did they brief every single person in the state with an axe to grind? No. And neither should they have to. My Lord, they’re United States SOF operators, where a disproportionate amount come from Texas. You don’t trust them on their word, that’s you’re right, but don’t throw a Chris Kyle day out there, and then trample on the very training that warrior represents. In the end, Texas won’t have to worry about this type of thing happening again. They’ll be placed in the “no-go” box, like a plethora of other areas that despise the military operating in their midst. It’s too hard to coordinate such training in areas that welcome you. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze in less permissive areas. Texas can now have it both ways: Cheering on the SOF operators that keep them safe without ever lifting a finger to help those same Operators keep them safe.
Just as Operation Garden Plot was worried about domestic unrest following racial riots in the 1960’s, the current administration seems to be worried about domestic unrest related to right-wingers and returning veterans. http://fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf
Don’t those slides bother you as a veteran? They do me. They are ignorant and insulting to very patriotic individuals. The only riots I see on TV are left leaning people, not former members of the military.
One mans insurrection is another mans revolution. Just depends on who is in charge and which political party they fall under.
People aren’t inventing feeling like targets of the current administration out of thin air.
Once again, and for the last time, since I’ve said it on a HUNDRED different comments, I get the suspicion of the current administration. What I DON’T get is the suspicion of the military. USASOC is NOT THE ADMINISTRATION. As Rick Perry just said, “It’s OK to question your government. I do it on a regular basis,” he said on May 5, per the Dallas Morning News. “But the military is something else. Our military is quite trustworthy. The civilian leadership, you can always question that, but not the men and women in uniform.” http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/06/perry-to-texas-stop-being-insane.html I’m done with this discussion. You want to lump the military in with every other government agency, then do so. Just don’t be a hypocrite when your local fire department wants to train, because they’re also government. OR at least take a lucid appraisal of what you’re bitching about. Don’t lump in USASOC – OR the US Military – into your fears of DHS, IRS, or anyone else. That dog don’t hunt. I appreciate the debate, but I’m done. This is my last comment to you, since I’ll never convince you that I’m not now – given my background – hovering outside of your window preparing to take you to a FEMA concentration camp. Good night.
Well you really havent been debating me. You are just using straw man and ad hominum attacks and distoring my position.
You’ve been overly hyperbolic with everyone on this dicussion board, as is your right. But please leave that to the experts at MSNBC.
Just as the military trains for every contigency, so should every citizen be prepared. At least people are engaged. I would be a lot more concerned if people just trusted what they were being fed. You should welcome debate, not accuse and run away from it.
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question then a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Bruce Lee
Roger out.
Run from debate? Far from it. I just have had enough. I’ve wasted my entire day with you, and if you read my answers, I’m pretty sure you’ll see who’s used logic and facts to present their argument. Thanks for the ad hominem attack RE MSNBC. Hyperbolic? Far from it. I’ve been about as calm as a person could be given the statements here. If you think I’ve been hyperbolic, you clearly haven’t been visiting the Jade Helm conspiracy websites. Doing your “research”. Have I claimed I’m going to enslave you? No? Then stand down. Because that’s what everyone else is claiming. Jesus. I’m so sick of this I wish I’d never posted this blog. I’ll never convince you or anyone else, no matter the flagrantly obvious facts. So be it. Enjoy your life crouching in the window looking for the black helicopter. When it really comes, it’ll be because some terrorist asshole is about to cut your head off. At that time, you’ll be crouching on your knees, praying the guy coming in the door is well trained. Unfortunately, he won’t be. Because you hated the idea of training.
Good luck with that.
My family has always served in the military,FROM GENERAL JONATHON WAINWRIGHT ON DOWN AND some still serving. Our soldiers know whos side their on. I believe we have the greatest soldiers in the world. I was raised to trust but verify and question everything. And being a texan i know that we would pick up arms in a minute to protect our soldiers in our own country. Thats who we are. Deep down thats who we really are. I truly appreciate your service and want to thank all our military. I know that the people of texas are very infomative people and value the truth. An informed people is a prepared people. We think outside the box and try to prepare for whatever comes. I know you fully understand that being fr om here. There are a lot of people just trying to wrap their heads around the enormity of this exercise and i think also around the foreign troops being here. I can fully understand that. Especially our older citizens. So please take nothing personal
I appreciate the comment, and I haven’t taken anything personally about Jade Helm. Maybe some of the comments claiming I’m out to get them, but not from the exercise or from logical, inquisitive questions. By the way, just to clear up one other misconception, there will be NO foreign troops participating in Jade Helm. I have no idea where that came from, but it’s incorrect.
Thank you for the post. I’m a native Texan and support the military wholeheartedly. I asked a number of my retired military friends before it went viral and they smiled and don’t worry….thank you for all you do and stay safe. Please keep a watchful eye for us.
I live very near the 551st Air Force special operations command and I see the gunships and ospreys in the sky all the time. Just last night I was playing basketball with my nephew and an Apache helicopter flew right over our heads. And we saluted and went back to our game. I see the airmen at the Walmart and Chili’s and they are great guys. People confuse me for one all the time because of my haircut I guess. I always say no ma’am I used to serve not anymore. In many ways the base keeps our town afloat. I have never met anyone from this part of the country who has any hostility towards the military whatsoever. It’s just politics. Neither side trusts the other. If Perry where president right now I’m sure Texans would be welcoming the military with open arms.
Wow… working overseas has left me out of the conspiracy loop. I was unaware of Jade Helm until a friend sent me an email asking what I could tell him about it. One quick glance & I told him “nothing’s more realistic than training off base & stuff like this has been going on for years without issue”.
A question to all the “worriers supposedly in the know”; What is the suspense date for all of this? How long after the exercise is over (with no nefarious actions taken) until you admit it was nothing more than a training exercise? Days, months, years? I’m guessing most of you will never let go; you want so badly to be right about the conspiracy that nothing could ever convince you otherwise.
Ask questions? Yes?
Ask for further explanations? Yes
Continue to cry wolf at those protecting you from the same? No.
I have no personal affiliation with any branch of the military other than three years as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. In that breif amount of time I was able train with members of the Army and Air Force. Many of whom were young graduates of the Air Force Acedemy. I also had the privilege of working with both retired and active duty veterans. At no time did I ever get the impression that these amazing men and women would ever do anything contrary to our constitution and bill of rights. I salute all active duty service men and women and veterans alike. I believe, and this is just my opinion, that the reason so many regular folks are concerned about JADE HELM 15 is not so much distrust of the members of our military, but rather a deep rooted fear that this training exercise could be a sign of incrementalism. Much like boiling a frog slowly as to not let him know he is in trouble of dying. The fear is that the entire exercise is to get people accustomed to military force in our neighborhoods and on our streets. Thereby ratcheting up the heat, so to speak, in order to implement martial law at a future time and with minimal resistance. I understand that this is implying that our military would be enforcing martial law, thereby doing exactly what everyone is afraid of, and maybe this is where the confusion lies. As I said before, this is only my opinion and appreciate any input to enlighten myself regarding this issue. At the risk of being this blogs pariah, I have listened to Alex Jones in the past, and as alarmist as he may be, I would not be aware of anything more than what main stream media bravo sierra get shoves down the publics throats living out on the island of Hawaii. I salute you sir. I appreciate everything everyone has written and believe this forum is only making us stronger as a nation. Thank you for your time.. JK47
I’d agree, except for the comment about people getting used to soldiers in the streets. A. If that was a fear, we should get rid of Fort Hood and Fort Bragg. Killeen and Fayetteville are pretty damned used to soldiers in the street. B. If you see a soldier in uniform on the streets because of Jade Helm, they’ve failed. They’re using an urban environment precisely to train on how to operate overseas WITHOUT looking like a soldier. Anyone who says this is a “conditioning exercise” is off base. If it hadn’t been for the Internet and Alex Jones, nobody in the cities and towns would ever even know USASOC was there. Appreciate the comment.
Thank you for the reply. Alex jones is not the only source of info Outside of the mainstream media. My last post was just my opinion and in definitely open to changing it.. being all the way out here in Hawaii it’s difficult to gauge the situation precisely due to having a mix of information coming from multiple sources. In that regard I believe it’s important to be open to information from multiple sources and look for the truth that lies within past the hyperbole and alarmism..someone said there is a kernel of truth inside most conspiracy theories. I like to get your opinion on where to go for good information on the web other than your blog which is extremely valuable… thank you very much for your time sir. J
Not really worried about Jade Helm. There are more Texans with guns than troops in Jade Helm. Most of them are pretty good shooters.
Broke my arm recently. During conversation my Dr. he told me he was in the Sand Box for several years. Assuming that he was an MD in theater I told him that even though he was “behind the lines” that he must have seen a lot of misery. He looked at me and said ” I was SF”. My arm quit hurting.
Hooah Soldier!!
Sorry we wore you out. We’re wore out too being afraid the president is going to executive order us to death and sell our land and us off of it to repay the national debt or because he wants to be in charge of the NWO. I don’t think you had that last one tossed at ya.
Your reasoning about us, although understandable, does not take into account what we are bombarded with by whoever. Nobody knows who is telling the truth anymore and we’re sick of being lied to.
I came here looking for the truth about JH and when l stated some of the reasons why people are afraid to the point the National Guard is supposed to keep an eye on things down there you take it personally claiming l said l was afraid you’re going to “enslave” us all with 1000 men. Never said enslave and the internet fear machine makes everyone believe there’s way more than that coming.
I guess you wrote this looking for the truth…..you got it too.
As long as you still want some truth, it’s the State Militia, not the National Guard. Two completely different organizations. I don’t know why you keep referring to “you” and “We”, as if we’re separate (“Sorry we wore you out. We’re wore out too..” “You’re reasoning about US”). I – and the men in uniform – ARE you. That’s the whole point. We don’t come from some foreign land, hired like mercenaries to do the bidding of the president. You write like I’m an anthropologist studying some new civilization. And I don’t think I took it personally. I didn’t write this blog “looking” for the truth. All I’m trying to do is exactly what you suggest: Sprinkle a little truth amongst the lies and tamp down, as you so correctly put it, “the internet fear machine”.
Was trying to be nice but snide is your comeback..again. Sorry I didn’t draw a smiley face. You seem to just want to belittle everyone’s fears because YOU feel (know) they are unsubstantiated. My husband spent many years in the Marines and he doesn’t trust the government either considering DHS classified vets as potential threats when he’s an “us” just like you.
So you’re saying that even though the government, which is also “us” and the President who is also supposed to represent and be “us”, and the House and Senate and DHS and ATF and our left wing nut neighbors, etc., etc., who are also “us” may be out to get the people’s guns but trust you, you’re “us”, and you’re not? Makes perfect sense. Don’t know why I was even worried to begin with and I’m fairly sure I’ll be sorry I bothered to reply.
Wow. I re-read what I wrote, and I don’t see the snideness, unless you’re referring to the Guard comment. That wasn’t meant as snide. I can’t tell what you know or don’t know. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be mean, but if I appeared snide it’s precisely because I find myself answering the same accusations over and over agin, with the commenter thinking they’re providing some profound truth – when it’s actually about the four hundredth time someone’s said it. Honestly, I can’t win. If I refute some of the outlandish claims, I’m “belittling” people. If I don’t, then the lies persist. Sorry you feel that way, but I’m glad you are no longer worried, so even if it was perceived as snide, I’m glad I cleared a few things up. As for all of your “us” statements, no, once again, you’ve missed my point. I didn’t say the ATF, or DHS, or any other government organizations are “us”. Only Special Operations. I haven’t served in any of those organizations, and can’t speak to their proclivities, but I do know SOF, and Texas is disproportionately represented within its ranks. Gun owning Texans. Your husband distrusts the government, and that’s fair enough, but would he have taken his squad/platoon/whatever and rounded up guns if ordered? I doubt it. Because he is us. As I said over and over again, the administration has nothing to do with Jade Helm. You can believe otherwise and upfront I’ll agree that on October 1st, after the exercise is over, I’ll blog again with a giant mea culpa if some mass roundup of guns or people has occurred. Here’s my smiley face: : ) Thank you husband for his service for me – and I genuinely mean it.
Thank you for the much kinder reply. Smiley’s help. 😉
So you’re saying you are JH with special operations and we have nothing to fear from you but that you cannot speak for all of those other departments and they won’t be coming with you. Or if you consider the entire USA as the body you’re saying you can only speak for the finger on the left hand and cannot speak for the toe on the right foot since you’re not part of that part of the “body”. Which is also why you don’t know all the answers to all the questions we’ve asked or complained about…right?
Does this also mean that if those other groups were to attempt to carry out some nefarious plot we can call you guys for help? 😉 You can come blend in all the time and we’ll even cook and clean for ya and have your back. That’s what so many have become fearful of…not knowing who is “us” and who is “them”. Sorry if we seem unappreciative. Thanks again for the reply.
Yes. I know about Jade helm and USASOC. The Blog is about Jade Helm. I can answer questions about USASOC Training Exercises all day long, but haven’t a clue why the IRS targeted conservative groups, what the Bureau of Land Management is doing in Wyoming or how long the Walmart stores will remain closed. Actually, this is my blog platform, and I don’t even know how to make a real smiley face like you did. : )
I just did it with the winking version… 😉 it’s magic…lol.
It’s this ; with this ) right after. Guess I should have been more specific with last message but forgot it would show as smiley if written together. My bad.
Lightens up the remarks a bit doesn’t it? You have a good day sir and I really do thank you for your service. Good luck down there in Texas.
Unfortunately, I’m not going to Texas. I’m a has-been that won’t play, but I do remember playing, and it was great fun. Dianne, just for you, another blog I did on something like this. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-taylor/no-really-fiction-is-stra_b_3618740.html
Ha! ha! So you’re a glutton for punishment then? Not your first rodeo. I should have Googled you first. 😉
Is there an official logo for JADE HELM? Is the one currently being blasted across the internet a fake?
I could believe the name is just random words out of a computer program but somebody somewhere is a bit screwed up to come up with that thing: weather its a conspiracy nut or a uniformed paper pusher doodling.
Seriously, MASTER THE HUMAN DOMAIN– you can’t see that is more than a little disconcerting. If it is a fake then lets blast that across the internet– settle this mess and get on with our lives. If not, get off your high horse and find that nit wit and take his pencil away before this turns into something none of us want.
Why is it that everyone who comments here feels it necessary to attack me? “Get off my high horse?” I’m not on a high horse. I’m just detailing facts. I really wish I had a way to link to comments so I didn’t have to answer the same questions over and over. HUMAN DOMAIN is just a dumb ass buzzword that’s come out of Iraq and Afghanistan, detailing that seizing terrain in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency doesn’t win the war.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2013/05/14/generals-human-domain-will-dictate-future-wars/ You have to win the “human domain”, both in leveraging friendly host nation assets to enhance your combat power, and targeting the enemy side to dislocate the organization and help dismantle it. People make it out to be some sort of New World Order thing when it’s really just a stupid buzzword, something the military is very fond of, like “information dominance” was before, when the internet started taking hold. Why is that disconcerting? No matter what was on that slide, some asshole on the internet could take it and run with it. Supposed it said, “Information Dominance”? Same thing would happen. Or “Concentrating mass effects at the center of gravity”? Or anything. It would be the same. Hell, if it said, “Learning to eat soup with a knife”, someone would have extrapolated how the Illuminati used knives with soup. People believe what they want. Next thing I’ll see is Alex Jones saying I’M secretly a member of the Illuminati. And no, exercises don’t have official logos. The official briefing had a cover slide, which some nimrod made simply pulling up a buzzword, not realizing how the fringes in the world would take that and run with it once it leaked on the internet.
Hello again,
If you’ve already talked about this just ignore me…I’ll find it later on…but the biggest issue with the logo since l don’t see MOM telling you EXACTLY what the people had a problem with was the supposedly shadowy wooden shoe in the center. One place said was called a Sabot for sabotage and another said it was an exact replica of shoes given to the Jews in the death camps. Neither sounded good. I suppose they think they’re being funny? Maybe they own stock in prepping supplies? Or write books? 😉
I think the people might be calming down a bit about the exercise. Regarding calming people down…Have you noticed the series coming up called Texas Rising commercials have “You Must Rise” written on one of the screens and the continuous Jeep Renegade commercial singing “Renegades” about living like one? The words to both of these commercials songs are inciting types. They subliminally incite people like popcorn flashing by at the old drive’in movies… Popcorn at movies is pretty harmless but those two aren’t. It is supposed to be about making money, not getting people hurt by causing subconscious fear. Guess there isn’t anything we can do about it except notice it for what it is and try to calm fears.
Well sorry if I’m repeating something someone already mentioned further than I read last week but maybe I’ve told you something new. Have a good day!
Like I said, find the nit wit and take his pencil away from him. Most of this internet crap would not be happening if there was a little more thought put into stupid buzzwords. After all, If you don’t stir up shit you won’t smell like shit.
Apparently, you didn’t read my comment. The only way not to “stir up shit” would be to sit on our hands and suck our thumb. Doesn’t matter what USASOC does, people will find reason to fear. Next, you’ll say that choosing the name HELM was stupid because it could be made into the ludicrous acronym Homeland Extermination of Local Militia. That logo was nothing more than a cover slide to a powerpoint presentation. If people can turn that into the end of time, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion it doesn’t matter what happens, something will be “stirring up shit”.
Brad,
There’s something that hasn’t been made clear during this entire discussion that may explain why so many of us are paranoid. I’m in my 70’s and have seen a lot of stuff go down over the years. (BTW, I’m former USAF 1962-1966)
Do you remember Kent State in 1970? Young men wearing military uniforms (Ohio National Guard) opened fire on American civilians. At the time, we could not believe that American soldiers would shoot American civilians. Wow, what an education that was!
Successive governments have led this country into wars that should have never happened and were predicated on lies at the highest level. Vietnam and Iraq are two classic examples. Because of those lies, and the willingness of American soldiers to do what they were told, tens of thousands of American soldiers died and an even larger number were maimed for life.
Based on the past, those of us today would not be at all surprised to see American soldiers told to attack American civilians and those soldiers to simply follow orders. Most assuredly, those in the highest levels of government would tell the soldiers that it was necessary because the civilians were rebelling against the government and so it was justified to attack them. Good soldiers follow orders, no?
Now, it may well be that SOF personnel would refuse to follow those orders but I can almost guarantee that regular army troops would simply do what they were told.
You may not like hearing that, but it is what it is.
An interesting adjunct to my comments. I’m currently reading a book called “The Protocol” by J. Robert Kennedy. While the plot is somewhat “Indiana Jones”ish, part of what is described reinforces my above comments. A Delta Force unit is tasked with killing innocent American citizens by a corrupt administration. Being good soldiers who always follow orders from their commanders, they proceed to execute a number of innocent people while sincerely believing that they are actually killing Americans terrorists – along the lines of Timothy McVeigh.
My point is this. To say that SOF (or any other military unit) would never attack innocent Americans is basically unrealistic. If you are told that the target is a bad guy and you need to take him down, you will. After all, questioning orders leads to a breakdown of the chain of command and that would never be allowed.
I would be very interested in your response to this.
Having never read the book, I can’t comment on the scene. I can,however, comment on your statement. I will say that, yes, if a target is presented in such a manner as to be an imminent threat to the United States, USASOC would respond. If given the chance, they would have attempted killing or capturing Anwar al Awlaki. Having said that, come on! Let’s get real. Such targeting takes months and years. Teams are read on to target packets over and over and never execute. There is NEVER a time where something pops in 15 seconds and you’re handed a target package to execute from an absolute cold start. The only instance of such things is because the target is out shooting people, proving his threat status by his actions. I’m sure that book made it seem real, but it’s just another example of what I mentioned – a lack of expertise in the population of what really happens. We just had an assault in Syria (which, by the way, was executed successfully precisely because of training in the United States. There will be plenty of cheering about that hit, but no reflection on how those skills were honed in the United States, despite Alex Jones types hyperventilating about martial law), and that target took MONTHS to build up. The administration doesn’t pick targets for the military. That comes from internal intelligence generated by the military and then taken to the administration, asking for permission to execute. For your book, the conspiracy would have to be enormously huge, with the entire intelligence architecture in on the plot. In SOF, we aren’t sitting around playing on an X-box waiting on POTUS to hand us a target. We’re actively engaged in developing those targets, reading intel day after day. For Jade Helm, we’re not talking about a pinpoint strike in the heart of Texas, against a single target. We’re talking about an exercise spanning four states that has been briefed months in advance. Are you saying that all the players have been kept in a cave, told that the end of the world is near, and the US is going to unleash them to save the day? All 1200 operators are now in a secret bunker, cut off from the outside world, and being told that Texas is the antichrist? Then, when they’re unleashed, they won’t talk to a single person to determine the current state of affairs? And they’ll now attempt martial law roundup over four states? It’s ridiculous. I get that some plots in books are realistic – hell I write such books – but it’s a mistake to take such fiction and apply it to the real world. In fact, I wrote a blog about this very thing: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-taylor/no-really-fiction-is-stra_b_3618740.html As far as SOF goes, questioning orders – far from being never allowed – is the heart of their existence. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been questioned, from the reasons for even doing the mission to the tactics involved. And that was in combat, in a foreign land. A peacetime operation on US soil would be exponentially worse. People can write books all day long about how “Delta Force” are a bunch of robots killing on command, but that doesn’t make it true, anymore than someone writing about a war between vampires and lycans is true. Check anyone who writes such scenarios. None of them will have ever served anywhere near that level, anymore than Anne Rice has met a vampire. The fact is that your statement is fundamentally incorrect, and is precisely the thesis of my blog. Because you’ve never served in such a unit – and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way at all. I understand you were in the USAF, so don’t take that as a pejorative – you have an image of what a SOF soldier will do, but it is fundamentally untrue. As is the story you mention. It makes for good fiction, but is not correct.
Thanks for the detailed reply, Brad. Accordingly, I stand corrected as regards the book scenario.
However, I still stand by my initial reply in which I stated that it is not far-fetched to imagine that American military units would attack American civilians given the average soldiers tendency to follow orders without question – after all, that concept is drummed into them during basic training. How would you respond to my assertions?
Succinctly, that the “average soldier” extends all the way up through the ranks. They aren’t just the privates. We don’t have a mass army of US Citizens blindly following orders from robots. You’d have to start with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs blindly taking an unlawful order from POTUS to start rounding people up, he would then blindly issue said orders to a Combatant Commander – in this case NORTHCOM – who would then, without question at all, turn around and begin issuing unlawful orders to his subordinates, wich would eventually trickle down to the battalion commander, who would repeat the unlawful order to his company commander, and eventually it would get to the soldiers. Yes, it is drummed into soldiers in Basic Training to follow orders, but just as hard is it drummed into soldiers NOT to follow unlawful orders. We aren’t nazi Germany, swearing blind obedience to the president. Our Army is different precisely because we swear allegiance to a document – the constitution – not to a title or position.
You still ignore the elephant in the room. A political decision at the highest levels was made to send our troops into battle in Vietnam – based on a lie – a decision made by civilians and accepted at the highest level of military command. The same thing occurred in Iraq. Again, our military was sent into harms way based on a lie promulgated by politicians at the highest level. In neither case did the top military command say, “Wait a minute – this isn’t right!”. In both cases, the military “blindly” followed orders and committed troops to a fight that they should never have agreed to. Those were unlawful orders then and remain so to this day, yet our military did what they were told. Ergo, to suggest they wouldn’t do so again is “pie in the sky” thinking in my humble opinion.
You are conflating two different things. Faulty intelligence is not “a lie”. That’s pejorative and tainted speech. You can believe that Bush invented all the intelligence on WMD in Iraq, then fed it into the system, but that doesn’t make it true. It most certainly wasn’t an unlawful order. I understand the political debate going on with that decision in light of the upcoming presidential election, but the fact remains that THE WORLD believed Saddam had WMD. He himself hinted he did, and he HAD used such WMD on his own people in the past. Yes, the drumbeat to go to war was loud, but it wasn’t Bush ordering the military to invade in the face of every other country and our entire body of elected officials screaming NO!, then the Military running to invade despite this overwhelming disagreement. People can have their own opinions but not their own facts. I’m not going to debate Iraq (or Vietnam) but the fact remains that neither was an unlawful order. Misguided, perhaps, but not unlawful. As for not doing them again, US Foreign Policy is replete with such sentiment, sometimes for the worse. We left Vietnam, and when Cambodia turned into the killing fields under the sway of the Khmer Rouge, we said, “not again”. 2 million people died. Look, I’m not going to change your mind. You feel A.) Military action is unlawful at its base, and B.) The US Military is designed for combat, ergo, it will conduct unlawful actions. In your mind, there is no difference between the US Military, and the military of Idi Amin. Let’s just agree to disagree. In the end, when October rolls around, and Jade Helm is over, you’ll still have the ability to disagree, because the US military isn’t coming to get you.
Brad,
We are sliding way off base from your original post. First, let me state, unequivocally, that your A and B assertions are wrong, wrong, wrong. Military action, when properly applied, can be necessary and lawful – WWII was a valid example and maybe Korea. It is highly questionable as to how lawful all American military adventures have been since 1953. I am very pro-military but I do not like seeing our troops being misused by politicians.
I remember the days leading up to Iraq and there were any number of people around the world trying to stop the American government’s rush to war. Yet, Bush/Cheney wanted to invade Iraq come hell or high water and so the military followed the chain of command and in it went.
To return to the original point of this post (JADE HELM), it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the US military will be used against American civilians if the politicians in Washington, DC deem it expedient. Any generals who resist their orders will be summarily dismissed and men with lesser ethics will be placed in charge and told to execute the orders from their civilian bosses. The rest of the chain of command all the way down to the rifle-carrying grunt will follow orders.
To suggest to me, and countless others, that we can absolutely rely on our military to never attack American civilians beggars belief. We have only to look to the past to see the fallacy in that train of thought. An example was the Bonus Army in 1932 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army) . Promises made to American veterans were not kept and the politicians used active military to attack the veterans. As stated previously, Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on American college students at Kent State. One could argue that those were aberrations. One could also argue that, since it’s been done before, there’s no reason to think it won’t happen again.
You, and others in SOF, may well be the most ethical people in the world and may even be counted on to adhere to your constitutional oath. However, SOF will not be on the front lines in America. Simple grunts who unquestionably follow orders will be there instead.
I suppose that we will have to agree to disagree. You cannot conceive that American military would ever be used against American civilians. I, and many others in this forum, believe otherwise.
Yes, we are sliding off topic, but it’s not me doing so. This whole debate is – or should be – about JADE HELM. A SOF exercise. You can extrapolate it to mean what you want with references to bonus marchers and Kent State, but that doesn’t alter what it is. A SOF EXERCISE. They will be the ones on the “front lines in America” doing the training, just like they were on the front lines in Syria a few days ago. But I guess, in order to protect ourselves from a repeat of Kent State, we shouldn’t allow them to train anywhere, casualties on future missions in Syria be damned. The ultimate irony is that Kent State was precisely a result of substandard training in the National Guard, and yet you use it as a cudgel to prevent future training. Your talk about “promises made to veterans that were not kept” rings hollow when you don’t give a crap about promises made to people still serving in harm’s way in defense of our nation – namely that they’d get the training they need for combat. “Simple grunts who unquestionably follow orders” won’t be in JADE HELM. What will be there are people fear-mongering with historical blisters to prevent the very training that allows our SOF forces to succeed. Thanks for that.
Wow, Brad. You have totally misinterpreted everything I’ve said.
People on this forum originally expressed concern that JADE HELM would be misused by the administration and you absolutely denigrated that idea as if such a thing could NEVER happen in this country. I attempted to show you why that wasn’t necessarily true by showing examples of not only lying administrations but actual cases of misuse of our military by politicians.
You need to understand that I am not anti-military. I totally admire the courageous men and women in uniform and respect SOF. What I do resent is the way politicians use-and-abuse our military to serve purely political ends. It is a shame you have misunderstood my comments. 🙁
BTW, I keep forgetting to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your books.
Misrepresented? I don’t see how. I just used your own words:
1.First, you had this: “To return to the original point of this post (JADE HELM), it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the US military will be used against American civilians if the politicians in Washington, DC deem it expedient. Any generals who resist their orders will be summarily dismissed and men with lesser ethics will be placed in charge and told to execute the orders from their civilian bosses. The rest of the chain of command all the way down to the rifle-carrying grunt will follow orders.”
2. You then discussed the bonus marchers and Kent State, with a helpful link, the obvious conclusion that Jade Helm will be like those two events. “…since it’s been done before, there’s no reason to think it won’t happen again.”
3. Finally, you once again talked about the zombie-like qualities all Army people have. What was it? Oh yeah, “Simple grunts who unquestionably follow orders.”
Thus, I deduced that you don’t want Jade Helm to occur, regardless of the training SOF will get. I honestly don’t see how that was misrepresented. Basically you believe it’s possible that the administration has secretly created an ulterior plan counter to the US Constitution for rounding up Texans. In order to do this, he’s fired any general who stands in his way until all he has left are those that agree with said plan. We soldiers down low, of course, don’t know about this, and as “simple grunts”, will follow any orders given, regardless of our oath to the constitution. From your comments, in your mind, since Kent State was a real event, and such a conspiracy DID happen in a fiction book you read, it’s possible – nay probable – that it will happen here. Thus, better safe than sorry. JADE HELM’s got to go.
Not once did you ever mention the benefits of training, or the necessity for SOF to maintain a razor’s edge. In fact, in all the discussion of Kent State and bonus marchers, not once did you even acknowledge that Jade Helm was completely different from your examples because it was a planned SOF exercise vice a deployment driven by outside events. The absence was glaring, and obviously you believe a) the training’s not necessary, or b) it’s a lie. Given your comments, I deduced you believe b. I’ll take you at your word that my deduction was wrong, but honestly can’t see how you could be confused about how I reached it.
As for your thesis, it is flawed at its base. You expand a tragedy at Kent State to mean that the entire DOD chain of command deployed to that campus with orders in hand from POTUS to kill protestors. If that’s not what you meant, then it’s a logical fallacy to use it to justify an argument against Jade Helm,because it doesn’t fit. It’s like me saying all dogs have four legs, and you then telling me my kitchen table is a dog. Kent State bears no resemblance to Jade Helm, and does not support your thesis that the entire chain of command can be co-opted by the president to do his bidding against the US Constitution. The only way Kent State applies is precisely if the DOD chain of command, answering solely to the president, was either a) complicit in a presidential conspiracy to kill protestors in Ohio and deployed with those orders in hand, or b) blindly followed orders like a Zombie from that same president to kill protestors. Is that what you meant? Because that WOULD, in fact, fall in line with the JADE HELM conspiracy theories.
If that’s misrepresented, you really should go back and read what you wrote, starting with how my blog “beggars belief”. As for you stating you’re not “anti-military”, there’s not a whole lot of military love in your comments, short of you saying, “I love the military”. All I can read in your comments is blatant distrust. You called me (and every other soldier) a war criminal (which is what someone who conducts an unlawful act in wartime is. As you believe that both the Iraq and Vietnam wars were unlawful, I guess Hanoi was right when they called McCain, Stockdale, and all the rest of the POWs “war criminals”.) and said I (and every other soldier) have no honor or moral compass (because I’ll blindly do what I’m told, regardless of the order, following like a sheep, ignoring my oath to the constitution). Of course, you follow that up with, “But I love the military.” It reminds me of another commenter who basically called me a Nazi Gestapo stormtrooper and finished her note with “thank you for your service”, because, you know, that absolves her of her hate.
Maybe I misread what you wrote, but I think if you placed your comments on a desk, had someone impartial read them, then gave them my reply, they’d say, “Yeah, I see where he’s coming from. The first guy doesn’t trust the military.” Sorry if I was off the mark.
Glad you’re enjoying the series, but please remember, THEY’RE FICTION. We don’t actually have a Taskforce that answers to the President.
By the way, as long as we’re cherry picking events to support our respective positions, here’s an example of your “simple grunt”. Michael New was a soldier from Texas who refused to wear a UN uniform because he said it was against his oath. According to your thesis, this action would be impossible because he would have blindly followed the order without question. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/24/world/gi-gets-support-for-shunning-un-insignia.html
Nice job. I know what it’s like when the loons act as if it’s you who’s the hostile fanatic wedded to a fringe theory. Giving out some “inside baseball” (i.e., how ops are named) gets surprising milage, especially with those who’re trying to impress the less-knowing commentariat.
Having said that, I’m skeptical that those with less experience/contact with the military are necessarily more likely to buy into JHesteria. Jones. I’m guessing the inflection point is probably believing in 1+ conspiracy theories already. That’s because a loon usually confuses the possibility that USASOC would sneak around in Texas (or that DHS would buy a bunch of ammo, etc.) if they were plotting a takeover with the probability that a takeover is nigh if they’re sneaking around, etc. The rabbit hole gets very deep once you forget that examples only count as evidence if there is not a better theory around that explains them.* This may explain why get being proved wrong about bad things doesn’t come as a relief to them.
*Granted, we all do this; most of us, though, limit it to wondering why the girl we just met isn’t texting as much as she did a week ago.
As others have noted, the only reason people are being more paranoid than usual is due to the deep mistrust of the current administration. The people who believe this is some kind of conspiracy are simply the outliers who reflect a general feeling of unease over the potential for government shenanigans.
Wow – Still going strong almost 20 days since my first posting. While Brad has demonstrated that he is more than capable of returning fire on his own and doesn’t need my help, I think it’s important to return to one of the central themes mentioned in his original blog. In a few weeks I will be attending an army promotion ceremony to O-5 for a soldier I mentored as a cadet many years ago. It’s a stunning insult to men like him, or my former roommate – an SF soldier now roaming the halls of the Pentagon – for all of you conspiracy minded crotch weeds to suggest that men (or women) like them would somehow be complicit in some fantastical direct action against their fellow citizens. Question the administration? Fine – I do too. Question the character of the American soldier? You are obviously not smart enough to recognize the difference.
Chris B –
You and Brad just don’t get it. We are not questioning the character of the American soldier. We are questioning the government. If the average American soldier is tasked to do something by his commander that seems legitimate because he is given plausible reasons why it needs to be done, he will more than likely comply. If said troops truly believe they are rounding up rebellious citizens, they will do it. To deny that is to deny American history. Look it up. It has happened before. Why do you refuse to believe it can’t happen again?
To engage in ad hominem attacks on American citizens who question the government, who history has proven beyond any doubt lies to any degree necessary to achieve its own nefarious ends, makes you part of the problem, not part of the solution
No Sam, you don’t get it. My friends ARE the “commanders” you reference and I unhesitatingly place my trust in them to never execute any “nefarious” orders in the first place. Let’s shelve this discussion until the conclusion of the Jade Helm exercise. When the population of the SW U.S. HASN’T been rounded up and shipped off to reprogramming facilities or molested in any other way, we can trade notes again.
To pile on here, you say, “To deny that is to deny American History. Look it up.” Okay, I tried to find a single instance where a training exercise was cloaked as a conspiracy to round up US citizens. In fact, i can’t find a single instance from a credible source where a military exercise was used for ANYTHING other than its intended purpose. When did this occur? Please enlighten me – and don’t use the Japanese detention camps. That doesn’t fit the thesis, as we’d just been attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, and it was not the US Military acting unilaterally, nor operating in secret. There was no subterfuge in that action, like is being accused of Jade Helm. I find it humorous that the people who use such examples to justify a fear of Jade Helm are usually the same people screaming that we should deport or lock up all Muslims, US Citizen or otherwise.
Chris B’s point is that the ORDERS you call “plausible” are also given by soldiers. Soldiers like me. There isn’t a cabal of nefarious commanders outside of the recruitment process. In order for this to happen, you’d have to co-opt the entire department of defense, regardless of who was in power in the administration. It’s precisely what makes the US Military different from every other one on earth. We don’t swear fealty to a king or Fuhrer or government. We swear an oath to a document – the US Constitution. That oath transcends administrations and leaders, and is something I think the average civilian just doesn’t get. It’s precisely the point of the blog. Administrations can come and go, but the oath remains constant.
You got to love how deep the conspiracy theorists go with their theories and research behind it. And they actually seem pretty convincing about it to the untrained eye & ignorant mind !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-2SweY33m4
In the video, wouldn’t you agree sir, that to the untrained eye & the inexperienced civilian, their theories actually makes one think twice ? This video has an interview with the San Antonio, Texas Police Chief about Delta Force exercise conducted in his city.
In my own honest, inexperienced opinion, I simply cannot fathom the Soldiers of a democratic nation with a democratically elected leader who are patriotic enough to join their military to safeguard their nation and it’s people, including their own friends and family, would literally invade and round up THEIR OWN population in concentration camps. It seems as ridiculous as walking into your own home and locking up your own wife & kids for no reason..
3 simple reasons why this conspiracy is not true :
1 : It’s their OWN DAMN PEOPLE ! Their own friends, family, wives & children. Within their own national borders. They’re not invading a foreign country here.
2 : It’s called the United States Of America. Not People’s Republic Of China, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ( north korea ).
3 Obama and his party simply don’t have the legal authority and power to make USA into the countries mentioned above. The constitution and the Congress will never let that happen.
Íf an argument for a conspiracy can be made out of this exercise, it’s about United States preparing to invade a foreign country, most probably in the Middle East.
Just my 2 cents.
l1,
Just because someone takes an oath does not mean they will keep it. I have seen many politicians break their oaths, same as many law enforcement agencies who are suppose to serve and protect and they don’t seem to hesitate to shoot unarmed American citizens. Oaths and promises are made and then broken more times than I can count. I also know that in the real world not just the military that when you have someone who works under you and they disobey an order you get fired. They will replace that person with someone I like to call “yes men”. Someone who will follow orders without question. I am one not to believe everything I read on the internet but alot does bring into question what our gov’t is really planning behind the scences, example: why is the Obama admin. relieving high ranking military personnel from duty. Is he weeding out the non “yes men” ? And as far as the JADE HELM 15, why do everyone who questions the exercise get labeled a conspiracy theorist. Brad… there is nothing in this world that is 100% for certain. I know you have done many of these exercises but things do change and so does the thought processes and reasoning of people who are in powerful positions and give orders for their agenda and not for the people. You must remember that because you are a true patriot and oath keeper does not mean everyone the military have your morales, vaues and ethics. Just food for thought.
Having read all these comments, it seems to me as an outsider that many Texans are fearful, paranoid, and easily led by their emotions. Do they think logically? Do they listen to a decent answer? Who wants to commandeer Texas anyway? I think they just want to be scared and bloviate. If the government wanted to wipe them out…they should be glad they don’t live in a third world country. They see too many movies and enjoy complaining.
Another changed mind, I guess my fears were related to our president, who I also believe does not have our best interests at heart as a nation. Thank you so much for writing this. I love our military, my son in law is serving in the Marines at Camp Lejeune now. I’m so sorry for believing the rumor mills, I never intended to dishonor our troops! I’ll be sharing this if I can find a share button. Thank you for your service, from the bottom of my Texas heart!
So what you are saying is that JADE HELM is simply a training exercise… and I will continue the thought by saying it is a training exercise that can possibly be executed at a future date.
With the military now accepting illegals with DACA creds, I am not sure I will be able to trust the military in the future. How can the military accept anyone whose birthright allegiance lies elsewhere?
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/01/16/bills-open-military-to-some-illegal-immigrants.html
and
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/25/policy-to-allow-undocumented-immigrants-in-military/16225135/
We already know that Obama, and now presidential candidates Cruz and Rubio, do not qualify under the Natural Born Citizen’ clause yet NO ONE, military or otherwise has done anything to oust the usurper or call to task Cruz/Rubio.
Note: the ‘natural born citizen’ clause was defined in Congress by Rep Bingham in 1862 with no opposition:
The Constitution leaves no room for doubt upon this subject. The words “natural-born citizen of the United States” occur in it Who are natural-born citizens but those born within the Republic? Those born within the Republic All from other lands, who, by the terms of your laws and a compliance with their provisions becomes naturalized, are adopted citizens of the United States; all other persons born within the Republic, of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty, are natural-born citizens. Gentlemen can find no exception to this statement touching natural-born citizen except what is said in the Constitution in relation to Indians.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llcg&fileName=059/llcg059.db&recNum=680
And again in 1866:
“I find no fault with the introductory clause, which is simply declaratory of what is written in the Constitution, that every human being born within the jurisdiction of the United States of parents not owing allegiance to any foreign sovereignty is, in the language of your Constitution itself, a natural-born citizen.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llcg&fileName=071/llcg071.db&recNum=332
Obama admits to a foreign born father which leaves no doubt to his ineligibility as stated in the Constitution and defined by Congress twice. An order to the military by Obama as Commander in Chief is therefore an unConstitutional and illegal order according to the Supreme Law of the Land and Congress.
Most Americans today do not even know or care what the clause means, and when those that become aware of its meaning and intent – to deny foreigners a hold of the Executive Branch – do nothing, especially military personnel who will take orders from such a usurper, patriotic Americans will become alarmed. Elections cannot and do not abrogate that specific Constitutional requirement.
So now we have an unConstitutional presidents allowing people who do not legitimately have allegiance to this country into the military and for many that spells disaster.
Brad, I know you are angry at anyone who dares to hint at mistrust, and I completely sympathize with your stance – you know who you are and have many friends who feel just as you do – but you cannot guarantee what the future holds and it is that fact that has people concerned.
I thank you for writing your post to allay fears, but in all honesty, the best defense is an informed, alert and armed American citizen citizenry, just as Madison advised in his Federalist #46. Or do you have a problem with Madison, too?
A. I’m not “angry”. I’m bewildered. B. I agree about an “informed, alert and armed citizenry”. This blog is precisely intended to inform. I disagree with misinformed citizenry, which leads to needless paranoia. Information is not knowledge unless applied with intellectual rigor, something lacking with respect to Jade Helm. It seems that just because something is on the Internet, it’s taken as gospel. Exhibit A: I just saw a YouTube video where the man described how Jade Helm was a satanic ritual. C. I can guarantee precisely what the future holds with respect to Jade Helm. It’s in the blog. My discussing the finite left and right limits of Jade helm was not intended to be a thesis on the future of our republic. D. I have no idea what you mean by “Do you have a problem with Madison, too.” I’m not sure how you took the blog to mean I have some unspoken issue with our founding fathers.
Wow, talk about stirring up a hornet’s nest. I am from the UK so by all means tell me to keep my nose out, but bystanders often see more of the game. What strikes me is the fact that nobody seems to be questioning the actual declared purpose of this exercise. Why does the American military believe that it has the God-given right to control and police, by military means, the citizens and civilians of anywhere in the world? Would IS and other forms of terrorist threat exist in any strength, if it were not for US intrusion in Middle East affairs? Look at the desolation now obtaining in every part of the world where civilian control,by Western troops, such as Jade Helm is designed to practise as an exercise, has been used. Even when the focus is turned upon its own homeland, this destructive behaviour, although obviously causing understandable alarm, has its’ defenders apparently. Mercy, mercy me.
Yeah, you’re clearly out on a limb. Yes, they ARE questioning the actual declared purpose of the exercise. That’s precisely what they’re questioning. They see the exercise as cover for something else. As for your comment, Jade Helm is NOT an exercise designed to simulate “civilian control from Western troops”, but good job twisting the conversation to your pet political gripe. Maybe bystanders often do see more, but you’ve missed it by about a light-year and clearly have no clue whatsoever about your own military, much less United States SOF. In the United States, the military executes policy set by duly elected civilian officials. We don’t have a “god given right” to do anything. While you vomit your hatred for US military activities abroad, you seem to miss UK participation. Seems to me I remember working hand in glove with the SAS in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I’ve heard the UK citizen spew the same conspiracy theories about them. Glass houses…
You want to spout off about American policies in the middle east, do it somewhere else. While you’re at it, why don’t you go bitch at France for intervening in Mali. A little “western control” there prevented a disaster. Oh, wait. That kept jihadists out of Britain, so I guess that was okay.
Again, wow, hornets etc. Can’t remember my vomiting hatred, but there we go, maybe it was somebody else. I do seem to recall that we were discussing an exercise in America involving exclusively American troops so your comments regarding UK involvement in the Middle East (Blair hanging, oh so lucratively, onto the Bush coat tails) is not directly relevant, and reference to France certainly isn’t.
Your short fuse, when you claim to represent the US military, demonstrates many points made against your argument. and you personally. You would be more convincing in debate if you could keep your temper.
Actually, YOU’RE the one who brought up current affairs in the Middle East, not me or my blog. You’re the one blaming all the world’s woes on a rampaging US military, then combining that into some twisted discussion of Jade Helm. I thought this statement was pretty much “vomiting forth”:”Why does the American military believe that it has the God-given right to control and police, by military means, the citizens and civilians of anywhere in the world?” And then your snide comment at the end, that since I support Jade Helm, I support putting a boot on the throat of everyone in the Middle East.
By the way, as long as we’re discussing YOUR comments, this is a little bit off (although, strangely, contrary to what you think, it does talk about US involvement in the Middle East as if it was unilateral, without any involvement from the UK, which generated my comment you find irrelevant): “Would IS and other forms of terrorist threat exist in any strength, if it were not for US intrusion in Middle East affairs?”
I think any student of history would tell you to look a little deeper at the causes of strife in the Middle East, perhaps at the modern construct of state lines in the Middle East after World War I, done without thought to race, religion or tribal affiliations. It’s called Sykes-Picot,and guess who did it? The United Kingdom. But I’m sure I’m off-base reading your comments, because I’m just so full of anger. I can see how that “demonstrates many points made against my argument”. Actually, no I don’t.
And my comment about France was made to directly counter your assertion that it’s ONLY the United States running around the Middle East. It’s not, as much as you wish it to be so.
Yes, you are right, in that Britain has a huge backlog historically of wrongdoing, and not only in the Middle East but does that explain why so many people are now concerned about Jade Helm? I don’t think so, therefore in this discussion, opening that can of worms is just another distraction. Stop wasting time and energy on being “full of anger” and trying to score points. You will never understand what you are being told when you are predominantly concerned with defending your point of view by violently attacking those who question it. We are, all of us, sometimes, dreadfully misled, and a wise man will always consider that possibility.
Your opponents in this discussion are repeatedly trying to make you understand that they see Jade Helm as a potential escalation of frightening events that are happening around them, obviously under government direction, but which are never satisfactorily explained. Why, for example, have the FEMA camps been built all over America, but never discussed or shown on mainstream media? Why has discussion of 9/11, specifically the way in which WTC7 fell in exactly the same way as the Twin Towers but without being hit by a plane, frowned upon as trouble making conspiracy? Surely in a nation famous for skyscrapers there should be huge interest, if only from the safety indications? Yet, throughout the West, talking about this massive historical event, this pivotal point in the planet’s history, is discouraged.
But I sense that I am just cruising for another bruising. You have heard all this before.
Nope. No bruising on this one. You finally came out of your shell. I make it a point to never try to convince anyone about the benign nature of Jade Helm to someone who has already bought into much more fanciful conspiracy theories. All I wanted to do was state the facts of Jade Helm. I’ve had plenty who thanked me, and are now relaxed about the exercise, so I’ll take that as a win. Folks like you I’ll never convince, so it’s not really worth it to try. I mean, how can I convince you that there aren’t FEMA camps all over the United States, when your sole proof of them is a LACK of them being shown in the media? As for my “point of view”, I’m not debating from a position of opinion. Just facts. As for 9/11, the conspiracies have been pretty much beat to death: http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a49/1227842/
And where have I “violently attacked” a point of view? Outside of your slur that the US Military feels it has a “God given right” to rampage willy-nilly? I mean, really, it’s like you walked into a friends house, met his wife and said, “You’re a fat one, aren’t you?” Then, looked confused when the friend takes it as an insult. On the contrary, I’ve taken an inordinate amount of time to answer the questions posed instead of doing real work. You call my comments a “distraction” and trying to “win points”, when you’re the person who brought up the “distraction” in the first place. I would have been more than willing to talk to you about Jade Helm, but YOU were the one that went off on a tangent about IS, the Middle East, Western Imperialism, and other things that have nothing at all to do with Jade Helm. If it’s a “distraction”, it’s yours to own.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/towards-a-militarized-police-state-in-america-explosive-new-revelations-over-jade-helm-15-exercise-and-potential-false-flags/5451965
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Would you mind reading this and commenting? I really appreciate all your infirmation
It’s a lot of hyperbole. I’m not going to take it point by point, but it’s just a bunch of blather. You can find the same things about the Bush administration after Katrina: http://greaterthings.com/News/daily/2005/09/06/6600916_Bush_behind_Katrina/ Headline? Sounds pretty much like the ones everyone is accusing Obama about: “U.S. Black Ops and other colluding extra-governmental shadow-entities have obtained significant mastery of weather engineering after decades of practice. The same cabal that brought us 911 has now brought us Katrina, to push the U.S. and the rest of the world closer to Martial law.”
Does that sound vaguely familiar? Because it’s from a decade ago. Anyone wanting to find a reason to hate and fear will do so. Right off the bat, your link is wrong. Jade Helm is NOT a an exercise “In conjunction with Local Law enforcement, FBI, DHS, DEA…” etc, etc, etc. Are local LE involved? Hell yea. Local support is precisely because the members playing have to be sure that local authorities are involved and witting, as I detailed in the blog with what happened in Robin Sage, an exercise that’s been going on since the 1950’s. Will Federal LE forces be involved? Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not read on to the entire synch matrix of the exercise, but if there’s a component that would need to be exercised – say a dirty bomb inside the United States – then they might be. Contrary to all the conspiracy theorists, it’s PRECISELY to iron out the rules of play with respect to the military operating inside the United States. Precisely because we have laws that we must protect and adhere to. At the end of the day, when a radiological dispersion device (dirty bomb) is a threat in the United States, which it could be, you would want the best force dealing with that situation. The fact remains that that force is military. Local Law enforcement just don’t have the expertise or capability to deal with it, and nor should they. There are a million threats out there, and the military deals with them in the course of their everyday job overseas in combat. Why reinvent the wheel for every single law enforcement organization? Because of our well-reasoned fear of overt force rampaging in our country, that military unit with the expertise is prevented from operating for all the right reasons. So, when the hammer hits the nail, do you want everyone asking the question of what to do? Or do you want them knowing what to do, because they’ve rehearsed the procedures required to save lives? WITHIN the US Constitution and United States Code?
BE SURE AND NOTE – I AM NOT READ ON TO THE PARTICULAR FACETS OF JADE HELM. I only speak from the experience of 20 plus years doing the same type of exercises. I wanted to write that NOBODY but US military is participating, which is what I fully believe, but I don’t want to be called out as a liar, and then trumpeted as a shill for the New World Order by assholes with an internet connection if I’m wrong. For the record, I don’t think any of what I just wrote is going to happen. It’s just a damn military exercise, like a bazillion that have happened before. All LE involvement is simply deconfliction to prevent a tragedy and/or to give the LE forces the information they need if someone asks a question. What’s funny is that in involving all of the LE forces precisely to prevent conspiracy theories from brewing, their involvement is now the ENDSTATE of conspiracy theories. You can’t win.
If possible I would like to use this site to convey my sympathy to the people of Texas who have suffered so grievously from the terrible storms. Those pictures of home destruction are heartbreaking, and the thought of houses invaded by stinking flood water, and the loss of life, is beyond heartbreak. No doubt the troops that Jade Helm has already brought into the area will be of great assistance in creating restoration? That would certainly make many reconsider, and be far more effective than any ill tempered verbiage seeking to defend this exercise.
Thank you for the heartfelt concern. My sister and mother are in the heart of it, but luckily, have so far been spared. As for the troops of Jade Helm, as I stated in other comments, there are only a little over 1000 spread out over four states and four months. Not nearly enough at any given point to do any good other than as a propaganda piece for the very effect you mention, which would, in my mind, be selfish and duplicitous. The Texas National Guard, which actually has the mandate for disaster relief, is much larger and better equipped to deal with the situation. Thank you for the thought, though.
Brad,
So your saying that the military has train in the back yards of American Citizens for years? And list states as Hostile?
I mean there are facilities that have been paid for the the people of the United States for the Military to run drills and yes some of which may back up to populated areas.
But other than the the drills in the last few years, where Special Ops. Drop down on US Citizens In FL. where the general population was unaware. Please tell me when and where these drill’s like Jade Helm have taken place.
I have looked on line for days, with no luck, I have not found any information regarding such things.
If this is the first in US history…
That doesn’t warrant any kind of alarm? So we should feel safe with the armed men, tanks, helicopters, and what ever else they have in store in our back yards?
I’m sorry that just doesn’t seem normal. And again, don’t they have places paid for and built for the purpose of training?
Yes, it’s been going on for years. I gave a couple of examples in the blog, the biggest being Robin Sage. Yes, they list areas of the United States as hostile for the exercise. The Marines do it, the Army does it, Special Operations does it, and has been doing it for decades. I realize it seems alarming when it’s built up to be more than it is by people with an agenda, and don’t blame you for the angst. It’s why I wrote the blog. There won’t be tanks rolling down your street, nor platoons of armed men in uniform patrolling your neighborhood. Outside of hearing a helicopter or a boom – something that people who do butt up against military bases hear on a daily basis – you won’t even know they’re there. Finally, I explained why they do it in the blog.
Brad, I just wanted to thank you writing this article. I don’t feel the need to elaborate that your article exactly hits the spot on what the actual threats facing this country, and what is not. Jade Helm certainly is not a threat. Indeed, training value is important in enabling a better survival rate in high risk areas. And that’s it. Thank you again. I’m really glad I found your blog because you give a lot of important insights from the quality experience you have in your many years as a Spec Ops officer. Really separates the amateurs from the real professionals. I’ve by the way read your other blog entries and they are just as awesome. 🙂
Christ always!
Osama
Thanks!
The pleasure is all mine. I agree that the military and people are one.
Brad, I remember my stepfather; Army, Ranger, Special Forces (one of the first), Korea, southeast Asia; telling me about training in the Rocky Mountains. Get dropped in, move to a small town and “capture it”, all in three days, with minimal gear. This was during the sixties. Of course, after training him in the mountains of Colorado they sent him to the jungles of Vietnam.
Fascinating times indeed-
That word “sacrifice” is used Ad nauseum
There is a real Christ and a Counterfeit running around unfortunately. Not many can tell the 2 apart.
Brad,
As a longtime internet commando with years of experience in giving uninformed and untested advice to the multitude of plebs I run into in my interwebs travels, I think you need to do a little research, and see how many other authors of your caliber would take the time to patiently answer so many, ah, comments. (hint: answer is zero)
Seriously, Kudos. Very cool.
To me, it seems likely that some forum community of a certain persuasion linked to this blog post and you got a bunch of very similar comments from its patrons. At least, that’s what I was envisioning when I read the “we” and “us” pronouns in some of the above comments. I think I actually read them all, because train wreck syndrome, I guess.
Anyway, I check your blog once or twice a month since I enjoy reading your take on things. I appreciate you taking the time to make blog posts such as this. (I saw you mentioned the cag raid in May to get abu sayyaf in Syria in one of your comments above. Anything more that you can comment on regarding that, maybe a bit of peripheral commentary in a blog post? I suppose the answer is probably no but I thought I’d at least ask since it really piqued my interest when I first read about it. Thanks) Looking forward to The Insider Threat later this month.
Mr Taylor, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service. I AM A TEXAN BORN AND BREAD! What our current administration and commander in chief believe is the exact opposite of what our founding fathers believed. You ask why we don’t trust the military to conduct “training exercises” in our state. How about 9/11, how about Sandy Hook. We have been lied to many times by the very entity that is suppose to protect us!!! I don’t distrust the military any more than the body of a rattle snake. But you can bet your Ass I’m watching the head of that SOB. The body has no choice but to follow. If the day comes, I hope the men and women serving our great country will side with our founding fathers and withhold their oath to protect the USA from any threat foreign or domestic.
I am Tx born, Tx bred (no, not bread). I cannot believe you wish the military to violate the oath to protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Do you wish them to violate their oath to uphold the Constitution also?
These oaths are what makes our military great. Oaths that protect you and I from a military dictatorship. The oaths that keep what the whackos are yelling about from happening.
Man, I was going to let the whole “BORN AND BREAD” thing slide (Texas Toast anyone?) and not throw any more fuel on the last ember of the fire that erupted from this blog. Then you had to mention 9/11 and Sandy Hook which tells me you’re so far down the rabbit hole, that nothing I could say about the military or Jade Helm could ever reel you back in. As a matter of principle, I normally don’t interact with folks who think the government perpetrated a “Sandy Hook hoax” for fear of getting any stupid on me – you folks are truly a cut above the regular run of the mill nut job. The only thing more astounding than your lack of critical thinking skills and your gullibility is the absolute lack of compassion and lack of shame you feel running around accusing parents whose children were murdered by a sick madman of being paid “actors”. Astonishing to me that this level of stupidity and callousness directed toward our fellow citizenry not only exists, but seems to be flourishing these days.
Yes I misspelled bred, sorry. As for the events of 9/11 and Sandy Hook, I will not debate anyone on the FACTS. Everyone out there can do their homework, use a little “critical thinking”, and decide for themselves what happened. The point was that we, the public, were lied to and I’m not ok with that. Innocent lives were lost, and it is a crime that the truth is burried so far under those lies that the families of those who lost their lives will probably never know the truth. I never questioned anything the government told me until The whole Jade Helm 15 story broke. After I started doing a little digging, it was pretty obvious that certain things didn’t make sense. . I don’t think the whole rabbit hole, nut job comments are called for but you were trying to get your point accross. I ask questions, if the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit, I want to know why. I’m not crazy, nor do I think most people who question these things are crazy. I think it’s silly that we get bashed for asking questions and labeled as nut jobs in the process. Believe what ever you want.
Brad,
I hate to point this out to you but in an earlier post you proved Sam from Oregons point that soldiers will follow orders without question. One soldier out of 550 refused the rest followed orders.
May 19, 2015 at 11:53 am
By the way, as long as we’re cherry picking events to support our respective positions, here’s an example of your “simple grunt”. Michael New was a soldier from Texas who refused to wear a UN uniform because he said it was against his oath. According to your thesis, this action would be impossible because he would have blindly followed the order without question. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/24/world/gi-gets-support-for-shunning-un-insignia.html
Also Brad,
In that same article I read that because of the Presidential Decision Directive 25 along with the U.N. Participation Act of 1945, New would be tried for disobeying an order just because he refused to were the U.N. patch and beret. This goes to show, how our gov’t does not believe in true patriotism. This directive sets out the conditions under which American troops may be placed under U.N. command. Who is not to say that the president feels the need to impliment this directive and participation act again and use it against the American people. Will our troops follow orders from the U.N. to disarm the American people. Food for thought.
This whole deal is a bad sales job and information management by the Army. Poorly chosen words were used by the public affairs people when towns like Bastrop were being briefed on the upcoming activities that may affect their town. From some of those pourly worded meetings and maps with ill-thoughout terminology that were released to the public, the conspiracy theorist among us went wild. This is much ado over nothing.
JADE HELM is using the JADE 2 system which is artificial intelligence. They have taken all information gathered from every click made on line, every sales transaction, email, talk, text, search, some illegally gotten, and are storing it in these data dump buildings nationwide mapping our minds using a self organizing, vision capable, expectation capable, recognition capable, situationally aware, AI system that thinks, plans, and executes. No need for military unwilling to fire on their own. System is connected to unmanned drones.
Recognizing the system is less capable in rural situations, they must go in and physically map and data mine the locals to determine who may be or become part of the Resistance.
According to Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria there will be no WWIII typical warfare. It will be asymmetric. I.E.: a war against belligerents whose relative military power, tactics, and powers differ significantly. Weaker combatants use unconventional warfare. Use strategy to offset difficulties of quantity and quality. Also see guerrilla warfare, insurgency, counterinsurgency, between formal military and less equal undermanned resilient opponent.
https://youtu.be/K4310XOz4tc
Holy shit. It’s SkyNet! I thought that was only a movie…
Anon
We will find you, dress you up like Sarah Connor, and mercilessly chase you around the Southwestern U.S.
Love,
The TERMINATOR
Brad:
Excellent piece.
Thank you for the benefit or your perspective.
When was the last time any of the vets participating in this discussion saw the distribution of heavy armament, equipment and troops deployed in en mass as is documented with video of miles and miles and miles of equipment in this exercise? Miles long supply trains being deployed for months now? Massive convoys on the highways. Again, for months now. How about the hidden storage fields of heavy armor in the forests with barbed wire? How about the troops not being in proper uniform without insignia? The American flag mounted in reverse? There are literally thousands upon thousands of heavily armed vehicles freshly disbursed through the country right now. This type of deployment and expense and logistics is NEVER SOP. It is not and cannot be justified or explained unless the factor of an unknown is applied for a LOGICAL conclusion to be arrived at. Don’t come back with some lame excuse like the videos are the same train over and over. It is not.. I am sure you are a front with intelligence connection. Either that or you are just completely ignorant and/or brainwashed. I am sure that my name is now on your list. But guess what…I don’t care. Come get me fuckholes. Your subversion will not succeed. Not all are sleeping and you are not aware of all. See you soon!
Patriot and to death supporter of the United States Constitution and The Bill of Rights and all of her Amendments.
P.S. When you solders get your real orders or you figure out that you have been lied to, there is plenty of shelter for you on every block in this nation. We are here for you and we love and support you. Once the A.I takes over your equipment it will be too late for you to run. Your own equipment will kill you the instance you don’t follow procedure. Yeah, I’ve read the software specs and materials.
Wow. No words. Well, three: “I’ll be back…”
Wow, how did you have the energy to keep this up. In the meantime, the Army has announced a reduction in force of over 40.000 soldiers. That it is planning for a combat strength of 30 battalions. That is not a lot of soldiers left to seize anything.
May the Lord have mercy on us if another big shooting war erupts.
And I recall reading a description of the battle of Gettysburg as refought by a Battle Group in the 60s. I forget the acronym for that divisional plan but it did not survive for long.
They are reducing troops in this country because they are bringing in foreign troops to American soil. And guess what? Less American troops equals less patriotic AMERICAN TROOPS to fight the take over force when the order is given. If you aren’t CIA and you are military you will know and express that this is true. I have not received confirmation …yet, but it is reported that the military…you, will escort these troops into the country thinking it is a joint training exercise. There are reports that this is happening right now. I see you can’t refute all the evidence I spoke of in my previous post. You used the CIA SAD SOP as your post. You are a traitor and deserve hanging along the entire CIA. Yes, we know you are behind it. We know a lot more than you give us credit for. See you soon!
I’ve had enough of your wild theories. Go somewhere else. I’ll allow this to stand, but it’s your last comment. No, I didn’t refute your “evidence” because it’s so damn stupid it’s not worth my time. Did you ever think that military hardware is built somewhere other than the base it’s going to eventually end up at? Did you ever wonder how an Armor Brigade goes from Ft Hood, Texas, to Ft Erwin, CA, where the National Training Center is located? Did you ever think about how all of our armor ends up overseas, in Germany, Iraq, and other places? It isn’t magicked there. It’s transported by rail. And it happens every day. As for the AI taking over and killing all who “don’t follow orders”, I hate to tell you this, but my M4 had no software. Please, peddle your theories elsewhere, and quite personally insulting me. It does nothing for your argument, and simply makes me ban you. I have no “lists”, I don’t work for the CIA, and I really don’t care what you think. Just go.
Oh…one more thing. In response to your diatribe. What a joke…SHOOTING WAR? I guess we’re all suppose to believe they still exist. There haven’t been front lines in decades you nincompoop. Update your response manual.
I take it you’ve never been shot at. “Front lines in decades…”? Tell that to the men who fought in Fallujah, or Ramadi, or the Korengal Valley, or Ia Drang, or..whatever…what’s the point in continuing this?
“Stacy” – we already know your real name
You just made the list. We will be taking control of all electrically controlled devices in your home (padded cell?) very soon. Be very wary of your toaster – it hears everything (insert maniacal laugh here). Resistance is futile.
Brad, what’s your take on the recent news that they aren’t going to allow media coverage of the training?
My take is they ought to just cancel the exercise. It’s going to be so watered down that no training tasks will be accomplished. Press? Really? They want to follow around the people participating? How on earth are they supposed to do any low-visibility urban training with a camera crew behind them? “Sergeant Snuffy, your mission today is to clandestinely infiltrate the terrorist marketplace and conduct a reconnaissance of an urban target without compromise. Oh, and you need to take this five man camera crew complete with news anchor with you.” This has just gotten ridiculous and a waste of tax dollars. No one will get anything out of participating because USASOC is going to be petrified of something going wrong, which will then get breathlessly exaggerated in the press.
No way should they cancel. This just makes the exercise more difficult for the SF guys, not watered down, and it actually feeds into their mission. What better way to conduct a low-visibility exercise, when you have 30 people with cameras running around looking for you. Guess what. The camera crews and citizen watchdogs scouring the countryside, searching for the special ops ghosts, so they can follow them around filming while they conduct exercises? Yeah, they can’t find them. Sounds like mission accomplished to me.
Thanks for the insight. That makes a lot of sense. I appreciate your service then and continued service to the public now. God bless you brother
Thank you for the kind words! It’s nice to have someone genuinely seek information vice attacking me.
I’ll tell you why I personally am leery of things like this Jade Helm mess. It is because I am not confident that the majority of our mid-level NCOs and Officers would balk if given an (to me or you) order which would violate our oaths. For some time (years) now I have, when encountering active duty armed forces members, tried to introduce them to the concept of what Stuart Rhodes and the Oath Keepers is about. When I ask them what they would do if given an order which might well violate their oath to the Constitution, almost to a man they respond with something to the effect that they have faith in the chain of command and trust that in the big picture – to which they are not privy – whatever orders they were given would not really violate their oath. I did 10 years in the Air Force and I saw things which bordered on criminal with my own eyes. People whom I would trust at my back in a firefight have reported the “litmus test” so I believe it. Unless someone suspects the motives of the originator of one’s orders, one would naturally dismiss any questions about the constitutionality or lawfulness of orders given. One final note. Since WWII we have taught our troops that they do not have to obey an unlawful order and can be prosecuted if, in obedience to a direct order, they commit a crime. The fly in the ointment is that while the UCMJ (or whatever it has evolved into these days – I’ve been Mr since ’83) has much to say about proper obedience to orders and the penalties for failing to obey, it says nothing about what might or might not constitute a “lawful order”. The only way to determine whether a given order is lawful or not would be to disobey and face a court martial – wherein the poor wight would be tried by members of the selfsame power elite who are threatened by such disobedience. It is not in the Officer Corps’ interest to allow a subordinate – ANY SUBORDINATE – to pick and choose which orders they would obey. At the very least any enlisted puke who dared to disobey would find himself stationed long at that little installation in central Kansas where most of the people assigned don’t go home at the end of their shift. An officer would as a minimum find him/herself cashiered, their career utterly blown away and could very likely also get assigned to that installation I mentioned earlier. Oh, and for the record, I am a veteran, my only son is a veteran, my Father served as did both his brothers, most of my cousins, and my WIFE’s Dad was a guest of the 3rd Reich in one of those resort communities in Poland. I respect and admire all current and serving GIs but I don’t trust anyone of pay grade O-7 or higher any further than I can shotput a locomotive.
I am born and raised in Austin. I am thrilled SF is training here. I was so disappointed in the attention the paranoia and conspiracies got in the media that I wanted to go stand on the street in Bastrop, holding up a sign welcoming the military to central TX because that is not how we in Central TX feel. They should know that the VAST majority of Texans welcome them. I don’t know anyone who believes those conspiracies. I don’t know anyone who knows anyone who believes in those conspiracies.
Listen to me, people. Obama DOES NOT WANT YOUR GUNS! I promise.
CB:
Not only does Obama not want your guns, thanks to all the fear-mongering and frightened people, he’s probably sold more guns and ammo and done more for the industries than any other American in history. The NRA should give him a lifetime achievement medal.
I get PMAGS for $8. After Sandy Hook, the fear industry kicked in, and people were paying $50-$75 for one PMAG. I TOOK the whole family to Disney for 3 days and nights on the fear of ignorant people. I recently won $200 by betting someone that fewer than 50 Americans would die of Ebola by 2/2015–he was convinced it was a govt plot and a coming pandemic. Some people either can’t accept reality and evidence, or just won’t. Oh well. I have a new pile of 30 PMAGs in the bags with their name on ’em.
Well, we’re into Jade Helm now. I suppose the librul media is covering up all the death and destruction. By now they’ve moved from shock and awe to putting everyone in the FEMA camos. While no casualties have been reported, we did have our first drive- by shooting at a base today (assuming this was either anti-jade-helmers or lone wolf Islamists).
Anyway. Reading this was tiresome. Lots of crazy out there. I always worry that military thriller authors will feel compelled to write to the Teahadists that make up a lot of their readership–people who just want to read a series of ticking time bomb scenarios where the good guy always gets actionable Intel in time. Glad to see you don’t mind pointing out when people are (a) crazy (like 9/11 truthers) and (b) hypocrites (like Texans suddenly criticizing the military–though 15 days after the governor said he’d have the NG protect them from the govt,meh was begging the same govt for flood relief). Some people will go way out of their way to explain how the socialist, Kenyan, gay, black guy is out to get them. Others realize that he’s a moderate who’s main flaw is being too moderate (on bailouts and surge numbers).
It amazes me how Alex Jones and others like him get followers. Yes, there is corruption at the highest levels of our Government, but for people to believe that Jade Helm is a movement against US Citizens makes me speechless. I too, participated in Robin Sage in the 90’s. I love Ft Bragg and the supportive communities around Post. Now living in Charleston, SC I feel the same love for the Military. A lot of Military pride in that area. And I read above someone asking the question about following orders. Military members are protected from following unlawful orders, so going against the Constitution falls into that protection. To believe that military members are blind sheep like Liberals is laughable! They follow orders, but also question if the need arises.
Jade Helm has started and no reports of wrong doing by anyone has come out. How do the followers of these conspiracy nutbags still follow their leader when the proposed theory does not happen? It shows the mindset of these weak minded followers and the sadness I feel for our future. I am a Disabled Vet working for the DoD, my son is in the Army, and my second son wants to enlist in the Air Force. I know neither of my sons would go against the Constitution because of the way we raised them, Honor, Integrity, and Pride.
I feel for our future, but have confidence there are more people like myself, my brothers and sisters of the military that will always protect this Nation, even from itself!
Other countries do this too. The French just had such an op earlier this year called Operation Sentinelle in and around Paris and nobody batted an eye. The people were openly supportive of the troops patrolling the streets of Paris and guarding important and valuable areas. GIGN ran exercises in urban environments with real people, because no exercise building can be as realistic as a real apartment building.
Hell, even little Austria does this.
The reasons are simple. Even when not encountering an enemy attack and “just” dealing a natural disaster it’s much easier to have protocols and communications between the military, local law enforcement and other first responders set up before things are on fire and people are dying.
Personally I find the conspirational screaming about Jade Helm to be utterly amusing.
Has anybody asked yet why any military exercise would need a logo?IT DOESN’T HAVE A LOGO. EVERY MILITARY BRIEFING HAS A COVER SLIDE, THE THING THAT SITS ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE BRIEFING BEGINS. THIS IS WHAT IS BEING PASSED AROUND AS AN OFFICIAL “LOGO”. The Jade Helm effort would appear to be deliberately created to cause fear and alarm. What other military exercises have logos and mottos and do any of them carry the same threat, not to the enemy but to “the human domain”? THE HUMAN DOMAIN IS NOT SUBVERSIVE OR EVIL. IT’S JUST A MILITARY TERM, LIKE INFORMATION DOMINANCE. SEE OTHER COMMENTS FOR MORE COMPLETE ANSWER
And why have that shadowy sabot plonked in the logo’s centre? Sabot: think sabotage. So what is that intended to convey? Who is sabotaging who? CLOSE. THE SABOT REPRESENTS OVERARCHING UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE, NOT THE TACTICAL SABOTAGE YOU INFER. UW IS A PRIMARY SPECIAL FORCES TASK, AND WHAT JADE HELM WAS ALL ABOUT. And as the advertised time for this exercise is now drawing to its end can anybody tell me what military activity has actually taken place, if anything? BY THE FACT THAT YOU ASK, “IF ANYTHING?” PROVES THAT THE EXERCISE WAS BENIGN. THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY BRIEFED AND NOTHING THE FEAR MONGERS WERE WORRIED ABOUT. Why on earth should the US military behave in this way.? BEHAVE IN WHAT WAY? TRAINING FOR COMBAT? Obviously there has been some kind of purpose behind all this, but what? THE PURPOSE WAS TO TRAIN IN UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE, A PRIMARY TASK OF SOF FORCES. ASKED AND ANSWERED NUMEROUS TIMES.
Most of your questions have been asked and answered either in the blog itself or in other comments. I’m not going to repeat myself again. Snapshot answers in caps to your questions above, but more in-depth answers, to include supporting links, can be found in other comments.
Why are you always so quick to become angry? As you claim to represent the thinking of the US military may I point out that you are by no means a reassuring representation
In plain English “The Human Domain” can only have one meaning, that is our planet, and of course that is not “subversive or evil”, the worrying part is the threat of its domination. Does America wish to advertise that it intends to “master ” that is, control the entire world? It is unrealistic to expect the majority of the public who do not have military background, to recognise the somewhat convoluted and exclusively military reference you claim for this – well if its not a logo ,what would you call it?
I find several of the website links above are far from “supporting” your claims, and are instead extremely alarming. Unconventional warfare? What the heck does that imply? Unconventional method, target or desired outcome? I would much prefer, as I believe would most of the Human Domain, that you were planning IPW exercises In Place of Warfare.
A. Holy Cow, man. What is your problem? How was I “angry”? All I did was answer your questions. I simply used all caps to distinguish from your original post. You are one touchy individual.
B. Yeah, yeah, the United States wants to control the entire world. Whatever. Go look for Chemtrails and FEMA camps online.
C. Unconventional Warfare as a doctrinal term has been around since 1952, with the inception of the Special Forces. It encompasses counter-insurgency, guerrilla warfare, terrorism, etc. It’s called “unconventional” because it’s not CONVENTIONAL tank on tank battles. You, of course, want to turn it into something nefarious because you are a conspiracy fear-monger.
D. Yeah, that would be a good way to spend defense dollars – training for something In Place of Warfare. That way, when the warfare comes, we’ll be SO MUCH better prepared to defend our nation. Say, maybe we can get ISIS to do the same thing! Oh wait…that only happens in the land of unicorns and rainbows.
This is your last post. The exercise is over, and none of the heinous things that you predicted occurred. Go bother someone else. Oh, sorry, that was “angry”. Please find time to do something other than comment on my blog, as I have real work to do. Thank you for understanding.
I’ve recently discovered your books and have raced through the entire Pike Logan series. I can’t remember when I’ve read a series that I’ve enjoyed so much. Your books are very thought-provoking and raise some very thorny political/social issues that just don’t have easy answers. Also, I’m from Florida and had never heard of Jade Helm. I have to admit that reading through the comments has been very enlightening and entertaining. Thanks again for all your stories!