The operation Jade Helm logo can be found here. The operations are to begin in July and last for eight weeks. Even the UK Daily Mail featured a story on the operation and reproduced a map associated with the operation which classifies states as hostile, permissive, or uncertain. Texas and Utah are the main hostiles but also Southern California by the border with Mexico.
Some groups especially in Texas see the operations as practice for future operations under martial law. One part of the operation will see Army Special Forces teams mingle with the local population who will be asked to report any suspicious activity.
Roy Boyd , chief deputy with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office said:“They’re going to set up cells of people and test how well they’re able to move around without getting too noticed in the community. They’re testing their abilities to basically blend in with the local environment and not stand out and blow their cover.”
The US military reportedly has the permission of state and local officials in all the areas the exercises are taking place. Jim Stewart, a representative of the Texas Brazos County Sherrif’s Office said the exercises were nothing new:
“Special ops for years have trained off-post for years, where they go out and have folks that are role players out on the economy. They’ll have a scenario they’ll be following and they’ll interact with these role players as if they’re in another country.”
However the US Army Special Operations Command notes that the present exercises are more significant than those in the past: “The size and scope of Jade Helm sets this one apart. To stay ahead of the environmental challenges faced overseas, Jade Helm will take place across seven states. The diverse terrain in these states replicates areas Special Operations Soldiers regularly find themselves operating in overseas. This exercise is routine training to maintain a high level of readiness for Army Special Operations Forces because they must be ready to support potential missions anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice.”
Many different groups of special forces will be taking part in the operations including Navy Seals, Green Berets, Marine Special Operations Command and several others. Mark Lastonia, a spokesperson for the Army Special Operation Command said that the troops would practice “emerging concepts in special operations warfare” in Texas: “Training exercise Jade Helm is going to assist our Special Operations Soldiers in refining the skills needed against an ever changing foreign threat.”
Among those who see sinister motives behind Jade Helm are Alex Jones the Austin-based TV and radio commentator. He reported the operation as “feds preparing to invade Texas” after he had received an unclassified description of the operation from the US Army. Jones was particularly incensed that Texas had been chosen as a hostile territory in the included map of the operation: “Texas is listed as a hostile sector, and of course, we are. We’re here defending the republic.”
The exercise had been reported several months earlier and has the support of officials in Texas, a strong Republican and conservative state. Alex Jones is very active on the internet especial through You Tube. I append a video giving his take on the Jade Helm.
