After someone published on the internet the war game scenario map that forms the basis for upcoming military training exercises, paranoia went wild in Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to jump on it.
On a map released by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command to show the fictitious battlefield of the Jade Helm 15 training exercise, Texas is labeled as "hostile territory."
Austin American-Statesman
On Monday, command spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria attended a Bastrop County Commissioners Court meeting to answer community questions and was met with hostile fire. Lastoria, in response to some of the questions from the 150 who attended, sought to dispel fears that foreign fighters from the Islamic State were being brought in or that Texans' guns would be confiscated, according to a report in the Austin American-Statesman.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Guard to monitor federal military exercises in Texas after some citizens have lit up the Internet saying the maneuvers are actually the prelude to martial law.
Paranoia Catches Abbott's Attention
Never one to miss an opportunity to stoke paranoia, Gov. Abbott took to twitter to stir the pot:
I've ordered the Texas State Guard to ... safeguard Texans' constitutional rights, private property and civil liberties
Though met with some effusiveness ("you are the most awesome governor EVER! Much love for you! Thank you for doing a fantastic job!"), not everyone is buying it:
".@GregAbbott_TX < succumbs to nut bag fears of US military training ops."