A military training exercise that included explosions at a disused school building in Michigan has stunned residents who say they were given virtually no notice that the operations would be conducted in their city.
“I was standing there, and all of a sudden, boom!” Jean Glenn, of Flint, Michigan, told WNEM Television.
“I mean it was loud. It blew up the whole sky or whatever, it was like four or five big bangs,” added Annette Humphrey.
It turns out the city knew about, and had approved, the training maneuvers.
See the station’s reporting:
But many people are on edge this summer because of the looming Jade Helm 15 military exercises that will extend across several states and multiple jurisdictions this summer.
The U.S. military has told WND that to allay fears and minimize concerns officials have met with local governments and briefed them.
And they say that it’s a combination of “inaccurate” information and “personal agendas” that is whipping up fears.
But it appears the message isn’t getting across, since a recent poll showed nearly half of voters are concerned Washington “will use U.S. military training operations to impose greater control over some states.”
And one voter in five is “very concerned.”
The results come from Rasmussen Reports, which surveyed 1,000 likely voters last month.
The polling company asked whether the government’s military training plan is an infringement of the rights of citizens, whether the respondent favors or opposes those exercises in their state, and how concerned are they over whether Washington “will use U.S. military training operations to impose greater control over some states.”
The training exercises this summer have been named Jade Helm 15, and WND reported when the concerns moved well beyond the fringe frets over black helicopters and secret prison sites.
That was when Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, released a statement responding to constituents’ worries about Jade Helm 15, an exercise in six states involving thousands of military personnel on public and even private land.
“Over the past few weeks, my office has been inundated with calls referring to the Jade Helm 15 military exercise scheduled to take place between July 15 and September 15, 2015. This military practice has some concerned that the U.S. Army is preparing for modern-day martial law,” Gohmert said.
“Certainly, I can understand these concerns. When leaders within the current administration believe that major threats to the country include those who support the Constitution, are military veterans, or even ‘cling to guns or religion,’ patriotic Americans have reason to be concerned.
“We have seen people working in this administration use their government positions to persecute people with conservative beliefs in God, country, and notions such as honor and self-reliance. Because of the contempt and antipathy for the true patriots or even Christian saints persecuted for their Christian beliefs, it is no surprise that those who have experienced or noticed such persecution are legitimately suspicious.”
WNEM reported that Flint spokesman Jason Lorenz confirmed the city has known about the military’s plans for months.
And the city sent out a statement about the training exercise at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, with the explosions beginning at 2 p.m.
“I think they should have gave us a warning to let us know there was an army thing going on, I really do,” Humphrey told the station.
Lorenz pointed out to the station that the city has to acknowledge what the military wants, and “can’t go into too much detail.”
One of the reasons Jade Helm 15 is getting attention is that the government has designated for training purposes several mostly Republication regions of the country as “hostile.”
“Having served in the U.S. Army, I can understand why military officials have a goal to see if groups of Special Forces can move around a civilian population without being noticed and can handle various threat scenarios,” Gohmert wrote. “In military science classes or in my years on active duty, I have participated in or observed military exercises; however, we never named an existing city or state as a ‘hostile.’ We would use fictitious names before we would do such a thing.
“Once I observed the map depicting ‘hostile,’ ‘permissive,’ and ‘uncertain’ states and locations, I was rather appalled that the hostile areas amazingly have a Republican majority, ‘cling to their guns and religion,’ and believe in the sanctity of the United States Constitution. When the federal government begins, even in practice, games or exercises, to consider any U.S. city or state in ‘hostile’ control and trying to retake it, the message becomes extremely calloused and suspicious.”
Rasmussen found only 16 percent are opposed to such military training, and another 19 percent are undecided. Among voters who oppose military exercises in their state, 82 percent are “concerned that the federal government has greater control in mind,” the poll said.
WND also reported when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order to the Texas State Guard to oversee any activities in his state to ensure that Texans’ “safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed.”
“By monitoring the operation on a continual basis, the State Guard will facilitate communications between my office and the commanders of the operation to ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect Texans,” he told Maj. Gen. Gerald Betty, commander of the Texas State Guard.
U.S. Army Special Operations Command officials responded to some of WND’s questions about the issue, stating in writing that the exercise is to train Special Operations Force to respond to a crisis.
“Different environments provide opportunities to experience new and unique training experiences,” the Army said. “These environments add realism and greater training value for U.S Special Operations Forces.”
Jade Helm map showing Texas, Utah and part of California as “hostile”
Citizen concerns over the military’s plans have prompted many videos.
Here’s one example:
And another:
Longtime action actor and martial arts champion Chuck Norris, also a WND columnist, has written about the concerns.
He explained some of his comments have been misinterpreted, but “I did in fact mention that Jade Helm 15 is likely more than a military exercise. I do believe, in addition to the largest domestic military training, it is also a display of power (near the southern border) intended for deterrence of enemies like ISIS and other terrorists, who the FBI have already said are present in all 50 states.
“And I will reiterate again that the White House and the Pentagon could have easily avoided any controversy about Jade Helm 15 if its primary Washington leaders would have called for a confidential informative meeting with the respected governors of the seven states in which it is being held this summer. They also would have been very wise not to place on Jade Helm’s official operation map that Texas and Utah were ‘hostile states.’ When will they learn? Don’t mess with Texas!”
from PropagandaGuard https://propagandaguard.wordpress.com/2015/06/03/military-war-zone-rattles-michigan-city/
from WordPress https://toddmsiebert.wordpress.com/2015/06/03/military-war-zone-rattles-michigan-city/
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