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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-07/jade-helm-15-prompts-texas-takeover-conspiracy/6452810
A paper published last year found that around half of the American public consistently endorses at least one conspiracy theory, and that many popular conspiracy theories are differentiated along ideological dimensions. Having said that, their research was pre-Snowden revelations, so many of the conspiracy theories may have been well founded.
Even so, the hysteria surrounding Operation Jade Helm 15 seems unusually shrill, with Chuck Norris (ex fake Texas Ranger) urging Texans not to believe government reassurances that it is just an exercise, and Governor Greg Abbott ordering the National Guard to monitor the US military's activities.
So what do Soylentils think? Will conservative Texas, in the words of Freedom Fighter 2127 on YouTube be, "The first state, according to our military source, these are not just drills. Texas will be the first state to be under martial law"?
There are plenty of people willing to point out the lunacy of the conspiracy theorists. Of course, Jon Stewart is one:
"There is no Texas takeover," Stewart said. "The United States government already controls Texas — since like the 1840s. And you left and then you came back. Just borrow a textbook from a neighboring state. It's all in there.
(Score: 5, Funny) by M. Baranczak on Saturday May 09 2015, @06:08PM
An oil-rich region, ruled by heavily-armed religious fanatics, and openly hostile to Western values? Sounds like just the kind of place that the US likes to invade.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Immerman on Saturday May 09 2015, @06:26PM
Sure, except why would they? Texas already voluntarily handed over control of their oil and government to the very people we'd be invading on behalf of. It's not like the US government has any particular objection to genocidal and/or religious extremists, we ally with them all the time. Hell, many of the groups we're at war with today are the same groups we helped bring to power years ago. It's all about the resources - as long as the money keeps flowing into the right pockets, the US government doesn't give a damn what else goes on.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Saturday May 09 2015, @08:35PM
Quick! Someone warn Aaron Burr!
Isn't the US Army full of Texans and Oakies?
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 09 2015, @10:05PM
Don't fuck with Oakies. We are everywhere and we are taking over.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Sunday May 10 2015, @06:39PM
Mod parent +1 Frightening.
These are the people who burned Indian babies on pyres, and black families in their homes.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday May 10 2015, @04:07AM
Oakies? Where to those come from? Oakland, Ca, maybe? Or, maybe they're related to Canadian maple leafs? Or, did you mean Okies?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5K5l89mpV8 [youtube.com]
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 10 2015, @12:22AM
Hell, many of the groups we're at war with today are the same groups we helped bring to power years ago.
We've always been at war with TexasAsia.
(Score: 5, Funny) by SpockLogic on Saturday May 09 2015, @07:03PM
Desperate Residents of Austin Completely Surrounded by Texas
" rel="url2html-12003">http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/desperate-residents-of-austin-completely-surrounded-by-texas
Residents of Austin don't want to be invaded ... by red-neck, bat-shit crazy, gun toting, christian taliban from Texas
Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 09 2015, @08:38PM
While I agree with the general sentiment, Iraq wasn't ruled by religious fanatics until after the US invaded it.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday May 10 2015, @04:13AM
Bingo! We have a winner! The US thought that it would be preferable to have Iraq divided among several religious factions, than to have one non-religious badass running things.
That isn't terribly dissimilar to what we did in Iran with Operation Ajax. Destroy a moderate democracy, to install some spineless puppet with a questionable claim to "royalty".
We're good at screwing up other people's homes and lives.