"Those of you questioning the benevolence of our government are just tinfoil hat wearing racists … You all just need to move along, nothing to see here. "
I am going to be siding with the sane people on this, SF training as well as large scale infantry/armor/artillery training exercises in the US have been going on since we had a standing Army For a few conspiracy nuts to get all riled up thinking this is the beginning of the end, or for the more “rational” minded members of those groups to casually say “yeah but what if” is really nothing more than a way to work yourselves up into a lather about…nothing.
[quote]PonyWhisperer wrote:
I am going to be siding with the sane people on this, SF training as well as large scale infantry/armor/artillery training exercises in the US have been going on since we had a standing Army For a few conspiracy nuts to get all riled up thinking this is the beginning of the end, or for the more “rational” minded members of those groups to casually say “yeah but what if” is really nothing more than a way to work yourselves up into a lather about…nothing.
[/quote]
When the entire crux of your opinion rests on the personal attacks you levy on those whom see the world differently than you, I take solace in the fact I’m among those you insult.
In fact, your insistence that yours is the only “sane” viewpoint makes me even more so in the obviously “insane” camp that has read a history book.
I’ll post this portion of the thread again. I think it addresses some of the issues you (Beans) and Varq have touched on. Note, it’s just my opinion.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
I respect that this is your opinion and you’re certainly entitled to it. I will respectfully bow out of your thread.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
USMC, I do not fear the US army invading Texas, bro. I fear that our special forces are being trained to round up people who have the audacity to speak out against our government. This is a pretext for such training. If someone is labeled a “terrorist” or a member of a “terrorist cell”, I don’t think any member of the armed forces would think twice about detaining them. It started with the Patriot act, and has continued on with several other executive orders under obama. I’ve linked them before, I’m too tired to right now. It basically gives him power to declare martial law any time he wants to, and now our military is practicing on American soil to round up American citizens.
I’ll be the first to say that I’m a little on the ‘fringe’ with my political beliefs. But I don’t subscribe to 911 conspiracies or anything like that. However, if the US has no plans for martial law, WHY ARE THEY PRACTICING? If you don’t think we are a black swan event away from some serious turmoil then you are kidding yourself.
Look at history. There is nothing new under the sun. These things happen quite frequently and the common denominator is this: the people caught unaware swore that it could never happen here… I would LOVE to think that were true. I would love to think that my kids are going to grow in a nice safe place with rainbows and sugarplums and that the debt/deficit will magically disappear, racial tensions will go away and progressive policies would be exposed for the bullshit that they are. But then I snap out of it. I realize that the federal government exist for one thing and one thing only: to support and protect ITSELF and the interests it is beholden to. And that’s not you or me.
If you guys want to blow this off as nothing at all and talk about entitlements vs military spending, knock your self out. But start your own fucking thread about it, and stop hijacking mine before it even gets off the ground. This thread is about how you feel about the United States military operating on US soil, doing a training exercise designed to subdue AMERICANS. If that’s not political or world issuey enough for you, then let it die. But don’t disrespect me by dismissing it and just changing the subject three posts in. Start your own thread for that.[/quote]
[/quote]
I don’t want to kick you out of the thread, bro! Challenge my ideas! That’s why I posted them, because I WANT to be told I’m a fucking dumbass, and here’s why: XYZ. I totally respect your opinion and really want to hear it.
All I was trying to say (at 11:00 at night tired as fuck) is if you want to talk about fiscal policy, start a thread about fiscal policy. Just don’t derail MY thread about ABC idea the third post in and change the subject.
I know threads tend to change subjects and evolve, but that usually happens at least a page or two in after a few opinions the OP have been expressed - after the incubation period has “expired”, which is no harm no foul. Just let it take off a bit before the derail, that’s all.[/quote]
I tell ya what, I’ll give you my point of view as a relatively young veteran and FWIW I think it’s important to question what our government is doing.
- High level: There are something like a million active duty service members across all branches and like 2-3 million in total, iirc. A large percentage of these folks are pencil pushers not trigger pullers. Marines have a moto, “Every Marine is a rifleman.” It’s true, we’re all trained riflemen, but a lot of the pencil pushers (I was an aviation supply accountant…) would be useless in a conflict let alone a war. I had Sergeants that failed a relatively easy rifle range certification because, quite frankly, they should have never “earned” a uniform. If I’m not mistaken we’re the only branch where everyone trains on a basic weapon system (M16A2). So that 2-3 million is really less, imo, and that’s assuming the reservist would actually show up.
That said, there are some 300+ million Americans many of which are armed and all of which would be fighting for their homes and families. That alone is a pretty big check to government power.
Not to mention the Navy would be relatively useless against the vast majority of America (Other than the East and West coasts and the Gulf states).
Not to mention we could pretty easily fuck up military supply lines while being able to cross into Mexico and Canada almost effortlessly for our own aide.
To re-iterate I am 100% convinced a lot if not the vast majority of service members would not fight Americans on American soil. I don’t believe military leaders would follow an order to do so from the CIC and I don’t believe personnel from Privates to Generals would follow an order to do so from higher command. I just don’t see it happening short of Civil War part II in which case the military would be splintered anyway.
-
U.S. military personnel train almost exclusively on American soil. Every boot camp is in the continental United States. We fly sorties over U.S. soil all the time. I was stationed at MCAS Beaufort, S.C. where hundreds of flight hours were logged all over the southerner portion of South Carolina & Georgia. When I went through combat training we literally practiced clearing full scale towns built on Camp Lejune. This training taking place on U.S. soil really isn’t that surprising or unnerving to me.
-
You’re concerned the spec op community will be used against U.S. citizens. The concern is noted; however, again these are Americans that take their oath very seriously.
“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
Do you think Marcus Luttrell would roll into Dallas and capture an American citizen? Do you think the late Chris Kyle would of done the same? There is no way it would happen. No way.
I believe this is simply a new training protocol that fits our updated outlook on warfare. It will train our spec ops community to take HVT’s quickly and effectively in places like Iran, Pakistan, Syria, North Korea, etc…
You and I, we agree on a lot of things. The militarization of the police is out of control. Small town U.S.A does not need a SWAT team. The blatant infringement of the 4th amendment during the Boston marathon bombing is unacceptable in my book.
That said, based on what you’ve written in here and in the past, it comes across to me like you view the U.S. military as just another tool of an intrusive government. My perspective, probably because I served, is that the military is made up of American just like you and me. Just like everyone on T-Nation really. Some are asshole, some are idiots, some are in terrible shape, but some are very intelligent, some are highly patriotic, some are gun tooting constitutionalists, etc… Imo, the might of the U.S. military is only as good as the men and women operating the various weapons systems. An F-18, an Apache, and an M16A2 all have to be operated by us.
The government would have to convince Americans in uniform to go against everything it is to be an American and I just don’t see it happening.
[/quote]
Not if they don’t use US troops to do it. The obama administration contracted Academi (formerly XE, formerly Blackwater) to work for the CIA (250 million) as well as to provide security for the State Department (via an Academi subsidiary) for 92 million. In 2014 Academi was bought by the Constellis Holdings (along with Triple Canopy, Strategic Social, Tidewater, NSPS, IDS and several other international security companies. They are all now controlled by one entity… Founded by former Delta Force members. They are all essentially mercenaries.
I wonder if any of these groups are “unofficially” taking part in Jade Helm?
I’ve found a few conspiracy links, but nothing that you people would consider a “legitimate” source.
[/quote]
Fyi, I did not respond to Angry’s thoughts on mercenaries.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]PonyWhisperer wrote:
I am going to be siding with the sane people on this, SF training as well as large scale infantry/armor/artillery training exercises in the US have been going on since we had a standing Army For a few conspiracy nuts to get all riled up thinking this is the beginning of the end, or for the more “rational” minded members of those groups to casually say “yeah but what if” is really nothing more than a way to work yourselves up into a lather about…nothing.
[/quote]
When the entire crux of your opinion rests on the personal attacks you levy on those whom see the world differently than you, I take solace in the fact I’m among those you insult.
In fact, your insistence that yours is the only “sane” viewpoint makes me even more so in the obviously “insane” camp that has read a history book. [/quote]
Beans,
Crazy people don’t know they’re crazy, that’s the problem. For all the shit people on this site think is going on, from the FEMA camps to JADE Helm to whatever I would like to know how many of your like minded friends have been disappeared? I have lived in, and been sent to several places where everyone knew somebody that had run their mouth just a bit too much and poof they were gone, has that happened to you or your circle? Anyone (American in America) on here? As aggressively anti-Obama and anti-government as people are here it would stand to reason that at least one would be more than a keyboard warrior and would have done something foolish enough to raise the ire of our looming, ever present, all knowing state. But it doesn’t happen, and you know why? Because despite the psychosis running through middle aged white guys and their fear of obsolescence the reality is we (the people) are still in charge. Beans are you on a no-fly list? Are you audited every year unfairly? Does the government routinely forget to refill your EBT card? (last one is to see if you’re reading for content) I am guessing not. The country we live in, despite its’ flawed leadership is still the greatest country on earth, regardless of your political leanings, and no matter what you think or tell yourself to get through the day, nothing has changed.
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
The government would have to convince Americans in uniform to go against everything it is to be an American and I just don’t see it happening.
[/quote]
It’s all in conditioning.
There was a time I wouldn’t think most cops would execute a dog on sight or blatantly shoot a suspect in the back in the middle of the day in a park either.
Anyway, I laid out a scenario in the “stupid thread” where before you even realize it, it’s become a revolution.
A 30% attrition rate in favor of the citizens is enough, IMO to shut down the whole damn thing. And I’m somewhat comforted by the repeated idea that is a low estimate. I’m not however convinced that particular pockets of American’s can’t be turned into the enemy one by one, until the people are, in fact the enemy, and the Party is right.
It isn’t like I trust non-military people more here, don’t get me wrong.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]Bismark wrote:
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]Bismark wrote:
Until then, scurry away now. [/quote]
You fancy yourself well versed yet continuously ignore my simple and basic question, over and over, and I’m pretty sure you were the poster I directed it towards the first time around.
You’re in zero position to tell anyone to scurry about, because you don’t even have the decency to do it yourself after avoiding for pages now. [/quote]
That was directed at Push, who found me lacking in common sense while being both unable and unwilling to address my arguments beyond a caustic one liner. Read my posts on this page and the previous one. If you have a questions regarding those, I will do my best to answer them. [/quote]
You are lacking in common sense if you think the vast majority of folks who are concerned about this sincerely think the 1200 Green Berets are about to start herding 27,000,000 Texans, or even a small percentage of that number, into FEMA camps.
TRAINING
TRAINING
TRAINING[/quote]
Angry is, despite his flip flopping in this thread. Perhaps I did over-react. I mean, it is pretty easy to misread that Infowars headline he is advocating, “Feds Preparing To Invade Texas, List State As ‘Hostile’”. Other posters in this thread are. The black helicopter crowd in Bastrop, Texas down the road from me is. The Governor of Texas Greg Abbott is, given that he is dispatching the Texas State Guard to “monitor” the FTX.
I addressed the training aspect. Military training in the affected states is not new. Neither is COIN training. Do you wish to deprive American SOF from training for missions they may be called on to conduct overseas and from gaining experience operating in similar terrain that they will see down range?
[quote]PonyWhisperer wrote:
Because despite the psychosis running through middle aged white guys
[/quote]
You forgot to mention that they’re also Christian, no worries, your bigotry came through just fine.
Just crazy ass white people mad at obama…
again, nothing to see here, move along and never question our benevolent government.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
The government would have to convince Americans in uniform to go against everything it is to be an American and I just don’t see it happening.
[/quote]
It’s all in conditioning.
There was a time I wouldn’t think most cops would execute a dog on sight or blatantly shoot a suspect in the back in the middle of the day in a park either.
Anyway, I laid out a scenario in the “stupid thread” where before you even realize it, it’s become a revolution.
A 30% attrition rate in favor of the citizens is enough, IMO to shut down the whole damn thing. And I’m somewhat comforted by the repeated idea that is a low estimate. I’m not however convinced that particular pockets of American’s can’t be turned into the enemy one by one, until the people are, in fact the enemy, and the Party is right.
It isn’t like I trust non-military people more here, don’t get me wrong. [/quote]
I wish I was a better writer so that I could convey how hilarious (in an ironic way I guess) I think it is that you are able to freely state your opinion on this matter precisely because the military supports and defends our first amendment rights.
I’ve been trying to stay clear of this thread for a couple of reasons (mainly because I know I’m going to get pissed off at some point) and please don’t take this as disrespectful, but you (and many others here) really have no idea what it means to serve in the armed forces. A lot of what has been typed here is just ignorance, plain and simple.
It makes me sorta scratch my head like when Pittbull talks about taxes or Zeppelin about economics…
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
I’ll post this portion of the thread again. I think it addresses some of the issues you (Beans) and Varq have touched on. Note, it’s just my opinion.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
I respect that this is your opinion and you’re certainly entitled to it. I will respectfully bow out of your thread.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
USMC, I do not fear the US army invading Texas, bro. I fear that our special forces are being trained to round up people who have the audacity to speak out against our government. This is a pretext for such training. If someone is labeled a “terrorist” or a member of a “terrorist cell”, I don’t think any member of the armed forces would think twice about detaining them. It started with the Patriot act, and has continued on with several other executive orders under obama. I’ve linked them before, I’m too tired to right now. It basically gives him power to declare martial law any time he wants to, and now our military is practicing on American soil to round up American citizens.
I’ll be the first to say that I’m a little on the ‘fringe’ with my political beliefs. But I don’t subscribe to 911 conspiracies or anything like that. However, if the US has no plans for martial law, WHY ARE THEY PRACTICING? If you don’t think we are a black swan event away from some serious turmoil then you are kidding yourself.
Look at history. There is nothing new under the sun. These things happen quite frequently and the common denominator is this: the people caught unaware swore that it could never happen here… I would LOVE to think that were true. I would love to think that my kids are going to grow in a nice safe place with rainbows and sugarplums and that the debt/deficit will magically disappear, racial tensions will go away and progressive policies would be exposed for the bullshit that they are. But then I snap out of it. I realize that the federal government exist for one thing and one thing only: to support and protect ITSELF and the interests it is beholden to. And that’s not you or me.
If you guys want to blow this off as nothing at all and talk about entitlements vs military spending, knock your self out. But start your own fucking thread about it, and stop hijacking mine before it even gets off the ground. This thread is about how you feel about the United States military operating on US soil, doing a training exercise designed to subdue AMERICANS. If that’s not political or world issuey enough for you, then let it die. But don’t disrespect me by dismissing it and just changing the subject three posts in. Start your own thread for that.[/quote]
[/quote]
I don’t want to kick you out of the thread, bro! Challenge my ideas! That’s why I posted them, because I WANT to be told I’m a fucking dumbass, and here’s why: XYZ. I totally respect your opinion and really want to hear it.
All I was trying to say (at 11:00 at night tired as fuck) is if you want to talk about fiscal policy, start a thread about fiscal policy. Just don’t derail MY thread about ABC idea the third post in and change the subject.
I know threads tend to change subjects and evolve, but that usually happens at least a page or two in after a few opinions the OP have been expressed - after the incubation period has “expired”, which is no harm no foul. Just let it take off a bit before the derail, that’s all.[/quote]
I tell ya what, I’ll give you my point of view as a relatively young veteran and FWIW I think it’s important to question what our government is doing.
- High level: There are something like a million active duty service members across all branches and like 2-3 million in total, iirc. A large percentage of these folks are pencil pushers not trigger pullers. Marines have a moto, “Every Marine is a rifleman.” It’s true, we’re all trained riflemen, but a lot of the pencil pushers (I was an aviation supply accountant…) would be useless in a conflict let alone a war. I had Sergeants that failed a relatively easy rifle range certification because, quite frankly, they should have never “earned” a uniform. If I’m not mistaken we’re the only branch where everyone trains on a basic weapon system (M16A2). So that 2-3 million is really less, imo, and that’s assuming the reservist would actually show up.
That said, there are some 300+ million Americans many of which are armed and all of which would be fighting for their homes and families. That alone is a pretty big check to government power.
Not to mention the Navy would be relatively useless against the vast majority of America (Other than the East and West coasts and the Gulf states).
Not to mention we could pretty easily fuck up military supply lines while being able to cross into Mexico and Canada almost effortlessly for our own aide.
To re-iterate I am 100% convinced a lot if not the vast majority of service members would not fight Americans on American soil. I don’t believe military leaders would follow an order to do so from the CIC and I don’t believe personnel from Privates to Generals would follow an order to do so from higher command. I just don’t see it happening short of Civil War part II in which case the military would be splintered anyway.
-
U.S. military personnel train almost exclusively on American soil. Every boot camp is in the continental United States. We fly sorties over U.S. soil all the time. I was stationed at MCAS Beaufort, S.C. where hundreds of flight hours were logged all over the southerner portion of South Carolina & Georgia. When I went through combat training we literally practiced clearing full scale towns built on Camp Lejune. This training taking place on U.S. soil really isn’t that surprising or unnerving to me.
-
You’re concerned the spec op community will be used against U.S. citizens. The concern is noted; however, again these are Americans that take their oath very seriously.
“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
Do you think Marcus Luttrell would roll into Dallas and capture an American citizen? Do you think the late Chris Kyle would of done the same? There is no way it would happen. No way.
I believe this is simply a new training protocol that fits our updated outlook on warfare. It will train our spec ops community to take HVT’s quickly and effectively in places like Iran, Pakistan, Syria, North Korea, etc…
You and I, we agree on a lot of things. The militarization of the police is out of control. Small town U.S.A does not need a SWAT team. The blatant infringement of the 4th amendment during the Boston marathon bombing is unacceptable in my book.
That said, based on what you’ve written in here and in the past, it comes across to me like you view the U.S. military as just another tool of an intrusive government. My perspective, probably because I served, is that the military is made up of American just like you and me. Just like everyone on T-Nation really. Some are asshole, some are idiots, some are in terrible shape, but some are very intelligent, some are highly patriotic, some are gun tooting constitutionalists, etc… Imo, the might of the U.S. military is only as good as the men and women operating the various weapons systems. An F-18, an Apache, and an M16A2 all have to be operated by us.
The government would have to convince Americans in uniform to go against everything it is to be an American and I just don’t see it happening.
[/quote]
Not if they don’t use US troops to do it. The obama administration contracted Academi (formerly XE, formerly Blackwater) to work for the CIA (250 million) as well as to provide security for the State Department (via an Academi subsidiary) for 92 million. In 2014 Academi was bought by the Constellis Holdings (along with Triple Canopy, Strategic Social, Tidewater, NSPS, IDS and several other international security companies. They are all now controlled by one entity… Founded by former Delta Force members. They are all essentially mercenaries.
I wonder if any of these groups are “unofficially” taking part in Jade Helm?
I’ve found a few conspiracy links, but nothing that you people would consider a “legitimate” source.
[/quote]
Fyi, I did not respond to Angry’s thoughts on mercenaries.
[/quote]
As Machiavelli pointed out, mercenaries are simply too unreliable. It’s also a stretch to think that former SOF personnel who were motivated by their patriotism to serve as the tip of America’s spear will turn their talents toward their fellow citizens simply for a paycheck. The 20 per 1,000 rule holds true here as well. Given that private military corporations (PMC) are paramilitary and have no organic, heavy equipment, the troop density would need to be even higher. PMCs don’t have the personnel or the capability to conduct the operations envisioned by Alex Jones and his ilk.
[quote]PonyWhisperer wrote:
Crazy people don’t know they’re crazy, that’s the problem.[/quote]
Right, and if you call enough people crazy, you get your way. Because if you (proverbial you) have power, suddenly “crazy” people don’t have what they once did before.
Umm… No, we haven’t had those threads on here in any depth in a long time. Nick is the closest thing to a Infowars junky we have, and he is just an Ancap that hates Lincoln… No where close.
Yes, because talking about training is soooooooooooo crazy.
You obviously don’t know my “circle” very well, lol.
lol, quite guys, bitching about politicians on an anonymous message board is being aggressive…
Jesus Christ with this shit man.
Don’t ever go to /pol/ you’ll shit a brick. You think we’re “aggressive” and crazy, lmao.
So are you saying the State isn’t looming and isn’t massively violating our rights with metadata collection? Because you’d be dead wrong about that. Or are you suggesting because someone hasn’t taken up arms against the government, they dont’ have a right to voice their dissatisfaction with the current state of said government?
I’m pretty sure you don’t realize it, but 100%, without question, your tone, your words and your personal attacks are a bully tactic to silence those you disagree with. Just like Obama’s “reject those voices” speech. Alinsky-ism all the way. Ridicule is a powerful weapon, and pick a target, polarize it, and make association with that target the object of social uproar.
What the fuck are you even talking about?
In some respects yes. And in the case of “all is not lost”, I agree. I don’t however think our soap box or ballot box is as powerful as you think it is.
So I need to have these things happen to me, personally to have an opinion?
You sure you want to set that standard for discussion?
No it’s not. It’s an un-clever, snide swipe trying to assume you know what my position is based on your own personal biases and dislike of what you falsely label “right wing”.
I’ve said as much myself, many times, some on this very page, of this very thread.
[quote] regardless of your political leanings, and no matter what you think or tell yourself to get through the day, nothing has changed.
[/quote]
You need to read a history book. A lot has changed. Have you lived in a commune the last 30+ years?
[quote]Bismark wrote:
As Machiavelli pointed out, mercenaries are simply too unreliable. It’s also a stretch to think that former SOF personnel who were motivated by their patriotism to serve as the tip America’s spear will turn their talents toward their fellow citizens simply for a paycheck. The 20 per 1,000 rule holds true here as well. Given that private military corporations (PMC) are paramilitary and have no organic, heavy equipment, the troop density would need to be even higher. PMCs don’t have the personnel or the capability to conduct the operations envisioned by Alex Jones and his ilk.[/quote]
I don’t see it either, but I don’t know a whole lot about PMCs.
[quote]Bismark wrote:
Do you wish to deprive American SOF from training for missions they may be called on to conduct overseas and from gaining experience operating in similar terrain that they will see down range?
[/quote]
No, but you sure as shit wish to deprive the people who live near you the right to question and ask their representation authorize some observations fo the harmless exercise.
Riddle me this, if the training is harmless, why isn’t the observation harmless?
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
and please don’t take this as disrespectful, but you (and many others here) really have no idea what it means to serve in the armed forces. A lot of what has been typed here is just ignorance, plain and simple.
[/quote]
See WACO post. The man sniped a fucking woman holding a baby. Please with this shit.
I get it, you aren’t like that, neither is James, and there are plenty of people like you, but for the love of fuckign Christ stop with this flag wrapping nonsense. The government has flat out executed it’s own people, over and over and over again since the fucking Whiskey Rebellion. Today isn’t different, and America’s government isn’t any different than any other government in the history of the world, now that we have the power we do.
There are evil people in the world. SOme of the wear uniforms. You aren’t one. I don’t think every soldier is. But you can’t look at things like Kent State, WACO and other massive fuckups by our government and tell me to rest well at night because when it’s Go Time the troops will say no. Even our resident expert Bizzy can’t even give a straight answer as to when it is appropriate to be concerned about what it is our government is ordering…
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
I wish I was a better writer so that I could convey how hilarious (in an ironic way I guess) I think it is that you are able to freely state your opinion on this matter precisely because the military supports and defends our first amendment rights.
[/quote]
Tell me then. In as much or as little detail, what needs to happen so that I can speak like I am, without hurting anyone’s feelings in regard to this.
At what point is a citizen of this nation allowed to question?
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]Bismark wrote:
Do you wish to deprive American SOF from training for missions they may be called on to conduct overseas and from gaining experience operating in similar terrain that they will see down range?
[/quote]
No, but you sure as shit wish to deprive the people who live near you the right to question and ask their representation authorize some observations fo the harmless exercise.
Riddle me this, if the training is harmless, why isn’t the observation harmless?[/quote]
The FTX is being conducted on public land and private land with the permission of the property owner, many of whom have volunteered to host the exercise. I don’t know how things are in Massachusetts (and to be clear, I don’t intend to denigrate anyone) but Texans are overwhelmingly supportive of US military personnel. Those in Bastrop county are entitled to voice their concerns via the 1st amendment (which they did), and I’m free to call the black helicopter crowd among them imbeciles. In Bastrop alone, the operation would bring in about $150,000 because of federal purchases of food, fuel, etc.
Governor Greg Abbott has directed Major General Gerald Betty, commander of the Texas State Guard, to monitor the operation. Betty will provide regular updates to the governor’s office to ensure Texan’s “safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed” during the training. It’s disconcerting that a state governor would denigrate American SOF to score political points.