Countdown to Jade

 

 

"I am really hoping this entire thing is much to do about nothing. What bothers me the most is our Administration has become so untrustworthy, many people are assuming the worst..."

Well, we are now under a week. Less than a week away. From what? From one of the most talked about, feared, hyped up events in United States (domestic) military history. That would be Jade Helm 15 (the 15 standing for 2015).

So what is Jade Helm 15, and more importantly, why is it? Going on the internet right now, especially on YouTube, there is an almost endless stream of information about what people think Jade Helm is. Before I get into conjecture, here are some facts as I know them:

• It will be comprised of mostly special forces from more than one service - about 1,200 in all.
• It will take place in a number of states in the southwest part of the United States. Texas however, seems to be ground zero.
• It will be the LARGEST military exercise outside of Federal land in United States history.
• It will start July 15th and go until September 15th.

Now we will dive into the deep end of the pool of speculation. Even though the military denies it, Jade Helm might be an acronym. Some say it stands for JADE (Joint Assistant for Deployment and Execution) and HELM (Homeland Eradication of Local Militants). And this is where the nerves become frayed. Who are the "Local Militants"? ISIL operatives? Or patriots who disagree with this Administration?

Some have videos showing a butt load of heavy armor heading southwest on rail lines. Others have videos of convoys. Even if this exercise is as harmless as baby's breath, the optics are terrible. One can't help looking at this event with a cocked eyebrow.

First off, there is a press blackout. No embedded press allowed for the entire 8 weeks. Huh? We have had press embedded in all our recent wars. The second is the unexplained closing of 5 Walmart stores in the region. Very short notice and boom - closed. Some believe they were closed for the purpose of internment.

Not all states are just taking a wait and see attitude. The Governor of Texas has activated part of the National Guard "just to keep and eye on things". Also, it is my belief that interested and concerned Americans will watch this exercise closer than Area 51 is being watched by UFO Hunters. I will keep my ears to the track and eyes to the sky and report on anything in the next two months that seems relevant enough to share.

One other thing before I close. The logo. The logo is a takeoff on the Special Forces logo with a small deviation. What that "cloud" is where the two arrows and dagger intersect is a "sabot". A "sabot" which is today a form of tank or artillery shell, got its name from sabotage. Interesting for the logo of a major military exercise.

Wednesday is "go day". We will soon find out the fact or fiction of Jade Helm 15. If it turns out to be harmless, the military has some explaining to do about he clandestine nature of the next two months. If it turns out to be Machiavellian, God help us all.