Jade Helm 15 Military Exercises: Preparing for Martial Law Enforcement?

by Stephen Lendman

Post-9/11, human and civil rights eroded markedly. They're incrementally disappearing altogether - the hallmark of a police state.

America's military/industrial complex, its gulag prison system, militarized killer cops, city streets turned into battlegrounds, along with ongoing war on fundamental freedoms at home and against humanity worldwide define it.

America's phony war on terror is duplicitous pretext to suspend the Constitution and declare martial law in case of another major (state-sponsored) 9/11-type event or to quell legitimate civil unrest.

A US Army Military Police "Civil Disturbance Operations" manual explains how US combat troops will be used to "help local and state authorities and to restore and maintain law and order" against anything considered threatening America's imperial project at home and abroad.

Military forces will be ordered to shoot to kill to break up "unauthorized gatherings (constitutionally protected peaceful assemblies), and by patrolling the disturbance area to prevent the commission of lawless acts (the right to petition government for redress of grievances)."

Constitutional rights no longer matter, especially with bipartisan fascist governance - including right-wing justices dominating the Supreme Court and lower ones.

Arrested protesters will be held in internment (concentration) camps short or longer-term - "re-educated (to) appreciat(e) US policies (obey diktat authority or face indefinite detention, or worse)."

American streets and communities already are battlegrounds - imagine how much worse if invaded by US combat troops trained to kill and destroy.

Reagan's 1988 Executive Order 12656 authorized full-scale militarization in case of a "national security emergency," defined as:

"Any occurrence, including natural disaster, military attack, technological or other emergency, that seriously degrades or seriously threatens the national security of the United States."

George Bush's October 2001 Executive Order 13228 established administration-run agencies:

The Office of Homeland Security (OHS) "to develop and implement a national strategy to coordinate federal, state, and local counterterrorism efforts to secure the country from and respond to terrorist threats or attacks."

The Homeland Security Council (HSC) "to advise the President on homeland security matters, mirroring the role the National Security Council (NSC) plays in national security."

These and an array of post-9/11 police state laws aren't about fighting terrorism at home or abroad. They're to enforce repressive harshness against ordinary Americans justifiably protesting policies harming their rights and welfare.

On July 15, Jade Helm 15 military exercises began in nine southern and western states - including Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Texas.

The Army Times said they involve "unconventional warfare…to meet future threats" without elaboration.

They include well-trained combat troops - including army Green Berets, navy Seals, as well as air force and marine Special Operations Command forces, around 1,200 in total, reinforced by marine Expeditionary Units and army 82nd Airborne paratroops.

"Interagency partners" involved include Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI and DEA. Drills will continue until September 15.

Media are banned from coverage. Operations are secret so area residents won't know what's going on - let alone mission objectives.

Exercises will focus on so-called "emerging concepts in Special Operations warfare" - including perhaps waging it against ordinary Americans demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Most operations will be conducted during late night/pre-dawn hours. Quick, hard-hitting tactics are planned.

Jade Helm 15 may be prelude to what's coming - martial law and warfare on US streets to enforce police state power, protecting it from beneficial social change.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.