 WASHINGTON–The chairman of the House Armed Services committee called concerns about a special forces training exercise in Texas “silly” on Monday, dismissing conspiracy theories of impending martial law 
 
 His comments come a week after Texas Gov. Some Walmarts will be used as supply and staging centers for an internal conflict within the United States.” 
 
 Some Republican politicians have seemed to indulge these fringe viewpoints, promising to ensure that Jade Helm 15 is not, in fact, the prelude to the jack-booted imposition of martial law. Greg Abbott, for instance, ordered Texas State Guard troops to monitor the military’s action this summer over the eight-week simulation. The terrain in these states matches what soldiers often encounter, according to the U.S. Army, and the activities “will take place on pre-coordinated public and private lands,” 
 
 Though Army officials said there will be little disturbance from Jade Helm 15, conspiracy theorists claim the exercise could be a cover for a devious military plot against American citizens. Abbott said he ordered the guard to watch over Jade Helm 15 to ensure “safety, constitutional rights, private-property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed.” 
 
 Sen. Ted Cruz also sent questions about the exercise to the Department of Defense, though he said he doesn’t believe a conspiracy is afoot. “I have no reason to doubt those assurances, but I understand the reason for concern and uncertainty, because when the federal government has not demonstrated itself to be trustworthy in this administration, the natural consequence is that many citizens don’t trust what it is saying.” 
 
 The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, a Texan, called such concerns “silly.” 
 
 “These are incredibly capable, patriotic Americans and the notion that they’re going to be some sort of private army for the president to take away all our guns is just silly,” Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) told The Dallas Morning News.
– If you haven't heard of the paranoia fest known as Jade Helm 15 yet, yesterday's announcement from the Pentagon might seem a little weird: It swears it doesn't plan to take over Texas and impose martial law. A spokesman felt compelled to officially tamp down those rumors, explaining that Jade Helm is a military exercise that "poses no threat to any American's civil liberties," reports Politico. From July 15 to Sept. 15, thousands of troops will converge on the Southwest for the massive exercise, which has spawned all kinds of colorful conspiracy theories. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott didn't exactly suppress the concerns by ordering the Texas State Guard to keep an eye on things to safeguard the "constitutional rights" of Texans. And today, Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas demanded that the Pentagon change the map being used for the exercise, which shows Texas shaded in red to designate "hostile" territory, reports Talking Points Memo. "The tone of the exercise needs to be completely revamped so the federal government is not intentionally practicing war against its own states," he explains. A fellow Republican, who just happens to be chair of the House Armed Services panel, has a different view: "These are incredibly capable, patriotic Americans, and the notion that they're going to be some sort of private army for the president to take away all our guns is just silly," Rep. Mac Thornberry tells the Dallas Morning News.