Hiding Something? US Press Gag on Jade Helm Triggers Social Media Frenzy

With no media allowed to observe the ongoing Jade Helm 15 military exercise in southwestern US states, Americans took to social media on Thursday to speculate about the controversial seven-state drill amid tongue-in-cheek rumors of a military takeover.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Most people preferred to make fun of the large-scale war games, posting WWII-era photos and goofy reports from Texas "frontlines." Some alleged they were herded into recently closed MalMart stores to be vaccinated.

The multistate operation, with a stated goal of training for missions around the world, exploded in popularity in the media as early as three months prior to the launch after a map of the exercises leaked online.

As Jade Helm commences… Texans report it's all quite on the Texas Front… No feds taking over the Alamo….Yet. pic.twitter.com/qitKB2JUid

— The Fighting Liberal (@texyellowdogdem) 16 июля 2015

The map, attributed to the US Special Operations Command, designated Texas and Utah as "insurgent" territories, prompting outraged responses warning of an impending martial law to be declared in the regions. Activists and members of militia groups organized patrols to trail US army convoys and report on their actions.

Countdown To #JadeHelm15 Begins http://t.co/HpkVw4X9Bh pic.twitter.com/0MSs7coSx2

— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) 15 июля 2015

Despite the hype, no evidence of a government plot to round up and disarm US residents was observed on the first day in the small town of Bastrop, the hub of the drills, according to local media.

A retired sheriff’s deputy was cited by Times saying there was a national group, called Counter Jade Helm, in Bastrop that would react "if the situation were to turn afoul."

Extinction-Level Asteroid, Jade Helm 15, New Civil War in the US… pic.twitter.com/h418XEkcc9

— Only Advice Animals (@animals_advice) 7 июля 2015

Operation Jade Helm will run through September 15 in Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. It is reported to involve over a thousand troops and US special forces, and is estimated to bring approximately $150,000 to the local economy.