The Texas Conspiracy Theory That Has Chuck Norris Freaked Out

Everything's bigger in Texas — including conspiracy theories. One such theory has gained steam online; it says the U.S. military is about to invade the state. The rumors began in March and center around a planned military training operation set to take place in Texas over the summer, dubbed Operation Jade Helm 15. Critics of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott say he added fuel to the conspiracy fire when he ordered Texas State Guard troops to monitor the military exercises in the state this summer throughout the eight-week simulation in order to protect Texans' "civil liberties." The conspiracy has been driven in part by the prominent voices calling for scrutiny of the exercises. Actor Chuck Norris, an outspoken advocate for conservative causes, wrote in a column on WorldNetDaily, "The U.S. government says, 'It’s just a training exercise.' But I’m not sure the term 'just' has any reference to reality when the government uses it."