Tea party darling Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday demanded that the U.S. military alter a planned training exercise that some conspiracy theorists believe is cover for a possible takeover of the Lone Star state. 
 
 Gohmert said in a statement that he understands Texans’ concerns that the exercise, dubbed “Jade Helm 15,” may be a precursor for martial law. He directed his criticism specifically at what has been reported to be a map of the training exercise, which labels Texas, among other states, as “hostile” territory: 
 
 “Once I observed the map depicting ‘hostile,’ ‘permissive,’ and ‘uncertain’ states and locations, I was rather appalled that the hostile areas amazingly have a Republican majority, ‘cling to their guns and religion,’ and believe in the sanctity of the United States Constitution,” Gohmert said in the statement. 
 
 “Such labeling by a government that is normally not allowed to use military force against its own citizens is an affront to the residents of that particular state considered as ‘hostile,’ as if the government is trying to provoke a fight with them,” he later added. 
 
 The congressman urged the military to alter the tone of the training exercise and draw up a new map so as to dispel any notion that the federal government is “intentionally practicing war” against particular states. 
 
 Read the full statement below: ||||| 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. Greg Abbott ordered the State Guard to monitor the exercise, a move widely criticized by Democrats and some Republicans. 
 
 “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,” said Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon. 
 
 The exercise, called Operation Jade Helm 15, is an eight-week training activity to be conducted in several southwestern states, including Texas. 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. 
 
 Thornberry insists Jade Helm 15 doesn’t need to be monitored, and said he thinks Abbott was only trying to reassure Texans that nothing dangerous was happening. 
 
 “If there was going to be some sort of great conspiracy to take over the country, I think the last place you would go is Texas,” he said, citing Texans’ commitment to protecting First and Second Amendment rights. 
 
 . ||||| Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orderes Texas State Guard troops to monitor the military’s action. | Getty No, Pentagon says: We’re not plotting the military takeover of Texas Some conspiracy theorists push the idea that a military exercise is a ruse to institute martial law. 
 
 The Pentagon wants to make it clear: No one is messing with you, Texas. 
 
 Defense officials are swatting down Internet-fueled rumors about a training exercise planned for this summer in the Southwest U.S. involving four branches of the military. According to the Pentagon, the exercise — called Operation Jade Helm 15— is meant to simulate covert military operations in “hostile” territory in Texas, Utah and part of southern California. 
 
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 Some conspiracy theorists have postulated that the exercise is a ruse to institute martial law, possibly involving underground tunnels and five recently closed Wal-Mart stores. 
 
 “Jade Helm and Walmart are inextricably linked and the existing evidence suggests one of two possible end game probabilities for Jade Helm,” radio host Dave Hodges posted on his show’s website on April 30. 
 
 “1. Converted Wal-Mart stores will be processing centers for FEMA camp political prisoners,” he continued. “2. 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. 
 
 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, for instance, ordered Texas State Guard troops to monitor the military’s action this summer over the eight-week simulation. The guard said it would follow the order, according to a McClatchy report. The exercise, which will take place across seven southwestern states, will be conducted on both private and public land. 
 
 “It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed,” Abbott said in an April 28 letter to the state guard’s commander. 
 
 On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said the military is coordinating with state and local officials but according to CNN, the military took exception to that part of Abbott’s letter, adding that the operation “poses no threat to any American’s civil liberties.” 
 
 “Operation Jade Helm is being conducted by Americans – by, specifically, American special forces personnel,” Army Col. Steve Warren said. 
 
 Abbott defended his decision Monday, according to McClatchy, telling reporters that it is the government’s role to “provide information to people who have questions.” 
 
 Republican presidential candidates Rand Paul and Ted Cruz have also addressed concerns about the operation. 
 
 In an interview with Iowa radio host Jan Mickelson last month, Paul said he was “not sure about exactly what is going on,” but that he would “take a look at” the planned military exercise. 
 
 Cruz says he has been hearing concerns about the training exercise, and said over the weekend that his office has reached out to the Pentagon. 
 
 “We are assured it is a military training exercise,” Cruz told Bloomberg during the South Carolina Republican Party’s annual convention. “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.