Abbott Orders Texas Military To Monitor U.s. Army Exercise

"During the training operation, it is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property right and civil liberties will not be infringed," the governor wrote. At a weekend meeting of the commissioners' court of Bastrop County - one of 17 Texas counties that will see federal troops training between July and September - hundreds of citizens turned out to voice fear and anger with an Army spokesman. Army Special Operations Spokesman Mark Lastoria told the Chronicle that more than 1,000 troops would practice "emerging concepts in special operations warfare," and said fears of soldiers in civilian areas "center around misinterpretations." "Directing the State Guard to monitor the Operation will allow Texas to be informed of the details of military personnel movements and training exercise schedules, and it will give us the ability to quickly and effectively communicate with local communities, law enforcement, public safety personnel and citizens," he wrote.