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In reply to the discussion: CIA admits to being responsible for at least half of UFO sightings in the 50s and 60s [View all]Octafish
(55,745 posts)55. So, why the big need to denigrate me for expressing an interest in the subject, zappaman?
Some UFOs represent a phenomenon of unknown origin.
The CIA has had an interest in them from the beginnings of the Agency. Here's an excellent overview about the CIA and UFOs going over what your tweet said -- about 20 years ago:
The CIA's UFO History
by Mark Rodeghier
Scientific Director, J Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies
After the Cold War ended, the culture of secrecy and the operational style of the CIA began to change. Its director appeared on a radio talk show, and it became possible for citizens to pressure the CIA in ways unheard of during that earlier era. Ufology has been a beneficiary of these changes.
In late 1993, inquiries from several UFO researchers led CIA Director R. James Woolsey to order a review of all CIA files on UFOs. This agency-wide search occurred in 1994 and centralized the CIAs UFO files. Taking advantage of this opportunity, government historian Gerald K. Haines reviewed the documents, conducted interviews, and wrote a study examining the CIAs interest and involvement in UFO investigation and government UFO policy from 1947 until 1990.
Hainess study was published in Studies in Intelligence, a classified journal published quarterly for the intelligence community. The article, "CIAs Role in the Study of UFOs, 194790," appeared in the first semiannual unclassified edition for 1997, on pages 6784. It can be found at http://www.odci.gov/csi/studies/97unclas/ufo.html (dead link, also missing from Internet Archive)
This is a rather important document because it is the first time that a government agency has written a review of its involvement with UFOs. Although the study had been available at least since June when I downloaded it from the CIA Web site, it did not receive widespread publicity until early August. But when the press learned about the Haines study, the attention was dramatic. The story was carried in most large newspapers, on the NBC Nightly News, and many other media outlets. A typical headline from the Chicago Sun-Times reads, "CIA feared UFO hysteria." Several columnists used the CIA history as an opportunity to bash the CIA and secrecy in government, as exemplified by the column by David Wise (author of The Politics of Lying: Government Deception, Secrecy, and Power) in the New York Times "Big Lies and Little Green Men."
The media generally focused on two aspects of the Haines article. In a brief section entitled "CIAs U2 and OXCART as UFOs," Haines claims that many UFO sightings in the late 1950s and 1960s were actually misidentified secret American spy planes. Moreover, he alleges that the Air Forces Project Blue Book was in on this cover-up, purposely misled the public, and falsified (Haines didnt use that word but that is plainly what the Air Force would be doing) UFO explanations. This is important news if true, and the media rightly played up this angle.
Note that the CIA is not accused of deception by Haines; rather, it is the Air Force that willingly concocted the bogus explanations. Reporters asked the Air Force for comment, and on August 4, Brigadier General Ronald Sconyers told the press, "I cannot confirm or deny that we lied. The Air Force is committed to providing accurate and timely information within the confines of national security."
SNIP...
Not believing Wilsons statements, ufologists sued the CIA for records and won the release of about 800 pages in December of 1978. Since the CIA had, unwisely, been denying its inolvement in UFO matters, the media was surprised to learn how many documents were held by the agency. The New York Times claimed as a result that the CIA was probably secretly involved in the study of UFOs.
CONTINUED...
http://www.cufos.org/iur_article3.html
PS: Do people look forward to what you have to post, too?
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CIA admits to being responsible for at least half of UFO sightings in the 50s and 60s [View all]
zappaman
Dec 2014
OP
That's what they said to Heflin and about everyone else brave enough to step forward.
Octafish
Dec 2014
#19
I had something like that happen years ago. A friend and I were walking into a
RKP5637
Dec 2014
#158
So, why the big need to denigrate me for expressing an interest in the subject, zappaman?
Octafish
Dec 2014
#55
Sorry Brad but I'm not angry and you're not answering simple yes or no questions.
zappaman
Dec 2014
#114
No it's called a discussion. I even answered first to show you how it's gone.
zappaman
Dec 2014
#122
But this ignores the undoubted fact that space aliens are not visiting Earth.
longship
Jan 2015
#375
So your error smearing me is the only thing worth putting into your DU Journal?
Octafish
Jan 2015
#377
I have never seen someone online as misguided as you are on so many topics......
Logical
Dec 2014
#37
Why the need to smear, zappaman? I wrote what the science and witnesses reported.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#379
So you can disavow religious kooks but I must believe UFO kooks? Done with you! Pathetic. nt
Logical
Dec 2014
#100
So I did some research and found evidence that there was no General Bruno Lemoine in the Air Force
Bjorn Against
Jan 2015
#240
I'll see your 10 guys and raise you the 1000s who don't think we are being visited by aliens. n/t
zappaman
Dec 2014
#48
you would think guys who think the BFEE controls everything would be thrilled to know the CIA
zappaman
Dec 2014
#78
You do realize that Sagan focused much of his research on the search for extra-terrestrial life?
Bjorn Against
Dec 2014
#103
Please explain to me how the people on your list are more reputable than Sagan
Bjorn Against
Dec 2014
#139
The point is you are claiming the book lacks data when you don't even know what is in it
Bjorn Against
Dec 2014
#177
Yeah, I am pretty convinced he does not know anything about the people on his list
Bjorn Against
Dec 2014
#227
I found a Wikipedia page that is supposed to list all the Generals who served in the US Air Force
Bjorn Against
Jan 2015
#238
It appears that not only Wikipedia forgot to mention him, the Air Force did as well
Bjorn Against
Jan 2015
#241
If you don't want to read his book then you can read his Wikipedia entry
Bjorn Against
Jan 2015
#260
The link actually says more than just that and the book says even more yet
Bjorn Against
Jan 2015
#273
I think that pointing out there is no background info on any of your sources...
Bjorn Against
Jan 2015
#303
Because a whole bunch of seemingly fake people with fake credentials signed it.
zappaman
Jan 2015
#295
There were many people with impressive credentials telling us Saddam had WMDs as well
Bjorn Against
Dec 2014
#51
well then perhaps you can tell me the expertise of the guys who signed off on the Cometa Report?
zappaman
Dec 2014
#194
Obviously, the aliens use their cloaking device to hide from the ubiquitous cameras.
arcane1
Dec 2014
#3
Believe me, there are many scientists who would love to write a peer reviewed article
Bjorn Against
Dec 2014
#31
Because making fun of those exposing America's fascist enemies is its own reward.
Octafish
Dec 2014
#49
I've never seen Sid or anyone else defending the Bushes. Don't you ever get tired of that smear?
zappaman
Dec 2014
#53
What's the word when you post things that have nothing to do with the question?
zappaman
Dec 2014
#218
No, the OP is about the CIA admitting to being responsible for many UFO sightings.
zappaman
Dec 2014
#220
A line from Shakespeare's "King Lear" comes to mind: "Like flies to wanton boys are
KingCharlemagne
Dec 2014
#116
Look, I believe that life is probably pretty abundant in the Universe.
Warren DeMontague
Dec 2014
#83
Oh, I didn't say that the quantum overmind doesn't communicate via the trans-psychedelic aethernet
Warren DeMontague
Dec 2014
#94
The rest, in a shocking twist, were the fault of the Agricultural Research Service. (nt)
Posteritatis
Dec 2014
#191
And they are responsible for 100% of the anal probing incidents during that time.
Kaleva
Dec 2014
#23
They waited to start on the anal probings until Bush was President. See the
KingCharlemagne
Dec 2014
#120
I find it incredulous that anyone could believe that humans are the only intelligent
panader0
Dec 2014
#93
"Human intelligence," like its close sibiling "military intelligence," is almost
KingCharlemagne
Dec 2014
#127
While you're at it, Flannery O'Connor would also repay your efforts. Also, the 19th-century
KingCharlemagne
Dec 2014
#132
If you can believe it, I just ordered Welty on Amazon (?) and they said "people who ordered
panader0
Dec 2014
#137
You will not be sorry. I'd also like to put in a pitch for one of my old
KingCharlemagne
Dec 2014
#143
Carl Sagan's name has been invoked here. Carl was definitely a skeptic; but........
LongTomH
Dec 2014
#99
A few of the problems we have, regarding the chance in being visited by other beings.
BlueJazz
Dec 2014
#125
Awesome stuff. In return I'll leave you with a passage from Dickens' "Great Expectations," where
KingCharlemagne
Dec 2014
#148
Frankly, at this point, I don't believe a damn thing the CIA is saying about any subject.
BeanMusical
Dec 2014
#175
I think CIA agents should do their jobs and stop going on "UFO sightings"
Jeffersons Ghost
Jan 2015
#270
The Phoenix lights where everyone sees what is clearly flares, is not the part
randys1
Jan 2015
#308
Every eye witness described it as the size of a football field or bigger, as I recall
randys1
Jan 2015
#322
You would need to watch one of the specials about the night, before the 10PM mass sighting of
randys1
Jan 2015
#332
The same night of the PHoenix lights, I have seen no less than 3 different one hour shows on tv
randys1
Jan 2015
#335
Yeah, that year, sorry...So basically they didnt see what they said they saw, some of them very
randys1
Jan 2015
#341
When do they "admit to being responsible" for murder, torture, and other assorted crimes?
Tierra_y_Libertad
Jan 2015
#320
Damn--I was on the mandatory holiday leave for the agency I work for, and I miss this thread?
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#378
I've been found out.....you see, my pro-Democratic President stance on a pro-Democratic
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#381