1999 06 00 Intelligence and National Security - Vol 14 No 2 - Ziegler

Magazine Overview

This document is an article titled "UFOs and the US Intelligence Community" by Charles A. Ziegler, published in the journal "Intelligence and National Security," Volume 14, Issue 2, Summer 1999. The article was downloaded on September 29, 2012, from Routledge. It examines the historical involvement of US intelligence agencies with Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) phenomena and argues that this involvement, as an unintended consequence, fostered public acceptance of the belief that some UFOs are spacecraft from another world.

The Evolution of UFO Belief

The article begins by referencing earlier waves of sightings, such as those in 1896-97, which were largely dismissed as misidentified astronomical bodies or hoaxes. In contrast, the modern era of sightings, beginning with the Kenneth Arnold sighting on June 24, 1947, has endured for half a century and significantly impacted American culture. Initially, the public attributed these sightings to mundane causes, but over decades, public opinion shifted, with polls in the 1980s and 1990s showing a majority of Americans believing some UFOs are extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Two main explanations are offered for this shift: the extraterrestrial hypothesis, suggesting actual alien visits, and an alternative explanation positing a self-reinforcing cycle where belief in alien visitations prompts sightings, and sightings, amplified by media, foster further belief. The article posits that factors like the advent of space flight, increased media capability, and declining public confidence in government, combined with intelligence agency involvement, contributed to this change after 1947.

The Roswell Incident and Early Investigations

The article details the Roswell incident of July 7, 1947, where wreckage found by a rancher was investigated by Major Jesse Marcel. While Marcel promoted the idea of a captured flying saucer, the debris was officially identified as a weather balloon and radar reflector by Warrant Officer Irving Newton. Marcel's insistence on an alien origin, despite official explanations, is highlighted as an early instance of intelligence personnel contributing to the extraterrestrial hypothesis.

Following the 1947 sightings, the Army Air Force initially suggested misidentified natural phenomena but later became alarmed by reports from qualified observers. This led to the creation of Project Sign in January 1948 to investigate UFO reports, considering possibilities of domestic secret projects or foreign aircraft. Project Sign personnel found that while most reports were explainable, a residue remained unexplained. Some analysts concluded UFOs were interplanetary, a view rejected by Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg due to insufficient evidence.

Projects Grudge, Blue Book, and the CIA's Interest

Project Sign was followed by Project Grudge, which aimed to explain all UFO sightings. However, contradictory findings and interpretations, amplified by writers like Donald Keyhoe, fueled notions of a government cover-up. In 1951, Project Grudge was revitalized under Captain Edward Ruppelt, leading to the establishment of Project Blue Book. Ruppelt, along with consultant J. Allen Hynek and liaison officer Major Dewey Fournet, adopted an objective approach but were also intrigued by unexplained reports from credible observers.

In June 1952, a meeting chaired by Major General John Samford revealed a conviction among some staff that UFOs were extraterrestrial. Samford's July 1952 press conference, acknowledging a concern about unexplained reports from credible observers, was interpreted by Keyhoe as validation for his claims of a cover-up. This event prompted the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to take an interest in UFOs, producing briefing papers to evaluate Air Force studies and assess intelligence implications. The CIA noted the potential for UFO sightings to be used by adversaries for disinformation during the Cold War.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article consistently emphasizes how the actions and interpretations within US intelligence agencies, whether intentional or not, played a significant role in shaping public perception of UFOs. It highlights the tension between official explanations and the persistent belief in extraterrestrial origins, often fueled by specific incidents, media narratives, and the activities of individuals within and outside the intelligence community. The editorial stance appears to be analytical, aiming to trace the historical development of UFO belief and its connection to national security concerns and intelligence operations.

This document, titled 'UFOS AND THE US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY', is page 9 of volume 12, published by the University of Saskatchewan Library in September 2012. It discusses the historical involvement of US intelligence agencies with Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) from the post-World War II era through the late 20th century.

Early Concerns and the Robertson Panel

The article begins by noting that early in the investigation of UFOs, the US intelligence community, particularly the CIA, considered them as a potential Soviet psychological warfare weapon. The idea was that coordinated UFO sightings could overwhelm the US air defense system. A 1952 CIA proposal led to the formation of the 'Robertson Panel', composed of scientific consultants, to review UFO evidence. This panel, which met in January 1953, included prominent scientists like Luis Alvarez and J. Allen Hynek. Despite hearing presentations that considered the extraterrestrial hypothesis, the panel ultimately rejected it, finding that mundane explanations could account for most sightings. Their conclusion stated there was 'no residuum of cases which indicates phenomena which are attributable to foreign artifacts capable of hostile acts'. However, they did concur that UFO reports could be exploited by hostile nations to disrupt air defense or sow distrust in government. To counter this, they recommended stripping UFOs of their mystery and educating the public.

Intelligence Involvement After 1953

Following the Robertson Panel's report, the official stance on UFOs shifted. The extraterrestrial hypothesis, though previously considered, was largely dismissed. UFO reports were viewed as potential psychological warfare tools, but the CIA largely delegated this aspect to the Air Force. The CIA's Physics and Electronics Division was tasked with maintaining knowledge of UFOs but considered the project 'inactive' except for periodic reviews. By December 1953, interest in UFOs among agencies like the Office of Naval Intelligence and Army intelligence was minimal. The FBI, NSA, and DIA also showed little direct interest, with their UFO-related documents stemming primarily from normal investigatory activities, such as background checks for Air Force research into Soviet exploitation of UFO reports.

The Role of Blue Book and Secrecy

The Air Force's Project Blue Book, in line with the Robertson Panel's recommendations, became largely a public relations effort to convince the public that UFOs had prosaic explanations. Air Force Regulation 200-2, issued in late 1953, prohibited the release of any UFO sighting information until it could be explained. This policy, intended to demystify UFOs, was seen by proponents of the extraterrestrial hypothesis as evidence of a government cover-up.

Whistleblowers and the Rise of NICAP

The policy of secrecy surrounding government UFO activities was a key point for critics like Keyhoe. The situation began to change in 1956 with the emergence of 'whistleblowers'—former intelligence officers who revealed hidden UFO-related government activities. Ex-Captain Ruppelt was one of the first, discussing classified documents and the schism within Project Sign. His book was perceived as validating Keyhoe's claims, significantly enhancing Keyhoe's status.

This led to the institutionalization of the UFO community. In 1956, Keyhoe helped form the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), which became an umbrella organization. By 1969, NICAP, under Keyhoe's direction, was an effective publicity mechanism for the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Keyhole's influence was amplified by the involvement of high-ranking former military officials, such as Vice Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter.

The Condon Report and the End of Active Investigation

In 1966, the Air Force funded a study at the University of Colorado, led by Edward Condon. Published in 1969 as the Condon Report, it concluded that UFO research had not advanced scientific knowledge and that the extraterrestrial hypothesis was the least likely explanation. The Air Force welcomed these findings, and the Condon Report's conclusion effectively ended Project Blue Book in December 1969. The Air Force stated that 21 years of investigation had produced 'no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as "unidentified" are extraterrestrial vehicles'.

Post-1969 Intelligence Activities and the Roswell Incident

After 1969, intelligence agencies' involvement with UFOs became largely passive, responding to public interest and requests for information, often through the Freedom of Information Act. Thousands of documents were declassified in the 1970s and 1980s, partly due to legal actions by organizations like Ground Saucer Watch. In the 1990s, a search for documents related to the 1947 Roswell incident resulted in a two-volume report.

The Roswell incident, which gained prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s through accounts like that of ex-Major Jesse Marcel, became central to the UFO community's belief in a government cover-up. Marcel's firsthand account, with his military intelligence credentials, was seen as highly credible. Despite a 1994 government investigation concluding no crashed saucer, alien bodies, or cover-up—identifying the debris as part of Project Mogul—the Roswell incident continues to validate the belief in alien visitation for millions of Americans.

The Transfiguration of Roswell and Technomyths

Ufologists like Stanton Friedman and William Moore, building on Marcel's story, produced a book in 1980 that transformed the incident into a narrative of a wrecked flying saucer with alien bodies. The article argues that this transformation, based on 'memorates' (personalized legends), created a 'technomyth'—a folk narrative in a modern, technoscientific idiom. The credibility of Marcel's testimony was crucial in the acceptance of this narrative within the UFO community. The book 'The Day After Roswell', by ex-Colonel Phillip Corso, further bolstered this narrative with its author's impeccable military intelligence credentials.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this document are government secrecy, the psychological impact of UFO reports, the debate between mundane explanations and the extraterrestrial hypothesis, and the role of intelligence agencies in shaping public perception and the UFO community's belief structure. The editorial stance appears to be analytical and historical, presenting the evolution of official and public attitudes towards UFOs, while also critically examining the narratives and claims within the UFO community, particularly concerning the Roswell incident and the concept of a government cover-up. The document highlights how declassified documents, while confirming old beliefs, have not necessarily created new ones within the UFO community, and how 'whistleblowers' have played a significant role in reinforcing these beliefs through an 'affiliative conferment of authority'.

Title: INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Issue: 19
Volume: 23
Date: September 2012
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan Library
Country: US
Language: English

This issue delves into the complex relationship between UFO phenomena and US intelligence agencies, exploring historical investigations, cover-up theories, and the societal impact of these beliefs.

Philip J. Corso and the Roswell Cover-up

The article begins by discussing Philip J. Corso, a former head of the Pentagon's Foreign Technology Desk, and his claims in his book, 'The Day After Roswell'. Corso asserts that his position allowed him access to secret military intelligence, revealing that the US government recovered a crashed saucer near Roswell. This recovery allegedly became the centerpiece of an elaborate 'reverse engineering' project, shrouded in secrecy beyond Top Secret, aimed at leaking alien technology to US industry to gain scientific breakthroughs for the Cold War. Inventions like the laser are cited as examples of technology derived from this alien source. However, the article notes that critics point out Corso provides little evidence beyond referring to known UFO documents and his credentials as a former military intelligence officer.

Historical Context of US Intelligence and UFOs

The period from 1947 to 1953 is described as the 'open-minded' era where ATIC and CIA attempted to understand the national security implications of UFOs. However, the documents from this period were later interpreted by UFO enthusiasts as evidence of a cover-up of extraterrestrial visitations. From 1953 to 1969, the agencies' intent shifted to concealing the psychological warfare threat posed by UFO reports and debunking public concerns. Paradoxically, this policy led to a chain of unwanted side-effects that fostered public acceptance of the extraterrestrial hypothesis.

Key Figures and Their Contributions

Edward Ruppelt, associated with Project Blue Book, is mentioned for his early speculation in 1956 that Blue Book might be a 'front' for a more secret UFO project. Jesse Marcel, in 1979, opined that the Air Force had something to hide. Donald Keyhoe is noted for initiating the institutionalization of the UFO community, with organizations like NICAP becoming potent mechanisms for promoting UFO beliefs. J. Allen Hynek and Ruppelt themselves became vocal critics of the official stance on UFOs.

The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis and Public Belief

The article discusses the widespread acceptance of the extraterrestrial hypothesis, attributing it to a concatenation of factors, with UFO involvement by intelligence agencies being a significant one. This involvement indirectly boosted the organizational effectiveness of the UFO community and provided evidence cited to support the hypothesis. The extraterrestrial hypothesis is compared to religious tenets for its unfalsifiability and its ability to provide transcendental meaning, making it resistant to debunking efforts, even by distinguished scientists.

Politicization of UFO Phenomena

The increasing politicization of UFO phenomena is highlighted as a concern for intelligence agencies. The article notes that the widespread acceptance of the UFO belief by millions of Americans acts as an 'enabling factor' for politicians to take initiatives without fear of adverse reaction. The UFO community has actively lobbied for government action, such as seeking congressional hearings. Examples include the 'Roswell Declaration' in 1994, urging declassification, and Laurance Rockefeller's 1995 letter to President Clinton advocating for a UFO coordinator. In 1998, politician Frances Barwood even incorporated a pledge for new government UFO investigations into her platform.

Challenges for Intelligence Agencies

If UFO politicization continues, demands for declassification of remaining UFO documents and reinstatement of government UFO investigations could place intelligence agencies in a 'no-win' situation. The article suggests that proactive steps, understanding the sociopolitical dimensions of the UFO movement and its quasi-religious appeal, might mitigate problems. However, the history of agency involvement does not inspire confidence that such steps will be taken. The article also touches upon the difficulty of declassification, as even full disclosure might be met with skepticism by those who believe in a cover-up.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around government secrecy, the role of intelligence agencies in shaping public perception of UFOs, the enduring power of the extraterrestrial hypothesis, and the increasing politicization of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be analytical and critical, examining the historical actions of intelligence agencies and their unintended consequences, while also acknowledging the persistent cultural significance of UFO beliefs in the US.