Saucer Smear - Vol 46 No 10 - 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 46, No. 10
Date: October 10th, 1999
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley
Contributing Editor: Karl T. Pflock

This issue of Saucer Smear, dated October 10th, 1999, continues its focus on ufological journalism with a critical examination of the new MJ-12 documents and other UFO-related news and reviews.

More on the New MJ-12 Documents

The lead article discusses the controversy surrounding the new MJ-12 documents, primarily sourced from Tim Cooper. It reports on Cooper's failure of a lie detector test and the subsequent press release by Bob and Ryan Wood, who are described as having reputations tied to the authenticity of these documents. The Woods' defense of Cooper's deception, stating it was to protect his sources, is analyzed. The article notes that Stanton Friedman, while accepting the original MJ-12 documents, is concerned about the new ones. Friedman has found authentic declassified documents with text identical to the new MJ-12 documents, leading him to believe some are 'parodies' or fakes. The Woods' statement that 'Both truths and deception may be seen as authentic, because historical documents represent ideas and not facts' is highlighted. Finally, the Woods admit on page 9 that 'some aspects of specific documents that Tim Cooper received are not genuine,' a point the article frames as a belated admission.

CAUS in Action

This section details the efforts of CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy), led by lawyer Peter Gersten in Arizona and UFO enthusiast Larry Bryant in Virginia. They have filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court in Arizona, alleging that the federal government is violating the U.S. Constitution by failing to protect citizens against an ongoing 'alien invasion.' The complaint argues that inadequate government policies and practices impede investigation and subject residents to unlawful intrusions. CAUS, in cooperation with MUFON, is also promoting a 'ballot initiative' to put a referendum on state ballots regarding public Congressional hearings on UFOs. Progress has been noted in Missouri. Barry Greenwood, former director of CAUS, has withdrawn from the organization.

News Briefies

This segment covers several brief news items:

• FATE Magazine: The new co-editors of FATE Magazine were noted for printing a wider variety of articles, including one on witchcraft. However, it is reported that one co-editor has left, and former editor Phyllis Galde is back in charge.
• Stanton Friedman Interview: Physicist Stanton Friedman was interviewed on TV during breaks in the movie 'Mars Attacks!', discussing UFOs. The article notes his increasing involvement with science fiction.
• David Huggins' Play: Artist/abductee David Huggins is working on a play about his lifetime experiences with aliens, including alien women.
• NIDS Opinion Poll: A poll by Robert Bigelow's National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) reveals public perceptions of UFOs: 32% don't know what UFOs are, 25% say alien spaceships, 19% believe they are misinterpreted normal events, 12% think they are secret government projects, and 7% believe they are time travelers.
• MUFON Journal Poll: An article in the September 1999 MUFON Journal, co-authored by Bob Wood and Dwight Connelly, presents opinions from 577 respondents. Most felt there should be less bickering. The article lists popular UFO authors and researchers, with Budd Hopkins, Stanton Friedman, and Linda Moulton Cow among the top-rated. Richard ('Dick') Hall was notably absent from the list.
• San Antonio NUFOC: A detailed account of the San Antonio NUFOC convention will appear in the November issue.

Book Reviews

This section features reviews of several UFO-related books:

• 'Best UFO Cases Europe': This 170-page softcover book by German scientist Illobrand von Ludwiger, associated with MUFON and NIDS, discusses many European UFO cases unknown to most American ufologists. The review praises its thoroughness and particularly the section on competing theories. The price is $19.95.
• 'Encounter' by Kelly Cahill: This 240-page paperback details the first-person contact/abduction narrative of an Australian woman. The central event occurred on August 7th, 1993, when Kelly and her ex-husband witnessed a landed craft. The experience was frightening, especially given her religious beliefs. 'Missing time' has been recovered, but the sequence remains unclear. Kelly has experienced physical illnesses, poltergeist phenomena, and bedroom visitations. Her husband corroborated parts of the event, and three other witnesses in a separate car also experienced some of the phenomena. The book is described as well-written and sincere.

PFlock PTalk / The Future of UFology - Is There One? (Part 3)

Karl Pflock continues his discussion on the future of ufology, focusing on the McMinnville photos and the Kenneth Arnold sighting.

• McMinnville Photos: Pflock recounts the May 11th, 1950 sighting by Paul Trent in McMinnville, Oregon, and the two iconic photos taken. He notes that William Hartmann of the Condon Committee concluded the report was consistent with an extraordinary flying object. He also mentions that 'skeptics' Robert Sheaffer and Phil Klass attempted to debunk the case in 1969, but optical physicist Bruce Maccabee demonstrated their reasoning was flawed. Maccabee's reinvestigation, with Brad Sparks, has largely eliminated the hoax possibility. The issue remains: where did the saucer come from and who built it?
• Kenneth Arnold Sighting: Pflock suggests that a recent investigation might 'topple' the Kenneth Arnold sighting, 'THE Flying Saucer Sighting,' from its status as a great unknown. He credits Brad Sparks for this development.
• 'Five Percenters': Pflock describes 'Five Percenters' as researchers driven by facts, not a priori beliefs, who pursue truth regardless of whether they like the answers.

More Book Reviews

• 'Maury Island UFO - The Crisman Conspiracy' by Kenn Thomas: This book retells the story of the Maury Island UFO sighting from 1947, which predates the Kenneth Arnold sighting and Roswell Incident. It involves characters like Harold Dahl, Fred Crisman, Ray Palmer, and Jim Garrison. The 290-page book includes extensive appendices. Greg Bishop calls it 'Information rich to the point of saturation.' The reviewer notes that Kenn Thomas is a conspiracy writer but admits to having little patience for conspiracy theories himself.

Missives From the Masses

This section features correspondence from various individuals:

• William Moore: The former UFO researcher writes that a '3-D scenario' runs close to his current thinking on the UFO subject, which he sees as strictly reserved for 'intellectual types.'
• Jerome Clark: Thanks 'Smear' for kind words about the new IUR and the treatment of the Coleman/Clark book.
• Brad Steiger: Appreciates the space given to his book 'The Source: A Journey through the Unexplained.' He clarifies that the book aims to tie phenomena into a philosophical/metaphysical unity. He also mentions his book 'UFO Odyssey,' co-authored with his wife Sherry, which favorably mentions 'Smear' and its editor. The editor's note acknowledges failing to read the final chapter of 'The Source' but agrees with two paragraphs discussing the concept of 'Source' as a supernatural Creator Being or a manifestation of human imagination.
• John Ford: A former head of the Long Island UFO Network, writes from Mid Hudson Psychiatric Center, where he entered an insanity plea to avoid a lengthy jail sentence for six B-class felonies. He maintains his innocence.

Guest Editorial from MAGONIA Monthly Supplement

Editor: John Harney

The guest editorial, titled 'EDITORIAL,' asserts that all stories of UFO crashes are distorted accounts of mundane incidents or lies. It guarantees that no alien spacecraft have crashed.

C-COM (Classified Communications)

This is an advertisement for C-COM, a published monthly publication with subscriptions at $15.00 per year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently questions the authenticity of UFO evidence, particularly the MJ-12 documents, and highlights instances of alleged hoaxes or misinterpretations. There is a critical stance towards unsubstantiated claims and a preference for rigorous research, as exemplified by the 'Five Percenters' approach. The publication also engages with various UFO researchers and authors, reviewing their work and presenting their perspectives. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensationalism while remaining open to genuine investigation, though the editor admits to having little patience for conspiracy theories. The guest editorial from Magonia explicitly dismisses UFO crash narratives as fabricated.