Saucer Smear - Vol 47 No 07 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 47, No. 7
Date: August 10th, 2000
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley
Contributing Editor: Karl T. Pflock

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, provides a detailed look at the 31st annual MUFON convention held in St. Louis, Missouri, from July 14th-16th, 2000. The convention saw approximately 400 attendees, though vendors reported poor sales, a trend noted as unfortunate in recent years.

MUFON Convention and Key Figures

A significant event at the convention was the retirement of Walt Andrus, the long-time leader of MUFON, who is now about 80 years old. He is to be replaced by Deputy Director John Schuessler. The editor expresses uncertainty about how things will proceed under Schuessler's leadership. A private party was held for Andrus' retirement, which the editor was unable to attend.

The convention featured numerous speakers. John Carpenter, a professional psychologist specializing in abduction research for MUFON, presented an 'absurd video' purportedly showing a case of 'missing time.' However, the video's details, including the abductee's name and the factory location, were not released, leading the editor to dismiss it as 'nonsense.'

Mr. Carpenter is currently MUFON's Director of Abduction Research. He is reportedly under scrutiny due to internet information suggesting he sold 140 abduction cases from his files for $14,000 to Robert Bigelow's wealthy NIDS (National Institute for Discovery Science). This alleged transaction is seen as a serious violation of professional ethics, and a formal ethical complaint has been made to MUFON's new Director.

Colm Kelleher, Ph.D., from NIDS, also presented. NIDS, founded by Robert Bigelow in 1995, includes scientists and figures like John Alexander. NIDS gained national attention for investigating the Illinois case of a low-flying object, which Phil Klass identified as Venus. NIDS has also been active in researching cattle mutilations. While Kelleher's presentation was described as high-class and objective, Phil Klass later commented that scientists paid by Bigelow might be inclined to avoid mundane explanations.

Phil Klass himself attended the convention but was not a speaker. Now 80 years old and in declining health, he stated this would be his last convention. The editor expresses that Klass, despite his skepticism, is a necessary 'devil' figure for the field of ufology and will be missed.

Other speakers included Dr. Robert Wood, who promoted the authenticity of the MJ-12 documents, and Stan Friedman, who presented examples of MJ-12 documents he described as 'emulations' or fakes. The issue notes that approximately 3,700 pages of MJ-12 related material exist, much of which appears to be altered government documents.

William Moore, involved with the earliest MJ-12 documents, continues to assert his innocence.

Dr. Linda Corley, who was 'discovered' by Karl Pflock, presented on her taped interview with the late Jesse Marcel Sr. regarding the Roswell Incident. Bruce Maccabee and Kevin Randle, described as 'ufological stars,' were also present but reportedly did not perform at their usual level.

Stan Gordon of Pennsylvania discussed UFO and paranormal investigations in his state, including an account of a 1965 landing of an unexplained satellite. Lt. Col. Gerald Rolwes presented on a 1977 near-landing of a UFO near a military base in Aviano, Italy, which Phil Klass dismissively called a 'light in the sky.'

Gregory Avery gave a talk titled 'Chemtrails and UFOs Over My Backyard,' and Ted Phillips presented on Landing Trace. John Greenewald Jr. spoke on Freedom of Information Internet Documents.

Bruce Widaman of Missouri MUFON is credited with helping to organize the convention.

Other UFO News and Commentary

Kal K. Korff's Comments: Ufologist Kal K. Korff, now in Eastern Europe, is reportedly working on an autobiography that will touch upon Stanton Friedman's alleged involvement in faking MJ-12 documents, his near-takeover of APRO, and his explanation for why Len Stringfield's crash/retrieval stories are untrue. He also plans to reveal negative information about the Betty & Barney Hill Case and the Rex Heflin photos.

Tidbits of Trash (News Briefies):

• The 37th annual National UFO Conference was scheduled for September 23rd-24th in Corpus Christi, Texas, sponsored locally by Doris Upchurch.
• A colorful UFO convention was planned for October 14th in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, featuring Stanton Friedman.
• The August issue of 'Fortean Times' suggested that the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting might have been a formation of American White Pelicans, rather than spaceships.
• 'Fortean Times' is described as a 70-page magazine selling for $90 for twelve monthly issues in the U.S.A.
• Elaine Douglas, a founder of Operation Right to Know (ORTK), has moved to Moab, Utah, and is working with Ron Regehr on the Roswell Incident document.
• Bigfoot investigator Erik Beckjord claims the creature in the Patterson Bigfoot film is wearing a cylinder in one frame, possibly a zipper, with one person claiming to be the guy in the monkey suit.
• Dorris Van Tassel is selling George Van Tassel's paintings online for $50,000 each.
• The International UFO Museum & Research Center in Roswell, N.M., is considering a move to a 25-acre tract of land, requiring significant funding.
• The summer convention of the International UFO Conference was canceled due to the illness of Bob Brown's wife, Teri. The next conference is scheduled for March 4th, 2001, in Laughlin, Nevada.
• Millionaire Joe Firmage and Carl Sagan's widow are organizing a 21st Century media network called Project Voyager, raising $23 million in seed money.
• Dr. Steven Greer has announced the formation of Disclosure News Programing (DNP) to encourage UFO-related disclosures from high-ranking individuals.

PFlock PTalk by Karl Pflock: Karl Pflock's column, "I Want to Believe (Not)", emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and a judicious sense of what not to believe, citing Euripides. He warns against the 'Will to Believe' and 'DISbelieve' overwhelming objective fact and warns against hardening convictions into intellectual arrogance. He advocates for continually checking one's premises and frames of reference.

• Dr. Richard Boylan is offering a space-age summer school for genetically modified 'star kids' with alleged superpowers.
• Scientists at Princeton University have conducted experiments suggesting that light can exceed its speed limit in a vacuum under certain circumstances, using a laser pulse through cesium vapor.

Letters to the Editor

Hilary Evans: The British ufologist praises Jim Moseley's handling of the Bennewitz Affair and suggests Moseley's experience and contacts place him in a unique position to provide clarity on UFO matters.

William ("Bill") Moore: Moore addresses several points:

1. He denies being paid for services to AFOSI in the early 1980s, stating any work done was at his own expense.
2. Regarding the Bennewitz Affair, he suggests the roles of J. Allen Hynek and Jacques Vallee are overlooked. Hynek was reportedly a USAF consultant at the time, and Vallee had close ties with the CIA. Moore posits that Harder's involvement and Hynek's role in 'decoding' transmissions may have influenced Bennewitz's 'alien' transmissions. He also references Vallee's book 'Messengers of Deception.'
3. Moore's understanding of Rick Doty's final Air Force career differs from Krass's account.
4. He dismisses Janet Smith's assertion that Bennewitz was 'squirreled away in Canada.'
6. Moore questions George Hansen's focus on Doty's credibility based on Phil Klass's 'ad hominem' attacks, suggesting Klass's own record of distorting facts is more problematic.
7. He notes that if Charlie Moore's information about Socorro is correct, it would be a major breakthrough, but questions if it can be proven.

George Earley: In a letter too long to fit, Earley argues against the involvement of a Lunar Module or Surveyor probe in the Socorro incident.

Phil Klass: Klass responds to Bill Moore's suspicion that he created the MJ-12 papers. Klass states he obtained copies of the papers released by Moore, Friedman, and Shandera in 1987 and sent them to the FBI, warning of security violations if authentic and federal statutes violations if bogus. He humorously suggests that if he had created the documents, calling the FBI would be a way to secure food and shelter in federal prison.

Christa Tilton: Author of "The Bennewitz Papers," Tilton expresses her interest in the Bennewitz material. She states that Paul Bennewitz's accounts to Moore and Doty were likely inaccurate and that she had permission to write her book. She describes the UFO field as 'psychotic' and mentions protecting Paul Bennewitz. She has since earned her Doctorate.

Researcher Contributions

Bob Durant: Durant corrects Matt Graeber's misidentification of Dr. Ron Westrum as WestruN and notes that Westrum has not published on MJ-12, distinguishing him from Roger Wescott, who compared writing styles to Roscoe Hillenkoetter.

Jon Bierman (Missouri MUFON): Bierman reports on the progress of the Missouri UFO Ballot Initiative. While they failed to get enough signatures for the Year 2000 initiative, the groundwork has been laid for future attempts. He highlights the difficulty in getting the petition language approved by the Missouri Secretary of State, involving perseverance and pro bono legal work.

John Anderson: Anderson recounts hearing Dr. Frank Stranges speak, describing him as a highly skilled presenter with extensive knowledge of his Pentagon Val Thor experiences, capable of captivating an audience.

George Hansen: Hansen expresses shock that Pat Marketillio's name was spelled correctly in a previous issue.

George D. Fawcett: Fawcett reports that two librarians are working full-time to process the 50,000 UFO items donated to the International UFO Museum at Roswell. He also mentions having 7,000 items in North Carolina for his second book, which is delayed due to family bereavements. He states these materials are willed to the museum.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes a critical approach to UFO information, advocating for a 'judicious sense of what not to believe.' While acknowledging the importance of hunches and hypotheses in knowledge advancement, it warns against letting them 'becloud thinking' and lead to intellectual arrogance. The publication features a mix of reporting on conventions and research, alongside skeptical commentary and letters from various figures in the UFO community, including both proponents and critics. The editor, James W. Moseley, maintains a distinctive voice, often injecting humor and a critical perspective, as seen in the 'Tidbits of Trash' section and his own commentary.

The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry but with a strong emphasis on skepticism and the need for rigorous evidence, particularly in relation to controversial topics like the MJ-12 documents and abduction claims. The publication also highlights the internal debates and differing opinions within the UFO community itself.