Saucer Smear - Vol 48 No 03 - 2001

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 48, No. 3
Date: April 1st, 2001
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley
Contributing Editor: Karl T. Pflock

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. It features a mix of investigative reporting, critiques of UFO organizations, news briefs, and personal opinions on various UFO-related topics.

William Moore Does It Again!

The lead article discusses UFO researcher Bill Moore's involvement as a "ghost" on a controversial research project concerning the Mormon Church, titled "The Spalding Enigma." This project, issuing a "Press Kit" from Spalding Research Associates, questions the historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Moore's reluctance to speak at the upcoming NUFOC Convention in Austin, Texas, is attributed to this involvement. The article notes that the full 1,100-page study is available electronically, and that "Saucer Smear" has enlisted a nationally recognized authority on Mormon history to review the material.

The Many Minor Misdeeds of MUFON

This section criticizes the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) for several alleged issues. It questions why MUFON has not published a follow-up regarding John Carpenter's alleged sale of confidential abductee information to Bigelow's NIDS organization, and notes a strong rumor of Carpenter's quiet resignation as Director of Abduction Research. The article also disputes MUFON's claim of having "more than 4,000 members worldwide," stating the actual number is less than 3,000. Furthermore, it is alleged that MUFON took an article by Paul Thompson from a website called "Parascope" without permission, causing Thompson considerable anger.

News Briefies

• This section provides several short updates:
• Timothy Green Beckley has published a new 30-page catalog of "wild saucer and New Age material," available for free.
• Physicist Bruce Maccabee is releasing a novel titled "Abduction in my Life." Maccabee was a supporter of Ed Walters' Gulf Breeze photographs.
• Former Army sergeant Robert (Bob) Dean appeared on Fox Network News discussing alien bodies, autopsies, and alien races, a topic for which he is known on the lecture circuit but not taken seriously by most ufologists.

More Blasts From The Past

• This segment touches on historical UFO organizations:
• The Borderland Sciences Research Foundation (BSRF), founded in 1945 by Meade Layne, is mentioned as possibly the oldest flying saucer group. Its directors have included Riley Crabb and currently James Borges.
• The situation with APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization) is described as worse, with its founders, Jim and Coral Lorenzen, having passed away. A minister named Dr. William Heft claimed to be running APRO but admitted not having their files, and has now resurfaced claiming to represent APRO again.
• Carol Honey, a co-worker of George Adamski, still believes in the authenticity of a "scout ship" photo from a "Saucer News" expose issue. She also previously believed R.E. Straith was a real employee of the U.S. State Department (later revealed to be Gray Barker). Honey now acknowledges most of Adamski's claims were bogus.
• The George Adamski Foundation exists and has accused Honey of "stealing" Adamski's material.
• Desmond Leslie, co-author of Adamski's book "Flying Saucers Have Landed," died at age 79 in France. The article notes Leslie's part of the book listed UFO incidents, similar to Charles Fort's work.
• A 20-page "Special Adamski Expose Issue" of "Saucer News" from 1957 is available for $10.

Tidbits of Trash

• This section covers various miscellaneous items:
• The editor spoke at a joint meeting of the Tampa Bay Skeptics and Tampa Bay MUFON.
• The next appearance will be at a mini-convention in Clarksburg, West Virginia, centered around the collected works of the late Gray Barker, with a side trip to Point Pleasant.
• A recent television show featured astronaut John Glenn stating he was uncomfortable with questions about being alone, denying things, and seeing strange things, implying a cover-up due to fear of public panic. Skeptic Jim Oberg commented that this was from a scripted comedy show, "Fraser," and that public comedy is a vehicle for UFO disclosure.
• An article from the Roswell International Museum newsletter by Donald Burleson speculates if Marilyn Monroe's death was linked to the Roswell UFO incident, involving JFK and alleged secrets.
• Phil Klass, a UFO skeptic, is reported to be seriously ill.

PFlock PTalk / MJ-12 FOLLIES, PART ONE

Karl Pflock discusses evidence suggesting the Condon Committee (University of Colorado Unidentified Flying Objects Project) was a front for MAJESTIC-12. He points to the use of a specific date format (e.g., "1 January, 1967") on Dr. Roy Craig's identification card from the Condon Project, which matches the format used in the controversial MJ-12 "Eisenhower Briefing Document" and by ex-ufologist Bill Moore. Pflock argues that MJ-12 agents influenced the Condon Committee's contract and selection of Dr. E.U. Condon to provide an excuse for the U.S. Air Force to dismiss UFO reports, while also potentially serving a more subtle agenda. He suggests the committee's self-contradictory final report served to both deflate saucer excitement and keep ufological hopes alive.

Missives From The Masses

• This section contains letters from readers:
• Steve Barnett, a Mormon historian, comments on the Spalding Enigma project, finding the research summary accurate and sympathizing with Moore's concern about the church discrediting the work. He notes that Joseph Smith had interests in treasure hunting and claimed communication with divine entities.
• Stanton Friedman, a nuclear physicist, critiques "Saucer Smear" for its "proclamation" style of research, contrasting it with his own investigative approach. He defends his title as a nuclear physicist and criticizes the MUFON Journal's article on MJ-12 as inaccurate. Friedman also discusses the case of Timothy Menzel, suggesting he could have been an MJ-12 member due to his extensive classified work and clearances.
• James Borges, director of BSRF, thanks "Saucer Smear" and notes that BSRF moved away from UFOs in the 1970s to focus on experimentation. He believes in critical thinking through experimentation as a middle road.
• Robert Sheaffer, a skeptic, congratulates the editor and comments on the stock market, noting the poor performance of Joe Firmage's companies.
• Matt Graeber, a cartoonist, humorously suggests that "support groups for ufologists" might replace "support groups for abductees."
• Denis Corey comments on a previous letter, questioning if Todd Zechel was serious.
• Robert Todd writes that "Saucer Smear" is one of the best UFO publications, but expresses reluctance to spend another five dollars on the subject.

Book Reviews

• "Extraordinary Encounters: An Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrials and Otherworldly Beings" by Jerome Clark is reviewed. The $75 book contains about 350 entries on UFO contactees, events, and related topics. Clark's view is that contactee experiences are often the result of psychological processes, possibly a form of multiple-personality disorder, and are subjective rather than objective reality. He distinguishes between "flying saucers" and "UFOs," with contact claims belonging to the latter. He notes that entities communicating from other planets often sound like "idiots and windbags."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Saucer Smear" maintains its critical and often skeptical stance towards mainstream UFO organizations like MUFON, while also engaging with controversial topics like the MJ-12 documents and the authenticity of religious texts. The publication appears to favor investigative journalism and direct evidence, as seen in its critique of propaganda-based research and its examination of historical UFO cases and figures. There's a recurring theme of questioning authority and established narratives, whether they come from government, religious institutions, or within the UFO community itself. The editorial stance is one of challenging assumptions and encouraging critical thinking, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths or questioning long-held beliefs within the ufological community. The publication also highlights the intersection of UFO phenomena with historical events, religious claims, and psychological interpretations.