Saucer Smear - Vol 49 No 07 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 49, No. 7
Date: September 15th, 2002
Publisher: James W. Moseley
Editor: James W. Moseley
Contributing Editor: Karl T. Pflock

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, offers a critical and often humorous perspective on the field. The cover features a book titled "SHOCKINGLY CLOSE to the TRUTH!" by James W. Moseley and Karl T. Pflock, described as an "entertaining romp through the history of saucerdom."

Editorial: A Critical Look at American Ufology

In the editorial section, James W. Moseley reflects on the state of American ufology, quoting Dennis Stillings from a 1990 Magonia article that described American ufology as a "frightful mess" and a "fertile breeding ground for every sort of fantasy." Moseley agrees that the psychosocial hypothesis is rejected, sensible explanations are dismissed, and witnesses are assessed based on whether they say what believers want to hear. He concludes that American ufology has remained in a "state of thumb-sucking infantilism."

News and Updates

"When Hell Freezes Over!": An anecdote from a Remote Viewer suggests the International UFO Museum in Roswell offered a contract for appearances after the "forthcoming Ice Age," humorously calculated to be around 12,000 A.D. This is contrasted with a firm booking for the annual convention in Aztec, N.M., which is held in cold weather.

Tidbits of Trash (formerly News Briefies): This section corrects an error from the previous issue, where the year of an incident involving George Adamski was mistakenly given as 1992 instead of 1952. It also mentions Rick Hilberg, an Ohio researcher speaking at the Cincinnati NUFOC Convention, who is publishing a booklet on the mysterious 19th-century Sonora Aero Club of California.

Movie Review: The issue reviews the movie "Signs," noting its suspense but lack of clarity regarding the invaders' origin or motives. It suggests followers of George Adamski might not like the movie.

MUFON Under Cyber Attack: An item reports on International Director John Schuessler lamenting the excessive number of virus-laden messages received by MUFON, sent by "unknown criminals" who allegedly followed up with "perverted attachments."

The Raelians: An update on the Raelian cult, whose founder claims UFO contact, mentions their scientific hopes to clone a human being. A South Korean branch claims a woman is pregnant with a cloned baby, with an announcement expected upon the child's birth.

"Black Triangles": A study by NIDS suggests that the mysterious "black triangles" seen since the 1980s are actually lighter-than-air blimp-style craft made by the American military, possibly powered by "electrokinetic drive."

PFlock PTalk: "The More Things Change..."

Karl Pflock, the contributing editor, argues that a primary reason ufologists "don't get no respect" is that they take themselves too seriously. He likens this self-importance to frogs croaking loudly in their own small ponds, unaware of how silly they appear. Pflock suggests that ufology's status as "tabloid semi-proto-science" is partly due to practitioners' inability to laugh at themselves. He encourages readers to "lighten up" and read "Smear" and "Shockingly Close to the Truth!" for a dose of humor.

Brief Biased Book Reviews

William Cooper: Death of a Conspiracy Salesman? Patriot? FANATIC! by Tim Beckley: This 100-page softcover book covers conspiracy topics related to William Cooper, including the Illuminati, New World Order, and JFK assassination. It sells for $19.

UFO Mysteries by Curt Sutherly: Published by Llewellyn, this book is an expanded version of Sutherly's earlier work. It features ten UFO situations and discusses some of ufology's researchers, including "Smear" editor Jim Moseley, who is described as a "godfather" in the UFO field. Sutherly's opinion on UFO origin is that the phenomenon represents something more complex than spacecraft and visiting extraterrestrials, involving religion, philosophy, and metaphysics. The book costs $12.95.

The Origin of the MJ-12 Documents

Brian Lloyd Parks discusses the history of the so-called Eisenhower Briefing Document (EBD) on Operation Majestic Twelve (MJ-12). He notes that the first MJ-12 document, a retype of an AFOSI teletype, was given to William L. Moore in 1981. Parks questions the authenticity of the document, noting the curious classification box and its postmark from Albuquerque, New Mexico, a focal point of UFO disinformation in the early 1980s. He suspects that disinformation operations mix accurate information with bogus material. Parks also reflects on William L. Moore's role in MJ-12 history, describing him as perplexed by circumstances involving "Aviary contacts" and open to the possibility that the documents were not authentic. Parks is a former co-worker of Moore's.

Missives from the Masses

Rick Hilberg writes regarding an "Errata" in a previous "Smear" issue, questioning the date of George Adamski's death.

Dave Swink thanks Jim Moseley for attending the International UFO Museum Festival in Roswell and for enjoying "Saucer Smear."

Ed Mitchel writes about his experience in Roswell, noting Moseley's "admirable" but "negative" presentation. He criticizes the Museum's treatment of the Raelians and notes that Moseley's book was not carried in the Museum Bookstore.

George Hansen, a parapsychologist, expresses jealousy over Jerry Clark's extensive coverage of Moseley's book in IUR (International UFO Reporter). He mentions the Linda Napolitano (Cortile) case gaining credibility and notes Budd Hopkins' belief that the Pope was informed of the Linda affair.

Harry Lime responds to George Hansen, questioning his assessment of him and Pflock.

Wendy Connors is praised for her way with words.

Hilary Evans reviews Moseley's book, calling it "essential reading" and a "real contribution to the UFO literature." He describes it as a source of enlightenment on ufology and its hidden agendas.

Chris Roth, an anthropologist, praises "Shockingly Close to the Truth!" as an "insider perspective" without ideological distortion, offering historical depth. He believes it will be a primary source for understanding the UFO phenomenon for generations to come. Roth also comments on a quote attributed to him regarding John Mack and the possibility of non-human intelligences.

Kevin Henderson writes about missing issues of "Smear" and praises "Shockingly Close to the Truth!" as a "vital American subcuture" and a "candid and honest" work, though he found the chapters on grave robberies difficult to stomach. He asks about Moseley's meeting with Carl Allen (Carlos Allende).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include a critical examination of ufology's perceived lack of seriousness and self-importance, particularly within American ufology. There is a focus on historical UFO cases and documents, such as the MJ-12 papers, and a questioning of their authenticity and the role of disinformation. The magazine also touches upon current events in the UFO community, such as conferences and the activities of various groups like the Raelians. The editorial stance, as expressed by Moseley and Pflock, is one of skepticism towards excessive zealotry and a preference for a more grounded, and humorous, approach to the subject matter. The publication also serves as a platform for reader feedback and book reviews, often with a critical or biased perspective, as indicated by the title "Brief Biased Book Reviews."