Saucer Smear - Vol 56 No 04 - 2009

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 56, No. 4
Date: May 1st, 2009
Publisher: James W. Moseley
Editor: James W. Moseley
Country: USA

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, features a mix of commentary, news, and reports on UFO phenomena. The cover includes a photo of the editor and a headline, along with graphics of UFOs.

Obama Administration and UFO Transparency

The lead article discusses the Obama administration's announcement regarding the release of federal records, emphasizing the caveat 'unless foreseeable harm would result.' The editor notes that while this suggests a more liberal approach than the Bush administration, the current economic climate makes it unlikely that UFOs will be a government priority. The article speculates that the government may hold numerous classified documents related to UFOs, many of which are likely obsolete.

Historical Sightings and Anecdotes

The issue revisits the well-known sighting by former president Jimmy Carter, which was likely the planet Venus. It then shifts to local Key West sightings, referencing a two-part newspaper series titled 'UFOs Play in Keys Skies Over the Years.' A detailed account is given of a 1989 sighting by an off-duty Navy radar operator in Key West harbor. The object was described as a silver, flattened teardrop shape, approximately 7 feet long, hovering about 10 feet above the water, and exhibiting no splash despite its proximity. The craft eventually moved out to sea and disappeared.

Another anecdote describes a daylight sighting of an odd-shaped craft near Key West, later identified as the 'Fat Albert' drug surveillance blimp. A deceased friend's account of a bright white light hovering low in the sky and then shooting upwards is also shared.

"UFO Cover-Up Live" and the MJ-12 Chart

A special section highlights a 'still-secret chart' that briefly appeared on the 1988 TV special "UFO Cover-Up Live." This chart, featuring elements like 'MJ-12,' 'Aquarius Umbrella,' and 'Area 51,' purportedly revealed complex government involvement with aliens over decades, including a captured alien named EBE-1.

Larry Bryant and FOIA Requests

An ode to Larry Bryant, a long-time ufologist, details his persistent efforts to obtain UFO-related information from the government using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Despite often receiving no valuable information, his dedication is noted. A specific FOIA request by Bryant for a film showing Eisenhower and Howard Hughes inspecting a crashed saucer and alien crew was met with a denial of information.

Kevin Randle and the Roswell Incident

The issue includes commentary on Major Kevin Randle Ph.D.'s blogs regarding the Roswell incident. The author criticizes Randle's defense of Jesse Marcel as a key witness, despite past exposés of alleged lies and exaggerations. The piece suggests that Randle's 'militaristic attitude' is detrimental and compares it to the reasoning behind the Iraq War. It also mentions Randle's work with Anthony Bragalia on a new Roswell witness, a retired fireman, though the testimony is deemed not entirely new.

"UFO Hunters" and USOs

A review of Bill Birnes' "UFO Hunters" discusses an episode linking 1987-1989 sightings in Gulf Breeze, Florida, to Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs) in the Caribbean. The segment featured Dr. Bruce Maccabee and experiments attempting to drop a craft into water without a splash, which failed. The review concludes that the episode did not add significantly to the knowledge of USOs.

Hoaxes and Skepticism

An episode concerning UFO sightings over Morristown, New Jersey, is mentioned, which turned out to be a hoax involving helium balloons with flares, deliberately created by 'skeptics' to demonstrate how easily people can be fooled. The article critiques the 'skeptics'' mentality, comparing their fanatical non-belief to that of 'True Believers.' A conversation with Dr. Gary Posner of the Tampa Bay Skeptics organization is cited, where Posner dismissed a personal experience of telepathy.

Other Anomalous Reports

Chupacabra: The issue briefly mentions a satirical book titled "Everything the Government Wants You to Know about CHUPACABRA From the Secret Files" by Manwolf Sullivan, describing the Chupacabra as a vicious animal that kills livestock.

Roswell Festival: Preparations for the Roswell Festival are noted, including a planned slate of religious speakers focusing on alien abduction and presenting it as 'fallen angels.'

Bigfoot Sighting: An unusually detailed Bigfoot sighting near Willits, California, is recounted. The creature was described as having black hair, giant arms, a flat face without a nose, and yellow or gold eyes.

"Rocket Man" Sighting: A report from England describes a 'flying man' observed travelling in a controlled manner over Gentleshaw Common, possibly wearing a jet pack.

David Huggins' Art: The work of artist David Huggins is mentioned, focusing on his paintings depicting interactions with ETs, including a painting of a human nursing from an ET lady.

Letters to the Editor and Researcher Contributions

Jerry Clark comments on the issue's focus on George Adamski and Howard Menger, discussing the nature of contactees and the blurred lines between conviction and hoaxing.

Paris Flammonde shares memories of booking Howard Menger on the Long John Nebel radio show, recounting an incident where Menger's 'alien device' disintegrated.

Matt Graeber offers a critical assessment of Kevin Randle's blog posts, describing him as 'angry, self-righteous, troubled and pompous.'

Rob Swiatek of CUFOS discusses MUFON's new 'Star Team' initiative, funded by Robert Bigelow, to investigate CE-II and CE-III cases, noting the potential stress and challenges involved.

Rob MacGregor praises the 'UFO Hunters' series and mentions an upcoming episode about AUTEC and the Bermuda Triangle.

Jim Lynch expresses disappointment with 'UFO Hunters' and Bill Birnes' work.

Jerry Lucci draws parallels between the Fatima encounter and the UFO phenomenon, suggesting that ufologists fear exploring such connections.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include government transparency (or lack thereof) regarding UFOs, historical UFO sightings and legends, the role of contactees and alleged hoaxes, and the ongoing debate surrounding the Roswell incident. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, acknowledging the complexities of UFO research, questioning official narratives, and sometimes expressing skepticism towards certain claims while remaining open to anomalous phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on journalistic integrity and the pursuit of verifiable evidence, even when dealing with controversial subjects.