UFO Mail - No 069 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 69
Date: May 18, 2006
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information focuses on the psychological and governmental aspects of UFO phenomena, alongside a profile of psychic Uri Geller.

The Truth is Hard to Hear...

The lead article, "Sandheden er ilde hørt..." (The Truth is Hard to Hear...), by Kim Møller Hansen, discusses the work of Susan Clancy, a psychologist at Harvard University. Clancy's book, "Abducted - How People Come To Believe They Were Kidnapped By Aliens," is presented as a well-researched and respectful examination of the alien abduction phenomenon. Clancy interviewed approximately 50 individuals who believe they have been abducted by aliens. Her research aimed to understand what leads people to believe they were abducted, why they remember these events, why abduction stories are similar, who gets abducted, and why someone might wish for such an experience if it didn't happen. Clancy concludes that most individuals who report alien abductions are honest and normal people. She suggests that these experiences often begin with sleep paralysis or a vague feeling of something having happened during the night. The memories are not necessarily 'mistakes' but rather arise from a combination of nightmares, cultural influences, and a fundamental human need to find meaning in life. Clancy's findings align with those of Susan Blackmore. The article notes that while Clancy treats her subjects with respect, her conclusions have led to negative reactions, including hate mail and threats.

Clancy's research indicates that despite common themes in abduction narratives (e.g., being taken by aliens and subjected to medical examinations), there are significant individual differences. The article points out that many common elements have been present in popular culture through films and television for years, predating the modern trend of abduction narratives.

The article highlights that none of the 50 individuals interviewed wished their experiences had not happened; instead, they found new meaning in life and a sense of belonging in the universe. While Clancy's book has been well-received in Europe, it has faced criticism in the US, particularly from those who profit from the abduction phenomenon through books and therapy groups. The author questions why ufologists, who have long sought scientific interest in UFO phenomena, would react negatively when a scientist like Clancy approaches the subject with rigorous scientific methods.

Why the NSA Stays Silent About UFOs

"Derfor tier NSA om ufoer" (Why the NSA Stays Silent About UFOs) by Clas Svahn, discusses a declassified 21-page document from the US National Security Agency (NSA). This document, originally classified as Top Secret Umbra, was a response to a 1980 request from Citizen Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) for NSA documents on UFOs. The document, authored by NSA spokesperson Eugene F. Yeates, was partially declassified in November 2005.

The article explains that intelligence agencies like the NSA naturally collect information on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) as part of their broader mission to analyze foreign communications and detect threats to US security. The NSA had 239 UFO-related documents in its archives by 1980, with 160 originating from NSA's own activities and 79 from other agencies. A significant portion of these documents (156 out of 239) were based on intercepted communications, primarily from foreign sources.

The declassified document includes a heavily censored example of intercepted communication related to a UFO phenomenon. It describes reported objects as "light spheres," "a yellow object reported to crash into the sea," "a strong flash of light," "a luminous object," "an unidentified object at very high altitude," "an unknown object with two lights," "a rocket," "a light sphere the size of an orange," and "an elongated light sphere." In several cases, the objects were also seen on radar, and the communication between radar stations, pilots, and central control was intercepted.

Yeates states that documents were often classified not because of the content of the UFO observation itself, but due to information about the facilities involved, the personnel collecting the material, or the methods used. The NSA withholds details to prevent foreign powers from identifying which radar stations could be intercepted and when. Revealing information about observations in other countries could also expose communication channels and code-breaking successes.

The article notes that the NSA's current methods of scanning emails, faxes, and phone calls for keywords are similar to the film "Three Days of the Condor." The NSA is cautious about specifying locations and times of UFO observations to avoid compromising its collaborating countries, ensuring they can continue to trust the US with secret information.

Beyond the specific UFO reports, the document also references other related NSA reports, such as "UFO Hypothesis and Survival Questions" and "UFOs and the Intelligence Community Blind Spot to Surprise or Deceptive Data."

Yeates explains that releasing these documents, along with over 200 others, would be detrimental to the NSA's work, potentially "destroying the US's ability to collect this type of vital security information." He emphasizes that the collected information is a result of intercepting communications from foreign powers within their borders.

An internal NSA comment within one of the documents highlights a perceived weakness in the agency's ability to correctly react to unusual information or data that is intentionally misleading. The NSA official used the UFO phenomenon to illustrate this point, suggesting that the US intelligence apparatus struggles to handle such unconventional data, which significantly impacts its information-gathering capabilities.

Steven Aftergood of the Project on Government Secrecy suggests that the US government has something to hide, but it's related to protecting its espionage activities rather than extraterrestrial matters.

A Reunion with Geller

"Gensyn med Geller" (A Reunion with Geller) by Benjamin Radford provides an update on Uri Geller, the Israeli former paratrooper who gained international fame in the 1970s for his alleged psychic abilities, such as bending spoons and stopping watches. Geller claimed to be a descendant of Sigmund Freud.

During his peak fame, Geller appeared on numerous TV and radio shows and garnered many followers, as well as attention from skeptical publications like "Skeptical Inquirer." He also frequently sued his critics, including magician James Randi and the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), though without success. The article notes that magicians like Randi could easily replicate Geller's feats.

Geller has a website, www.urigeller.com. Although he has not regained his former level of fame, he has diversified his activities. In 1977, he released a music album that received little attention but was re-released in 2000. A reviewer on Amazon.com described the music as "terrible" and "not worth listening to."

Geller continues to leverage his past fame, having published over a dozen books and selling a "Mind Power Kit" which includes a "crystal" and the claim that humans only use 10% of their brain capacity.

In 1999, Geller published a novel, "Ella," about a young British girl who develops telepathic and psychokinetic abilities. In recent years, Geller has received media attention not for his psychic claims, but for his friendship with and defense of Michael Jackson. Geller stated he hypnotized Jackson and asked if he had ever molested children, to which Jackson replied "no." Geller considered this sufficient proof of Jackson's innocence and predicted his comeback would be more dramatic than Elvis Presley's return from the army.

Geller, based in London, spends much of his time writing, lecturing, and doing charity work. In 2005, he co-established a Psychic Museum in York with astrologer Jonathan Cainer. The museum offers "mind-opening experiments" designed to provide personal experiences of psychic powers and potential, with exhibits on dowsing, psychometry, aura and energy fields, remote viewing, psychokinesis, and telepathy.

Geller is quoted as saying, "What is happening around the world right now is that people are starting to believe in psychic phenomena... It works, otherwise people wouldn't be interested in it."

Reader Offer

The magazine includes a reader offer for Willy Wegner's book, "Mirakelmanden Uri Geller - beretningen om et mediefænomen" (The Miracle Man Uri Geller - the story of a media phenomenon), a 35-page illustrated book costing 9.00 DKK.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the psychological underpinnings of belief in extraordinary phenomena, the role of government secrecy and intelligence agencies in handling sensitive information, and the public's enduring fascination with figures like Uri Geller. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting scientific perspectives (Clancy) and investigative journalism (NSA document analysis) alongside profiles of well-known figures in the UFO and paranormal fields. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between genuine scientific investigation and phenomena that may be explained by psychological factors or exploited for personal gain. The magazine encourages readers to critically evaluate claims and information, particularly when dealing with government secrecy and paranormal assertions.