UFO Mail - No 235 - 2017

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: nr. 235
Date: March 17, 2017
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue delves into the pervasive influence of aliens within conspiracy theories, drawing heavily on the work of historian Aaron John Gulyas and his book "Conspiracy Theories: The Roots, Themes and Propagation of Paranoid Political and Cultural Narratives". The magazine explores how these narratives have developed in the USA, often bolstered by real conspiracies and cover-ups.

The Alien Connection in Conspiracy Theories

The article highlights that while the current US political climate might seem to fuel conspiracy thinking, the theme of aliens has a long and deep history within these narratives. Aaron John Gulyas, an expert in UFO mythology, introduces his book by examining the nature of conspiracy theories before diving into specific categories, including "They Came from Outer Space".

The Rise of the Spaceship Hypothesis and Government Cover-ups

Donald E. Keyhoe is identified as a pivotal figure in establishing the spaceship hypothesis – the belief that UFOs are alien spacecraft. He founded the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in 1957, which, along with competitor APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization), dominated UFO research for years. Keyhoe's theory posited that US authorities, likely the CIA, knew the truth about UFOs and were hiding it from the public. While NICAP believed in a conspiracy, APRO did not share this view.

Although NICAP and APRO are now defunct, their legacy endures. The article notes that many subsequent UFO organizations have emerged and disappeared without leaving a lasting impact. It also points out that MUFON (Mutual UFO Network), founded in 1969 and claiming to be the world's largest and oldest UFO organization, demonstrates a lack of historical awareness, as SUFOI was formed earlier in 1957. The magazine criticizes MUFON for perpetuating myths and unsubstantiated claims rather than presenting new, valuable information about UFOs.

Evolution of UFO Narratives: From Benevolence to Malevolence

The 1980s and 1990s saw the dominance of "UFO abductions" in the narrative. Self-proclaimed "experts" like John Mack, David M. Jacobs, and Whitley Strieber gained fame and income by convincing many Americans that they had been abducted by aliens, subjected to examinations, and returned traumatized. The purpose of these abductions became a central topic, with theories suggesting a deal between authorities and malevolent extraterrestrials: humans would be harvested in exchange for alien technology. These wild conspiratorial ideas made the UFO mythology more complex and contradictory.

The Roswell Incident and the MJ-12 Conspiracy

The article links the rise of conspiracy theories to the climate of the late 1960s and 1970s, marked by the Vietnam War and distrust in politicians, exacerbated by the Watergate scandal. This period saw a shift in the portrayal of visitors from benevolent to criminal and violent, involving cattle mutilation, crop destruction with intricate patterns, and the abduction of people. Whitley Strieber's 1987 autobiographical novel "Communion" became a bestseller, detailing his alleged nocturnal encounters with "Greys" after Christmas 1985.

The summer of 1947, when a mysterious object allegedly crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, is revisited. The article states that the official explanation – a cluster of weather balloons from the top-secret MOGUL project – is largely irrelevant because by the 1980s, books like Charles Berlitz and William Moore's "The Roswell Incident" had established the narrative of a crashed alien spacecraft with aliens being covered up by authorities. The Roswell "hysteria" intensified with the emergence of "proof" of a secret 12-man group, MJ-12, supposedly controlling events related to UFO crashes since 1947. The article dismisses these MJ-12 documents as obvious forgeries, relevant only to believers seeking patterns in a "shady world."

Stanton Friedman is credited with coining the term "A Cosmic Watergate," implying a connection between the Roswell crash and President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Modern Manifestations and Internet Influence

The proliferation of unrelated conspiracy ideas in the 1990s fueled science fiction series like "X-Files" and "Dark Skies." The advent of BBS systems and the growing internet from the 1990s onwards made it easier to disseminate information, regardless of its accuracy. Once published online, content tends to persist indefinitely.

Milton William "Bill" Cooper, who became increasingly radical and a part of the "militant, anti-government subculture" by the late 1990s, is mentioned. He died in 2001 during a shootout with police.

Conspiracy theorists are described as seeing connections where none exist. Cooper, for instance, linked UFOs to the "New World Order." A group of authors under the pseudonym "Commander X" published stories in the 1990s about a secret underground base in Dulce where aliens and US authorities allegedly collaborated. These narratives have since proliferated.

Conclusion and Recurring Themes

Aaron John Gulyas concludes in his book that conspiracy theories are largely tied to the question of extraterrestrial life, with strong links between UFOs and political conspiracies. He emphasizes the continued viability of conspiracy ideas, noting that exopolitics and disclosure movements are essentially reviving old messages in new forms. These movements hark back to the UFO prophets of the 1950s and Donald E. Keyhoe's consolidation of the spaceship hypothesis and government secrecy, recycling past conspiracy ideas into contemporary narratives.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears critical of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, particularly those that lack a scientific approach and rely on sensationalism. It highlights how historical UFO narratives are being reinterpreted and perpetuated, often without critical examination. The editorial emphasizes the enduring nature of these theories and their connection to broader themes of distrust in authority and the search for hidden truths, particularly concerning extraterrestrial life and government cover-ups. The article implicitly advocates for a more critical and historically informed approach to UFO phenomena and conspiracy theories.