UFO's and Defense What Should we Prepare For

S ATUR DAY 17 J UNE 2000
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UFO's once the
preserve ofthe purely
paranoid are now
being taken seriously.
Astronauts, Generals
and a number of
influential scientists
are hammering away
at the crust of
international
scepticism. LESLIE
KEAN explains why a
study by the French
military may finally
make governments sit
up and take notice.
T HE release i n April o f 1he fi rst
detailed satellite i mages of Area
51 . the 1op-secre1 Air Force test
site in Nevada, prompted a web
site meltdown as people from
around the world searched for
clues about unidentified flying objects.
"The i nterest has been really phenomenal,•·
said David Mountain, marketing director for
Aerial Images. Inc which posted the high
resolution aerial photos of A rea 51 on the
Internet. But those hoping 10 see signs of
something extraordinary were destined to be
disappointed. Most of Area 5 1s operations
occur underground, maki ng photos extra-terrestri al origi n" and that, in fact, the and Defense: What Should We Prepare For?," unexpl ained objects have been reported since
meaningless. A nyone looking for the fresh best explanation is " the extraterrestrial published in France by the magazine VSD. 1944. T he rest " seem to be completely
information on UFOs would have beller luck hypot hesis." Although not categorically unknown fl ying machines with exceptional
tr ying a new, but less publicized source: by the proven, "strong presumptions exist in its favor THE MECHAN ICS O F A performances that arc guided by a natural or
French military. just translated into English. and if it is correct, it is loaded with significant MYSTERY artifi cial intelligence," they say. Science has
H igh level officials -- including retired consequences.•· developed plausible models for travel from
generals from the French I nstitute of Higher The French group reached th at conclusion " The number of sighti ngs, which arc another solar system and for technology which
Studies for National Defense, a government after examining nearly 500 detailed completely unexplained despi te the abundance could be used to propel the vehicles, the report
funded strategic planning agency -- recently intern ational aeronauti cal sightings and and qual ity of data from them, is growing says.
took a giant step i n openly challenging radar/visual cases, and previously undisclosed throughout the world," the team declared. _The It assures readers that UFOs have
skepticism about UFOs. In a report based on a pilots' reports. They drew on data from official authors note that about 5 percent of sJghtings demonstrated no hostil e acts, " although
three year study, they concluded that, sources, government authorities, and the Air on which there is solid documentation cannot intimidation maneuvers have been
" numerous mani festations observed by Forces of di fferent countries. T he findings are be easily allributed to earthly sources, such as confirmed.' "
reliable wi tnesses could be the work of craft o f contained in a 90-1>age report titled. " UFOs secret mili tary exercises - especially since Gi ven the widespread scepticism about
£.J Irish Independent
SATU R D AY 17 J UN E 2 000
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