Replies

The irony here is that the CIA established the Robertson Panel during the cold war to dispel any sightings and talk of UFOs out of fear that it would clog our communications systems and prevent us from recognizing a very real Soviet missile or bomber attack. This is where the stigmatization of UFO sightings started in earnest (though it had been around forever if only due to the bizarre nature of UFOs).

Now China (and probably others) have used that stigmatization of "things" flying under the radar to cover our country with inexpensive intelligence-gathering balloons.

Funny how things work out.

Here's another excerpt on this matter that capture its essence:

[M]any in President Harry Truman’s administration were indeed concerned that UFOs were a safety hazard. Whether the sightings were real or just mass hysteria, reports from panicked citizens ran the risk of choking federal communications channels. Some in the CIA even believed the Soviets could stage a UFO incident to help screen an attack on the United States.
In January 1953, the CIA convened a group of experts under the direction of CalTech physicist H.P. Robertson to review the flying-saucer issue. This “Robertson Panel” concluded that most UFO sightings could be easily explained away as harmless optical illusions or weather phenomena. Still, the group suggested the government should take steps to debunk UFO events to help prevent a potential public uproar. In a move that would provide fuel for conspiracy theorists’ fires for years to come, they also suggested that the feds soothe the national consciousness by using mass media, celebrities and even the Walt Disney Company to ridicule and discredit UFOs.