Sci Fi Channel puts its corporate muscle behind effort to investigate UFOs

Miami Herald ^ | Fri, Jun. 20, 2003 | David Bauder

[demlosers]

NEW YORK - In an unusual step for a television network, the Sci Fi Channel is campaigning to persuade the government to be more forthcoming and aggressive in investigating UFO sightings.

Sci Fi has hired former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta as a Washington lobbyist, sponsored a symposium on interstellar travel and is considering a court effort to declassify documents related to a 1965 incident in Pennsylvania.

The network will premiere a documentary, "Out of the Blue," Tuesday at 9 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific time zones) that methodically lays out an argument that there's something out there.

Most TV networks are reluctant to spend money for anything other than self-interest. The few public interest efforts are hardly controversial: Lifetime promoting breast cancer research, for example, or MTV's Rock the Vote campaign to encourage young people to register.

But by fighting for UFO probes, Sci Fi is wading into an area that invites not only dissent, but also ridicule.

"It's very, very tough for people to take this subject seriously," said Ed Rothschild, a lobbyist in Podesta's firm. "We thought the only way it was going to be seriously addressed is to have serious people talk about it, scientists."

Rothschild won't even identify the members of Congress he's talked to about leaning on the government for more openness about UFOs. He's afraid they'll never help if their names come out and they're laughed at.

Even believers are reluctant to talk about the issue.

After hearing that former President Carter once saw a UFO, "Out of the Blue" filmmaker James Fox repeatedly, and unsuccessfully, asked Carter's representatives for an interview. Undaunted, Fox essentially ambushed Carter with a camera one day at a book-signing. Carter confirmed the incident but his brevity and forced smile indicated he wasn't happy to be answering.

Given the "giggle factor" that surrounds UFOs, Sci Fi is taking a chance with its reputation, Fox said.

"I don't think there's a risk because the questions need to be asked," said Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi's senior vice president of programming. "Even somebody who is the biggest skeptic in the world ... still wants the questions answered. And who better to do it?"

The mission isn't entirely altruistic, of course. The Sci Fi Channel, which is seen in about three-quarters of the nation's TV households, polled viewers on the topic. Evidence of keen interest is also seen in the ratings.

Last November's documentary on the celebrated, suspected 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, N.M., was the highest-rated special in the network's 11-year history. It was seen by nearly 2.4 million people, or about 2 1/2 times Sci Fi's usual prime-time audience.

"Our main goal is not to find a UFO," Vitale said. "The goal is finding the truth. We're expanding and exploring the blurry line between what is science fiction and what is science fact."

Vitale wouldn't say how much Sci Fi is spending on this. The network sponsored an archaeological excavation at Roswell, will debut a public service announcement Tuesday and has four new UFO specials in the works.

It is backing an effort to get U.S. Air Force records released on a 1965 incident in Kecksburg, Pa., where some witnesses believe a UFO crashed. This may end up in court, Rothschild said.

Fox, a San Francisco-based journalist, never thought much about UFOs until a visit nine years ago to Nevada, when he and his friends watched a saucer-shaped object hover silently in the sky then dart away.

"When I got home, I was met with laughter," he said. "No one believed me, even my family. I thought, if my own family doesn't believe me, who does?"

Intrigued, he began looking into other UFO incidents. He sold a 1998 documentary to the Discovery Channel and shopped "Out of the Blue" to the same network, but said he was told Discovery no longer buys pro-UFO films. (A Discovery spokeswoman denied this.)

So he went to Sci Fi. Fox considers 95 percent of reported UFO incidents bunk, either hoaxes or easily explained conventional phenomena. And don't count him among people who believe aliens already live among us.

But that still leaves a significant number of mysterious cases. "Out of the Blue" outlines several, concentrating on the most reputable of witnesses - former astronauts, military and government officials, topped off by an ex-president.

Fox's storytelling is sober, not sensational. Summing up incidents at the end of the film, Fox gives the official government explanations of what happened, and they're often more ridiculous than the sightings themselves.

"You get to a point where you can no longer dismiss each and every episode," he said.

Fox and Rothschild can think of several reasons why the government doesn't want to talk about UFOs:

_ The military doesn't want to spend time or money on something that isn't perceived as a threat.

_ Officials may also like the secrecy; it keeps other governments guessing about what kind of new weapon technologies might be in the works.

_ It could also be embarrassing, since it can expose what they don't know and the limitations of human technology.

_ And who wants to set off a "War of the Worlds"-type incident?

Fox envisions the public announcement that could come with such an event: "We don't know where they come from, we don't know what they're doing. We can't stop them if they become hostile and they can fly rings around all of our aircraft.

"Thank you, and good night."

[janetgreen]

Just tuned in.

[Quix]

Yes.
That's correct.

[Quix]

I *THINK* I've managed to get down and posted 80-95% of the significant statements.

Maybe I'm wrong. Others can say.

[eastforker]

And I believe when Margarett Thatcher was asked she said something to the tune"well,we can't talk about that."

[Quix]

I've read that somewhere, too and it was on this program last segment in some form. See my post.

[eastforker]

My point being,they did not deny,they refrained.Sometimes I wonder if the founder to our civilization was conducting nothing more than an experiment.

[Quix]

IN 1968 UFO's were being debated by the highest levels of government.

so it looked like a round disc

WALTER KRONKITE REPORTED THE INCIDENT ON CBS.
SGT SNIDER REMEMBERED IT WELL ENOUGH TO DRAW IT.

THE AIR FORCE SENT IT'S REP HYNEK

. . . MARSH GASS--ALLEN HYNEK THE PUBLIC WAS FURIOUS
AND THE PRESS KIND OF MADE FUN OF IT.
CONGRESSMAN FORD SAID HE'D CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IN A RECENT PHONE INTERVIEW HE CONFIRMED HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION

I WROTE THAT SUCH AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE TAKEN.
MAJ DONALD KEYHOE SAID THERE WAS FAR MORE TO IT THAN SWAMP GASS.

OF WHICH 646 REMAIN UNIDENTIFIED.

"THESE CHARGES ARE ABSOLUTELY UNRTUE--LT COL LAWRENCE TACKER [--STOOGE.]


THEY ARE SIMPLY FOLLOWING ORDERS TO EXPLAIN AWAY ALL UFO SIGHTINGS.

IT WAS PRESSURE FROM CONGRESS THAT LED TO THE STUDY BUT IT ENDED UP ONT BEING AN OPEN STUDY.

. . . BLUE BOOK . . . DR EDWARD CONDON APPEARED TO BE BIASED FROM THE START. HE ADDED--BUT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO REACH A CONCLUSION FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

HOW TWO SCIENTISTS WERE FIRED OVER A LEAKED MEMO.
THIS MEMO DICTATED WHAT THE PROJECT'S CONCLUSIONS WERE TO BE BEFORE IT EVEN STARTED.

WHEN REP ROUSH READ THE LEAKED MEMO--HE URGED CONGRESS TO TAKE OVER THE INVESTIGATION BECAUSE HE CHALLENGED THE OBJECTIVITY--HIS PLEA WAS IGNORED.

DR CONDON HAS STATED THAT NOTHING HAS COME FROM THE STUDY OF UFOS THAT HAS ADDED TO SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE.

3 DECADES LATER, DR PETER S ASTROPHYSICIST AT STANFORD TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CASES . . .

IN CONCLUSION, . . . . PROBABILITY OF NATURAL EXPLANATIONS SEEMS LOW IN THIS CASE . . .

CASE 21 . . . MOST PUZZLING CASE ON RECORD.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW UFO REPORTS IN WHICH ALL FACTORS INVESTIGATED--GEOMETRIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL--APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ASSERTION THAT AN EXTRAORDINATRY FLYING OBJECT, SILVERY, METALIC . . . ?10'S OF METERS IN DIAMETER? . . .

THE PROJECT LEADER APPEARED TO IGNORE THE DATA AND SUMMARIZED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO IT.

. . . TO PREVENT FURTHER SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

23% NOT EXPLAINED.

[Quix]

bIBLE SAYS ALL CREATION WAITS EXPECTANTLY, GROANING

EAGER FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD.

I figure they are watching our bootcamp training of their future leaders who'll rule and reign with Christ throughout endless ages and galaxies future.

[janetgreen]

Thanks, I'll catch up on it. Have you read "The Day After Roswell" by Lt. Col. Philip Corso? I believe what he said.

[Quix]

I read it.

I believe much of what he said. Not sure about all.

[Quix]

IT APPEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE OF POWER IN THE US GOV ARE KEPT OUT OF THE LOOP ABOUT UFO'S

WHILE MANY SEGMENTS OF THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX ARE NOT SUPERVISED [BY ANY RESPONSIBLE PART OF GOVERNMENT].

B GEN I THINK IKE WAS TELLING US . . .

LOVEKIN SERVED UNDER IKE

HE RECALLS IKE'S CONCERN
HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS LOSING CONTROL HE REALIZED THAT THE PHENOMENON, WHATEVER WE WERE FACED WITH WAS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE BEST HANDS. THAT WAS THE EXPRESSION HE USED--IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE BEST HANDS.

ALL MOST AS GREAT AS THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING UFO'S IS THE DENIAL . . .

CARTER FILED A REPORT . . . ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE MOON, IT MANOEUVERED SILENTLY IN THE FACT OF WITNESSES.

"i SAW ONE BUT IT DISAPPEARED."

IN AN EFFORT TO FULFILL THIS PROMIS, . . . SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR WROTE . . .

WHEN NEWS OF THIS PENDING INVESTIGATION REACHED xEAN

i SINCERELY HOPE YOU ARE SUCESSFUL IN PREVENTING A REOPENING OF THE UFO INVESTIGATTIONS.

A CLANDESTINE GROUP, A QUASI PRIVATE GROUP--WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION . . .

NASA OFFICIALLY DECLINED CARTER'S REQUEST.


CARTER:
YES BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANSWERS AND NOBODY HAS ANY PROOF.

FACE SHOWED CARTER WAS UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT IT.

STEVEN SCHIFF WAS PRESSED BY HIS CONSTITUENTS [NM]

IN A 1997 INTERVIEW, HE RECALLED WHAT HAPPENED
WAS A BIT OF A TERSE RESPONSE

WE REFERRED YOUR REQ TO THE NAT ARCHIVES. i FOUND THAT UNUSUAL.

AFTER A 2ND ATTEMPT, HE WAS AGAIN REFERRED TO THE NAT ARCHIVES.

cONGRESSMAN stEVEN SCHIFF--FRANKLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE RUN AROUND.

EVIDENTLY J EDGAR HOOVER WAS ALSO DENIED ACCESS.

"WE MUST INSIST ON FULL ACCESS TO ALL DISCS RECOVERED."

bILLDO ASKED ASSOC WEBSTER HUBBELL--OH PLEASE.

HUBBELL RECALLS A SPECIAL . . . WHO KILLED JFK AND ARE THERE UFOS
HE WAS DEAD SERIOUS.
I HAD LOOKED INTO BOTH BUT WASN'T SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS I WAS GETTING.

NO, I PUT EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK THAT I KNEW.

CORSO
SEE, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST.
HOW CAN YOU ASK. WHO CAN YOU ASK?

[janetgreen]

Another one I read is "Extraterrestrial Contact, The Evidence and Implications" by Steven M. Greer, M. D. Fascinating.

I was 9 years old when the crash at Roswell occurred, and remember reading the newspapers (wish I had saved one). I have been fascinated ever since.

[Quix]

hey group--please chime in!

[Quix]

I liked Greer's book, too.

Yes. Some people don't believe the Newspaper story ever was printed!

Sigh.

[Shooter 2.5]

bump

[janetgreen]

Long time ago, but if I recall correctly, it was printed in the Los Angeles Examiner. The neighborhood kids all knew about it too, and we made up a "flying saucer" game.

[Constantine XIII]

At the First Contact press conference, one reporter asked the alien duo "What is up with all the anal probing? I mean, what do you learn from THAT?" The aliens glanced bemusedly at each other and replied "Temperature."

[Sam Cree]

I don't have cable, so cannot watch the show, so thanks for your commentary.

[Quix]

PARIS 1999

THE MOST IMPORTANT UFO STUDY IN DECADES.

COMETA REPORT
OVER 500 UFO CASES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

FROM A HIGH LEVEL GROUP OF FRENCH MILITARY OFFICERS.

THE MOST PRO UFO DOCUMENT EVER WRITTEN IN ANY LANGUAGE.

GENERALS AND ADMIRALS

AND TOP LEVEL SCIENTISTS

BERNARD NORLAIN GENERAL
JEAN-CLAUDE RIBES

WHAT MUST WE PREPARE FOR.

DATA COLLECTED BY NUMEROUS SCIENTIFIC AGENCIES.

AN INTERNAL MILITARY INVESTIGATION NEVER INTENDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THESE PHOTOS WERE SUBJECTED TO SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS.

OREGON 1950
1,000 FEET ABOVE COSTA RICA 1981

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE--PLANT AND SOIL SAMPLES.

1981 IN SO FRANCE . . .ONLY A SINGLE WITNESS HE WAS WORKING IN HIS SMALL FARM
HEARD A WHISTLING SOUND
LOOKED UP JUST ABOVE TREES THIS STRANGE CRAFT.
IT DESCENDED 30 FEET AWAY IN HIS GARDEN.
LIKE 2 PLATES TOGETHER.
WIFE THOUGHT HE WAS JOKING
THEY WENT BACK IN THE MORNING AND THEY FOUND GROUND TRACES.
GRASS HASN'T BEEN CUT IN 10 YEARS.
DIRT ONLY--NO GRASS GROWING.

TOOK SOIL SAMPLES AND PLANT SAMPLES.
ANALYSIS OF PLANT AND SOIL SAMPLES--EVIDENCE OF COMPRESSION AND OF DAMAGE TO PLANTS DUE TO HEATING AS THOUGH BY MICROWAVES.

DESPITE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THE SMALL TOWN LABELED THE FARMER A UFO FANATIC.
IT LANDED THEN IT TOOK OFF.

MILITARY PILOTS INVOLVED IN UFO INCIDENTS
ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC SEPT 1976
PANTOM JET ATTEMPTED TO FIRE AMISSLE AT UFO IN IRAN
RADIO WENT DEAD.
AT THIS POINT THE SMALLER CRAFT MERGED WITH THE LARGER UFO AND CIRCLED AROUND THE JET.
HE CALLED CONTROL AND ESCAPED UNHARMED.
UFO'S ARE REAL.
WITH REMARKABLE SILENT FLIGHT.
THE HYPOTHESIS OF AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL ORIGIN CAN'T BE DENIED.

THESE ETS POSSESS HIGH INTELLIGENCE . . .

A MAJOR CONCERN FOR GLOBAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY.
VSD= TIME LIFE IN FRANCE.

IF THE PUBLIC WAS AWARE OF THE COMETA REPORT, THEN IT WAS NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR.
IT REMAINS A PUBLIC FACT.

THIS REPORT HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED OUTSIDE OF FRANCE.

LESLIE KENA ENCOUNTERED MUCH RESISTENCE IN GETTING THE REPORT PUBLISHED.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS DEALING WITH FACTS. . . THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED.

SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT REPORT FOR WHAT IT SAYS.
THIS IS NOT ANONYMOUS REPORTING.
TAKING A STRONG STAND THAT SOME UFO'S ARE EXTRATERRESTRIAL.

ECUADOR 1995
IT WAS U KNOW SHAPED LIKE A SAUCER . . .

CWO JAOHN HAU--NOTHING WE HAD AT THE TIME WOULD FIT THE SIZE, SHAPE, PERFORMANCE.

THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION IS MORE UNBELIEVABLE THAN THE EVENTS.

WEATHER BALLOON, SWAMP GAS, PLANET VENUS,

MY RESPONSE IS WE COULD LAND ALL 40 OF OUR B2 BOMBERS ON THE WING OF THAT [UFO]CRAFT.

LORD HILL NORTON--THERE IS THE . . . .POSSIBILITY THAT WE ARE BEING VISITED AND HAVE BEEN VISITED FOR MANY YEARS BY PEOPLE FROM OUTER SPACE.

THERE HAVE BEEN MATERIAL AND BODIES RECOVERED.

AND THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE SOMEWHERE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT THAT HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE.

'THE HECK WITH THE PUBLIC' ATTITUDE.
DR PETER STURROCK OWES IT TO THE PUBLIC TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE SUBJECT AND . . .THEN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC

GORDON COOPER--WELL SOMEBODY'S KEPT IT SECRET FOR QUITE A WHILE.

NUMEROUS MILITARY WITNESSES ARE PREPARED TO TESTIFY IN GREAT DETAIL IF THEY CAN BE PROTECTED BY CONGRESS.

SUCH A DISCOVERY WOULD PROFOUNDLY ALTER OUR PERCEPTIONS OF OURSELVES.

END

COMMENT PLEASE!!!

[Quix]

tHEN IT SHOULD BE IN THE ARCHIVES!