DATE=8/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-218103
TITLE=CIA / UFO'S (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=ERIN BRUMMETT
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A STUDY RELEASED BY THE C-I-A SAYS THE U-S GOVERNMENT
DECEIVED THE COUNTRY BY PUTTING OUT FALSE STORIES TO EXPLAIN
REPORTED U-F-O SIGHTINGS DURING THE COLD WAR. ERIN BRUMMETT HAS
MORE FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: MOST OF THOSE UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS AMERICANS
THOUGHT THEY WERE SEEING IN THE 1950'S AND 1960'S WERE REALLY
SUPER-SECRET U-S SPY PLANES (KNOWN AS THE U-TWO AND THE SR-71
BLACKBIRD), ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.
ITS AUTHOR -- GERALD HAINES -- SAYS THE C-I-A AND AIR FORCE MADE
UP FALSE COVER STORIES TO ALLY PUBLIC FEARS ABOUT U-F-O'S WHILE
ALSO PROTECTING NATIONAL SECURITY. THE GOVERNMENT LINKED THE
SIGHTINGS TO NATURAL PHENOMENA SUCH AS ICE CRYSTALS AND
TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS.
MR. HAINES IS A HISTORIAN AT THE NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
-- THE PENTAGON DIVISION THAT STUDIES DATA FROM THE SPY
SATELLITES. HE SAYS BY HIDING INTEREST IN THE MATTER, THE C-I-A
CONTRIBUTED TO LATER CHARGES OF A GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACY AND
COVERUP.
THE FALSE REPORTS WERE ORDERED BY A C-I-A APPOINTED COMMITTEE IN
THE EARLY 1950'S. THE PANEL CONCLUDED THAT DECEPTION WOULD BE
BEST BECAUSE ATTENTION TO THE U-F-O ISSUE MIGHT CAUSE THE PUBLIC
TO BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF BEINGS
FROM OTHER PLANETS.
MR. HAINES SAYS THE THE U-F-O ISSUE PROBABLY WON'T GO AWAY
ANYTIME SOON. IN HIS WORDS, THE BELIEF THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE
IN THE UNIVERSE IS TOO EMOTIONALLY APPEALING AND DISTRUST OF THE
U-S GOVERNMENT IS TOO PERVASIVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/EKB/RRM
04-Aug-97 6:45 PM EDT (2245 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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