Dimensions: A Casebook of Alien Contact - Above Top Secret

PART THREE: A CHALLENGE TO RESEARCHThere is in many of us, obviously, a deep-seated desire to assent to extraterrestrial forces – tobe embraced by them, overwhelmed by them, and if possible deprived by them of our ownweary responsibility for ourselves."Hiccups from Outer Space"Russell Davies, reviewingClose Encounters of the Third Kindin The Observer, March 19, 1978Although the UFO phenomenon is highly complex and stretches the boundaries of the scientificmethod, I am not prepared to abandon the rational approach to knowledge for conclusions based onfaith, intuition, or the alleged messages recieved by "channels" and contactees. There is too much atstake.We have a rare opportunity to improve scientific techniques and to glimpse beyond the limits ofordinary reality. But it would be foolish to attempt it without a clear recognition of certain pitfalls.What I will call, in Chapter Eight, the "triple coverup" is concerned with these pitfalls: the UFOphenomenon is shielded from direct study by the persistent, misguided official denial of its veryexistence; it is made more confusing by the reactions and fears of witnesses; and it is furtherprotected from ultimate discovery by its own structure.The subject also carries political overtones. As a source of rumors within military as well as civilianpopulations, UFO stories can be manipulated for a variety of reasons that may have nothing to dowith the government's interest in the phenomenon. We live in a world where any rumor can beexploited, any cult is a potential force, any belief can alter established regimes. The expectation ofextraterrestrial visitors is a powerful potential source of new social and political trends.There is no proof that the UFO phenomenon is of extraterrestrial origin. On the contrary, we see inChapter Nine that several compelling arguments converge to deny the extraterrestrial hypothesis.Finally, in Chapter Ten, I present a possible framework for an extension of our current research intothe form of reality where the UFO phenomenon seems to originate.8. Fighting the Triple CoverupWe are pleased to acknowledge receipt of your letter... regarding the photographs showingUFOs in formational flight, which you mention were taken by Captain Orrego of the ChileanNavy near Antarctica in 1948.Regarding this matter we wish to inform you that recently we recieved a communicationfrom Captain Orrego stating that he had not seen any UFOs over Antarctica in 1948.Therefore the photographs requested by you do not exist.Letter from the Chief of the ChileanNaval Mission to an American writerIt is forbidden for TV, radio, newspapers, and other news media to divulge UFO reportswithout the prior censorship of the Brazilian Air Force.Institutional Act No. 5, State SecurityBrazilian Government Regulation