World
November 14, 2024 20:40
amsterdam - A public hearing in the US Congress aimed to reduce the secrecy surrounding unidentified flying objects (UFOs) but instead raised more questions and increased mystery.
A public hearing in the US Congress this week was expected to shed light on the persistent secrecy surrounding unidentified flying objects (UFOs). However, the testimony of multiple witnesses and whistleblowers only added to the mystery: 'We are not alone, I believe the world deserves the truth.'
Since time immemorial, UFOs have captured our imagination. There have been countless individuals who have been dismissed as crazy for claiming to have seen a flying saucer. In recent years, there has been a growing serious interest in the phenomenon officially referred to as UAP: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.
This increased attention began when the Pentagon released three official videos of 'absurdly flying objects' a few years ago. The grainy footage captured by American fighter pilots caused a stir at the time. More uproar followed in 2021, when the Pentagon admitted in a report that they could not always explain such recordings. The department examined 144 sightings made between 2004 and 2021 and concluded that in about 20 cases, there might be the presence of 'advanced technology.' The Pentagon, however, clarified that this did not necessarily imply extraterrestrial life. The technology could, in theory, also have originated from an earthly 'adversarial' power.
The hearing in Congress on Wednesday was supposed to provide more clarity on the matter that intrigues so many. The session followed an initial meeting in 2022 when committee members concluded that there is indeed a UFO cover-up within the US government. The previous session was the first gathering on 'unidentified flying objects' in over 50 years. This time, Congress had a former admiral, a former Pentagon official, a former NASA employee, and a journalist testify.
UFO enthusiasts were not disappointed by the testimonies. Retired Admiral Tim Gallaudet warned that we are being 'visited by non-human intelligence' with technology we do not truly understand and intentions we also do not comprehend. According to the naval officer, we must not turn a blind eye. 'We must bravely face this new reality and learn from it.' Gallaudet mentioned that a video of an unexplained projectile in 2015 made him ponder. He received the footage via email from the US Fleet Forces Command with a warning that the mysterious projectile had nearly collided with multiple naval aircraft during an exercise. The admiral noted that the flying object had 'flight and structural characteristics that were unlike anything in our arsenal.' The next day, the email disappeared from his server without explanation.
Perhaps the most remarkable statements came from Luis Elizondo. The author of the book Imminent (2024) who previously worked for the Pentagon now considers himself a whistleblower. Elizondo claimed that Americans and their earthly adversaries are engaged in a secret arms race involving UAP technology. Both the US and its enemies allegedly possess some of these technologies. Elizondo mentioned that the US has established a secret UAP crash retrieval program, allowing technicians to replicate technology through reverse engineering - the deconstruction of existing objects.
The reason for all the secrecy, according to Elizondo, is that governments want to hide 'that we are not alone in the cosmos.' Adding to this, the UFO author stated that there is global surveillance of 'sensitive military installations by advanced technologies of unknown origin.' During his testimony, Elizondo urged the new administration of Donald Trump to be more transparent about the government's UAP programs. 'I believe that as Americans, we can handle the truth, and I also believe that the world deserves the truth.'
Following the hearing, Elizondo expressed satisfaction in an interview with NewsNation and called the meeting a 'win-win situation' for the country. 'Hopefully, the public now gains insight into how long our government has been involved in this issue, despite decades of denial.'
Revealing details about UFOs and extraterrestrial technology may not be entirely safe, cautioned Admiral Gallaudet. 'Elements within the government are conducting a disinformation campaign, including personal attacks intended to discredit whistleblowers,' he stated. Interestingly, Republican committee chair Nancy Mace echoed a similar sentiment in her opening statement at the hearing. Mace hinted that there were 'individuals' who opposed the Wednesday gathering, fearing what might be revealed.
Concrete outcomes emerged as well. Congress members announced they had introduced a bill to improve flight safety, allowing pilots to efficiently report UAPs to the US aviation authority. This would help reduce the stigma around such reports. Both committee members and witnesses emphasized the urgent need for serious scientific research on the phenomenon. Questions from journalists to the Pentagon remained unanswered.
The hearing in the US was closely followed in the Netherlands as well. The UAP Coalition Netherlands also advocated for scientific research and improved flight safety. This could involve creating a separate 'UAP category' within EU reporting systems. The organization noted a significant need for this adjustment among Dutch pilots.