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pended. reader. 163 SPECIAL EFFECTS When such mechanical devices are combined with optical and elec- tronic displays, the results can be even more astonishing. Perfection could be reached with devices that could never be proven to be fakes by scientists on the ground. It has long been realized that all it took was a powerful slide projector to expose unsuspecting crowds to celestial wonders, provided there was a cloud or fog bank dense enough to serve as a screen in the vicinity. Fog machines are easy to obtain from any movie studio equipment supplier. This method has actually been used in psychological warfare. As early as World War I the German military actually used artificial smoke on which to project an image of the Virgin Mary, her arms outstretched in a gesture of peace. This was projected over the trenches in an attempt to confuse the French. (See the catalogue of Special Effects Services of TRI-ESS Sciences, Inc.) The problem with slide projections is that they are flat. They may fool a casual witness, but any sophisticated observer will recognize them for what they are. The next step is a laser show in which what is projected is not a two-dimensional image, but an actual sculpture in midair, like the hologram of Princess Leia in Star Wars. In all these situations it is useful to keep the observers confused by bright lights—which have the advantage of blinding those who might be tempted to look in the direction of the projector—as well as sounds, conflicting statements, and the suggestion that a paranormal phenome- non is in progress and that ordinary rules of logic are therefore sus- Knowing that the technical means for simulating UFO encounters are available, the remaining question is: why would the U.S. military use these methods? Here again we find a variety of rational and logical answers. They have in common the question of personal belief of the percipient, so I will preface the explanation by posing a simple situation before the Suppose you are a guard assigned to secure part of the perimeter of a missile base. You know that an enemy might want to violate the perimeter in order to steal warheads, to procure nuclear material, to