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statements and public reactions. In February 1959, Adamski travelled to New Zealand and spoke before packed audiences. A one-page Foreign Service dispatch with Adamski's key talking points was circulated to the FBI, CIA, Air Force and Navy, thus confirming the continued monitoring of Adamski. Other contactees who were monitored by the FBI, according to declassified documents, included Daniel Fry, George Hunt Williamson and Truman Bethurum.'* Information relayed by contactees concerning the social and economic systems of the extraterrestrials, together with the ETs' criticism of the nuclear weapons development occurring around the globe, led to them and their supporters being considered security threats. Given the national hysteria over communism during the McCarthy era, this led to counterintelligence programs being implemented against the contactees. statements and public reactions. In February 1959, Adamski The success of the Psychological Strategy Board, and that of its travelled to New Zealand and spoke before packed audiences. A successor, the Operations Coordinating Board, as well as that of one-page Foreign Service dispatch with Adamski's key talking all covert psychological operations concerning extraterrestrial life points was circulated to the FBI, CIA, Air Force and Navy, thus depended upon the truth being disclosed only to those with a confirming the continued monitoring of Adamski. "need to know".” This required the creation of a suitable national Other contactees who were monitored by the FBI, according to security cover for psychological operations against the American declassified documents, included Daniel Fry, George Hunt public. Victory would be achieved through the formation of a Williamson and Truman Bethurum.'* Information relayed by panel of experts that could shape government policy and contactees concerning the social and economic systems of the intelligence activities against those involved in ET affairs. extraterrestrials, together with the ETs' criticism of the nuclear Named after its chairman, Dr Howard Robertson, the Robertson weapons development occurring around the globe, led to them Panel reviewed cases of flying saucers over a four-day period for and their supporters being considered security threats. Given the a total of 12 hours and found none of them to be credible. national hysteria over communism during the McCarthy era, this Conclusions by the panel were released in a document called the led to counterintelligence programs being implemented against Durant Report. It recommended ridiculing the "flying saucer the contactees. phenomenon", and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, for national security reasons. The report is key to understanding the Phase Two: Debunking and Discrediting Contactees institutionally sanctioned debunking and discrediting of evidence The CIA played an active role in creating the necessary legal, concerning extraterrestrial life. Confirmation of the leading role political and social environment for the debunking of flying of the CIA in convening the panel and choosing experts appears saucer reports and discrediting contactee in the Durant Report itself, despite efforts in claims. It did so by depicting flying saucer early releases of sanitised versions to reports as a national security threat insofar as suppress the CIA's role.” mass hysteria over them could be exploited Almost exclusively, the Durant Report by foreign enemies. Solid justification for focused on the national security threat posed such a psychological program was built on In reality the by foreign powers exploiting the American the famous 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Y public's belief in the flying saucer Welles.'* Consequently, the CIA led covert Psychological Strategy phenomenon. It declared that related Foducate' the American public about the | BOA was created | isis iy of public tomas hysteria and "correct facts" concerning flying saucer to deal with the greater vulnerability to possible enemy actions taken by the CTA was to nitate the | Mlational security threat | too crine channels are saturated with false creation of an interagency government group posed by flying saucer and poorly documented reports, our called the Psychological Strategy Board capability of detecting hostile activity (PSB) that would deal with national reports and contactee will be reduced".” security (ireats through covert claims that could Consequent'y: the Robertson pane psychological operations. . recommende an "educationa A presidential directive on 4 April undermine the program" to remove the threat posed be created whe Peychologica’ Strategy authority of the by enemy pations exploiting the oard "to authorize and provide for the public's belief in flying saucers: more effective planning, coordination, US government. "The Panel's concept of a broad and conduct within the framework of educational program integrating efforts approved national policies, of of all concerned agencies was that it psychological operations"."” Set up by should have two major aims: training Gordon Gray, a top adviser to President and ‘debunking’... The 'debunking' Truman at the time, the PSB was aim would result in reduction in public initially located within the CIA but interest in ‘flying saucers’ which today reported to the National Security evokes a strong psychological reaction. Council. Ostensibly, the PSB would lead covert psychological This education could be accomplished by mass media such as operations to deal with the Cold War threat, but this threat was a _ television, motion pictures, and popular articles... Such a program cover for its true function. In reality, the Psychological Strategy should tend to reduce the current gullibility of the public and Board was created to deal with the national security threat posed —_ consequently their susceptibility to clever hostile propaganda."* by flying saucer reports and contactee claims that could So, the panel concluded that the public's psychological reaction undermine the authority of the US government. to flying saucers was the basis of a possible security threat. The According to leaked government documents, Gray is described Cold War provided the necessary security environment for the as a founding member of the secret control group, allegedly titled CIA and interagency entities such as the Psychological Strategy the Majestic—12 Special Studies Group (MJ-12), which took Board to claim that flying saucers could be exploited by the charge of the extraterrestrial issue.'* According to one of the Soviet Union using psychological warfare techniques. leaked Majestic documents, President Truman created the PSB on = Consequently, psychological operations would have to be the recommendation of the head of MJ-12."" Gray's leadership conducted through the mass media and official agencies to and the role of MJ-12 in the board's creation help confirm that the debunk flying saucer reports and remove the possible threat. PSB was created to run psychological operations to shape public Irrespective of the truth of contactees' claims of having met with opinion on the ET issue. ETs, this meant that the public's possible reaction to the reality of In reality, the Psychological Strategy Board was created posed by flying saucer reports and contactee claims that could NEXUS +55 to deal with the national security threat undermine the authority of the US government. FEBRUARY — MARCH 2008 www.nexusmagazine.com