12 ms·

The redactions on some of these documents are absolutely ridiculous. What is the point for releasing documents in a state that leaves them completely useless.

nycdatasci 6y ago
Some of these are interesting. Here's one that is completely unredacted: https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/ufo/joint_chiefs_staff_report.pdf https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/decla...
- baryphonic 6y ago
  Very difficult to read, but fascinating.
- uhtred 6y ago
  That last part with the small farmhouse in the middle of nowhere comes across like something out of close encounters. Very cool.
- dole 6y ago
  This slightly more legible one [1] elsewhere in the thread has some redacted parts that this one doesn't. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25766074 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25766074 Where'd the objects go or what happened to them? Why'd the F-4 drop the chase and why didn't they try to scramble more jets?
- levmiseri 6y ago
  Made a transcription of this one for easier reading: https://kvak.io/?n=cpga1l1t1a144 https://kvak.io/?n=cpga1l1t1a144
INTPenis 6y ago
Just a wild stab in the dark here but those redactions might have to do with SIGINT. Or in other words, how the UFO report came to be. Because when I saw this headline "NSA UFO Documents Index" hosted on nsa.gov, I realized why I don't care about UFO theories. Because even the NSA has given up. No sane person cares about this stuff. They will readily index it on their website to shut those lunatics up.
- Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
  I agree, Countries were even reluctant disclose whether MH370 was registered on their military radar in order to not reveal their capabilities.
- jjtheblunt 6y ago
  Agreed; that said, there's an Ancient Aliens tv series that acts serious but, I think, is mostly recognized for being hilarious...so frivolous I've actually watched it because it's just so laughable.
  - smolder 6y ago
    There are people out there vulnerable to the BS due to ignorance that could be shown how to apply skepticism, or taught more about science/history, but the bullshit is just as prominent and available, or more so. Your peers may be the right combination of smart and knowledgeable to be immune, but it's best not to assume that it's harmless in general to broadcast ancient aliens style junk.
  - FillardMillmore 6y ago
    I was on my honeymoon with my fiancee and at the end of the night, we liked to relax by opening a bottle of champagne and watching Ancient Aliens. Don't get me wrong, both of us believe in the possibility of life in outer space but that show was funnier than most modern sitcoms. Heck, even Monster Quest was more believable.
- ghostbrainalpha 6y ago
  I don't know how you can't at least find this document interesting. It's a first hand account of what was basically a dogfight between a US pilot and a UFO over Iran. https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/ufo/routing_slip_ufo_iran.pdf https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/decla... Even if you assume that whatever he encountered was made on Earth, its hard not to have questions or be interested in the account.
  - 6y ago
me_me_me 6y ago
In order to comply with regulations. Its pure bureaucracy at work. You can still infer some info from the context or meta to build some kind of picture.

nycdatasci 6y ago

Some of these are interesting. Here's one that is completely unredacted: https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/ufo/joint_chiefs_staff_report.pdf https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/decla...

baryphonic 6y ago
Very difficult to read, but fascinating.
uhtred 6y ago
That last part with the small farmhouse in the middle of nowhere comes across like something out of close encounters. Very cool.
dole 6y ago
This slightly more legible one [1] elsewhere in the thread has some redacted parts that this one doesn't. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25766074 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25766074 Where'd the objects go or what happened to them? Why'd the F-4 drop the chase and why didn't they try to scramble more jets?
levmiseri 6y ago
Made a transcription of this one for easier reading: https://kvak.io/?n=cpga1l1t1a144 https://kvak.io/?n=cpga1l1t1a144

INTPenis 6y ago

Just a wild stab in the dark here but those redactions might have to do with SIGINT. Or in other words, how the UFO report came to be. Because when I saw this headline "NSA UFO Documents Index" hosted on nsa.gov, I realized why I don't care about UFO theories. Because even the NSA has given up. No sane person cares about this stuff. They will readily index it on their website to shut those lunatics up.

Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
I agree, Countries were even reluctant disclose whether MH370 was registered on their military radar in order to not reveal their capabilities.
jjtheblunt 6y ago
Agreed; that said, there's an Ancient Aliens tv series that acts serious but, I think, is mostly recognized for being hilarious...so frivolous I've actually watched it because it's just so laughable.
- smolder 6y ago
  There are people out there vulnerable to the BS due to ignorance that could be shown how to apply skepticism, or taught more about science/history, but the bullshit is just as prominent and available, or more so. Your peers may be the right combination of smart and knowledgeable to be immune, but it's best not to assume that it's harmless in general to broadcast ancient aliens style junk.
- FillardMillmore 6y ago
  I was on my honeymoon with my fiancee and at the end of the night, we liked to relax by opening a bottle of champagne and watching Ancient Aliens. Don't get me wrong, both of us believe in the possibility of life in outer space but that show was funnier than most modern sitcoms. Heck, even Monster Quest was more believable.
ghostbrainalpha 6y ago
I don't know how you can't at least find this document interesting. It's a first hand account of what was basically a dogfight between a US pilot and a UFO over Iran. https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/ufo/routing_slip_ufo_iran.pdf https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/decla... Even if you assume that whatever he encountered was made on Earth, its hard not to have questions or be interested in the account.
- 6y ago

me_me_me 6y ago

In order to comply with regulations. Its pure bureaucracy at work. You can still infer some info from the context or meta to build some kind of picture.