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The news is that the US military is acting very much like they aren’t responsible for recent sightings, and they’re as interested in finding the source as the U

The news is that the US military is acting very much like they aren’t responsible for recent sightings, and they’re as interested in finding the source as the UFO enthusiasts are. A non-US military with advanced, unexplainable military capabilities (on US soil!) is every bit as interesting a story as actual ETs are.

the_af 2y ago
A non-US actor would be interesting indeed, and it's also more likely than ETs. However, let me point out that this: > The news is that the US military is acting very much like they aren’t responsible for recent sightings ... has multiple prosaic interpretations that are also relatively likely. To name a few: - "The news" is not the US military. You have at least one level of indirection there. - The US military saying something doesn't make it what they truly believe. Disinformation is a real military thing. Even disinformation aimed at a third party (e.g. rival nations who could believe the US military is asking its own population [things]). - Inter-agency rivalry is a thing. Top secret projects may not be known to everyone within a military. - Drones are now widespread, so the US military encouraging the usual UFO believers to be on the lookout may help them spot actual threats. It doesn't have to be anything physics-defying, just true unidentified flying objects. - Finally, though less likely in my opinion, it could be the US military believes in UAPs of physics-defying or even ET origin, but it's just another case of Men Staring at Goats. I mean, in their history they have believed all sorts of kooky things with zero backing evidence.
- matthewdgreen 2y ago
  The recent interest in UAP phenomena goes well past the news media and has resulted in multiple Congressional hearings and an entirely new DoD office. You’re absolutely right that disinformation and internal confusion are all good explanations for what’s going on now; with that said, if the historical explanation was “the US military covering up its own test aircraft by discrediting witnesses with UFO rumors” it’s a little hard to explain the sudden shift in strategy.
  - ceejayoz 2y ago
    > it’s a little hard to explain the sudden shift in strategy Not really. Adversaries have caught up, with stealthy aircraft and drones. We’re in the “huh, what was that?!” spot the Russians and Chinese and Syrians and whatnot are quite used to being in.

the_af 2y ago

A non-US actor would be interesting indeed, and it's also more likely than ETs. However, let me point out that this: > The news is that the US military is acting very much like they aren’t responsible for recent sightings ... has multiple prosaic interpretations that are also relatively likely. To name a few: - "The news" is not the US military. You have at least one level of indirection there. - The US military saying something doesn't make it what they truly believe. Disinformation is a real military thing. Even disinformation aimed at a third party (e.g. rival nations who could believe the US military is asking its own population [things]). - Inter-agency rivalry is a thing. Top secret projects may not be known to everyone within a military. - Drones are now widespread, so the US military encouraging the usual UFO believers to be on the lookout may help them spot actual threats. It doesn't have to be anything physics-defying, just true unidentified flying objects. - Finally, though less likely in my opinion, it could be the US military believes in UAPs of physics-defying or even ET origin, but it's just another case of Men Staring at Goats. I mean, in their history they have believed all sorts of kooky things with zero backing evidence.

matthewdgreen 2y ago
The recent interest in UAP phenomena goes well past the news media and has resulted in multiple Congressional hearings and an entirely new DoD office. You’re absolutely right that disinformation and internal confusion are all good explanations for what’s going on now; with that said, if the historical explanation was “the US military covering up its own test aircraft by discrediting witnesses with UFO rumors” it’s a little hard to explain the sudden shift in strategy.
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  > it’s a little hard to explain the sudden shift in strategy Not really. Adversaries have caught up, with stealthy aircraft and drones. We’re in the “huh, what was that?!” spot the Russians and Chinese and Syrians and whatnot are quite used to being in.