'The Times' opinion on the coming alien invasion of Uk this summer

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HomeCommentColumnistsMick HumeSHOP MY PROFILE SITEMAPFrom The TimesJuly 8, 2008

UFOs: more madness and apocalyptic fears
The space cadets (or scaremongers) are out in forceMick Hume
Where is Doctor Who when you need him? Just as another series ends with the Doctor saving Earth from the Daleks (again), we are warned that Britain faces a “real life” alien invasion this summer. How mad is that?

Well, maybe not much madder than the allegedly sane fear-mongering we face the rest of the year. Some newspapers have declared “the summer of the UFO”, as soldiers, police officers, academics and members of the public report strange sightings in the night sky across our “alien nation”.

It is easy to scoff at UFO experts who appear from nowhere to shout “cover up!” whenever somebody sees a light. Easy, because most of them have moondust for brains. As Bill Bryson observes in A Short History of Nearly Everything, our solar system's nearest neighbour, Proxima Centauri, is one hundred million times farther away than the Moon. Maybe some anti-social alien teens do travel billions of miles just to scare us, “but it does seem unlikely”.

No, outbreaks of UFO sightings historically tend to reflect how people view events on Earth. Thus they were common in America during the Cold War, the peak years of panic about nuclear war and Soviet invasion. If there is more than media silly-season stories behind the latest outbreak of UFO madness, maybe it says something about our apocalyptic age. After all, we are forever being warned by experts and authorities that life on Earth is under imminent threat from global warming, terrorism and war or bird flu, asteroids and overpopulation, not to mention “unknown unknowns”. Why shouldn't some feel free to add UFOS to the list of Unsubstantiated Frightening Occurrences?

Background
UFO: an Undeniably Fading Obsession
My UFO sighting: close, but no cigar shape
Were aliens to blame for blast of 1,000 Hiroshimas?
The 40 most memorable aliens
When scientists such as Stephen Hawking and Sir Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, seriously suggest that humanity needs to flee the planet to survive, and Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General, calls melting Antarctic ice “even more terrifying” than “a science fiction movie”, it should be no surprise if the space cadets come out in force.

One “top UFO watcher” tells The Sun that the recent sightings “could be linked to global warming and craft from outer space are appearing because they are concerned about what Man is doing to this planet”. Let's hope the little green men use low-emission spacecraft.

If the lights in the sky are morbid symptoms of a gathering cultural gloom about our future, then maybe you don't need to be mad to believe in UFOs - although it helps. All this earthly pessimism is almost enough to make me nostalgic for the Posadists, loony leftists who believed that socialism would be brought by UFOs from superior civilisations. Are there any of them out there?



Have your say

John Fife Symington III, the Governor of Arizona, and a former Air force pilot admitted seeing the ETV (extra terrestrial vehicle) during the famous 1997 phoenix lights. If you can't trust a governor/pilot, Stanton Friedman, afore mentioned nuclear physicist, Dr. Steven Greer then who can you trust?

Sheridan, Chicago, US

I think some folk might be missing the point here.
As I understand it, all Mick's saying is stop writing off humanity, thinking the planet's doomed or waiting for UFOs or skyfairies to save us. Get organised and sort the mess out.
I know, I know....political activity.. SO old school!

Stuart Hartill, Ramsey, Isle of Man,

Just search into Google for Disclosure Project. If we can't beleive and trust the same people who fly us (pilots), who guard us (Military Generals) and who provide answers (Scientists) then who can we believe. It time for rubbish articles like this to be put to bed and to have a serious discussion.

Dave Williams, Northampton, UK

Why do people laugh at people who believe in UFOs? UFOs have been apearing for thousands of years, and there have been thousands of completly unexplained sightings, some of which caught on radar, crafts going 5000mph+ It does require serious scientific study. Look up the Disclosure Project on googl

Ed, Cambridge,

With a population of 7 billion growing to 20 billion in 50 yrs - we aren't going to just mess up the world for ourselves but for just about every other species on the planet. We have stewardship of this planet and can't even agree not to kill each other - if i was them i'd be worried. A nutter

Gary , Manchester, uk

This article is spot on.

john, wake forest,

I remember the Posadists. I knew one, a Doncaster miner. They were even madder than that. The aliens were here to help us start WW3, out of the nuclear ashes of which we would build Socialism...

Paul, Hastings

Paul Bryden, Hastings, UK

If the author had done any research on this subject at all, he would know that this has nothing to do with mass hysteria. By all means, go to Google Video and search for the documentary "UFOs are Real", which was made by a nuclear physicist. You will then be in possession of the essential facts.

Alexander De Large, London,

I must say that the initial tenant that UFO's would not come from such a loooong way away is flawed. They could well come from another dimension. It is a pity that this subject is seldom delt with seriously in the media ...... UFO ...... laugh from presenter.

A STANDLEY, Doncaster, n lincs

Of course there are invading aliens. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle (who later claimed to have given Reagan the idea for "winning" the cold war) once wrote a book called "Footfall" in which heroic (American) suicide bombers with IEDs defended our way of life from technologically advanced invaders.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK




Have your say
re a changing.At one time 'The Times' would'nt have touched ufos with a barge pole and if they did they'd have been laughed at not diagreed with by people talking about disclosure.That should wipe the smug smile off their face...

Sorry about thebadly organised previous post.Now the Daily Mail is in on it too;






Most read News Board Horoscopes Travel Money My Stories Logout Login Motors | Jobs | Property | Dating | Wine | Feedback | E-editions Monday, July 14 2008 This Evening 15°C Tomorrow Morning 22°C 5-Day Forecast 'Aliens could attack at any time' warns former MoD chief
By CHARLOTTE GILL
Last updated at 14:03 10 November 2006


Comments (6) Add to My Stories

Alien visitor? The infamous Roswell incident of 1947
UFO sightings and alien visitors tend to be solely the reserve of sci-fi movies.

So when a former MoD chief warns that the country could be attacked by extraterrestrials at any time, you may be forgiven for feeling a little alarmed.

See also:
• Video: Rocket man injured firing firework from his bottom
• Polish decorators down tools and claim squatters rights in banker's flat
• Picture: Elvis the penguin wears his blue suede shoes
• Has Ricky Gervais got the perfect face for comedy?

During his time as head of the Ministry of Defence UFO project, Nick Pope was persuaded into believing that other lifeforms may visit Earth and, more specifically, Britain.

His concern is that "highly credible" sightings are simply dismissed.

And he complains that the project he once ran is now "virtually closed" down, leaving the country "wide open" to aliens.

Mr Pope decided to speak out about his worries after resigning from his post at the Directorate of Defence Security at the MoD this week.

"The consequences of getting this one wrong could be huge," he said.

"If you reported a UFO sighting now, I am absolutely sure that you would just get back a standard letter telling you not to worry. ''Frankly we are wide open - if something does not behave like a conventional aircraft now, it will be ignored.

"The X-Files have been closed down." If these words had come from a sci-fi fanatic, they could be easily dismissed by cynics.

But Mr Pope's CV - he was head of the UFO project between 1991 and 1994 - cannot be ignored.

When he began his job, he too was sceptical about UFOs but access to classified files on the subject and investigation of a series of spectacular UFO sightings gradually changed his mind.

And while Mr Pope says that there is no evidence of hostile intent, he insists it cannot be ruled out.

"There has got to be the potential for that and one is left with the uneasy feeling that if it turned out to be so, there is very little we could do about it," he said.

"If you believe these things are extra terrestrial craft then you cannot rule out that what is happening is some kind of covert reconnaissance."

One incident which persuaded him of the existence of alien lifeforms was in 1993. There were reports of a "vast, triangular-shaped craft" spotted flying over RAF bases in the West Midlands.

"Most of the witnesses were police and military personnel," he said.

"Hundreds of members of the public also had sightings over a period of several hours."

In another incident in 1980 at RAF bases in Suffolk, staff investigated a suspected plane crash after bright lights were reported coming from nearby woods.

They found a kind of lunar landing module standing on three legs which then flew off. The indents it left in the ground were found to emit ten times the normal levels of radiation. Mr Pope said: "These sort of incidents are why I got so frustrated.

"In my time I would brief the more interesting sightings up the chain of command to people like the Chief of the Air Staff and would get the answer back that it was very interesting and I had clearly done a good job investigating it and that was it.

"Every one is a piece of a puzzle but no one takes it seriously. There needs to be more resources and people who are prepared to look past the philosophical issues, look at the reports and investigate them properly.

"Whether you believe these things are foreign air forces testing prototype aircraft or whether you believe they are something more exotic, with the speeds and movements they are capable of, it's technology we would very much like to get hold of."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence insisted that all UFO sightings were investigated for "evidence to suggest that UK airspace has been compromised by hostile or unauthorised air activity."

She said: "Unless there is such evidence, the MoD doesn't attempt to positively identify what was seen."

Mr Pope is continuing his UFO research in a private capacity since leaving the MoD and is recognised as a leading authority on UFOs and the unexpected.

He has written four science fiction books drawing on his experience at the MoD, and lectures around the world on the subject.

He has appeared on BBC Newsnight and Radio 4's Today programme and has acted as consultant on numerous television documentaries.

Originally posted by candyfloss
Sorry about thebadly organised previous post.Now the Daily Mail is in on it too;






Most read News Board Horoscopes Travel Money My Stories Logout Login Motors | Jobs | Property | Dating | Wine | Feedback | E-editions Monday, July 14 2008 This Evening 15°C Tomorrow Morning 22°C 5-Day Forecast 'Aliens could attack at any time' warns former MoD chief
By CHARLOTTE GILL
Last updated at 14:03 10 November 2006


Comments (6) Add to My Stories

Alien visitor? The infamous Roswell incident of 1947
UFO sightings and alien visitors tend to be solely the reserve of sci-fi movies.

So when a former MoD chief warns that the country could be attacked by extraterrestrials at any time, you may be forgiven for feeling a little alarmed.

See also:
• Video: Rocket man injured firing firework from his bottom
• Polish decorators down tools and claim squatters rights in banker's flat
• Picture: Elvis the penguin wears his blue suede shoes
• Has Ricky Gervais got the perfect face for comedy?

During his time as head of the Ministry of Defence UFO project, Nick Pope was persuaded into believing that other lifeforms may visit Earth and, more specifically, Britain.

His concern is that "highly credible" sightings are simply dismissed.

And he complains that the project he once ran is now "virtually closed" down, leaving the country "wide open" to aliens.

Mr Pope decided to speak out about his worries after resigning from his post at the Directorate of Defence Security at the MoD this week.

"The consequences of getting this one wrong could be huge," he said.

"If you reported a UFO sighting now, I am absolutely sure that you would just get back a standard letter telling you not to worry. ''Frankly we are wide open - if something does not behave like a conventional aircraft now, it will be ignored.

"The X-Files have been closed down." If these words had come from a sci-fi fanatic, they could be easily dismissed by cynics.

But Mr Pope's CV - he was head of the UFO project between 1991 and 1994 - cannot be ignored.

When he began his job, he too was sceptical about UFOs but access to classified files on the subject and investigation of a series of spectacular UFO sightings gradually changed his mind.

And while Mr Pope says that there is no evidence of hostile intent, he insists it cannot be ruled out.

"There has got to be the potential for that and one is left with the uneasy feeling that if it turned out to be so, there is very little we could do about it," he said.

"If you believe these things are extra terrestrial craft then you cannot rule out that what is happening is some kind of covert reconnaissance."

One incident which persuaded him of the existence of alien lifeforms was in 1993. There were reports of a "vast, triangular-shaped craft" spotted flying over RAF bases in the West Midlands.

"Most of the witnesses were police and military personnel," he said.

"Hundreds of members of the public also had sightings over a period of several hours."

In another incident in 1980 at RAF bases in Suffolk, staff investigated a suspected plane crash after bright lights were reported coming from nearby woods.

They found a kind of lunar landing module standing on three legs which then flew off. The indents it left in the ground were found to emit ten times the normal levels of radiation. Mr Pope said: "These sort of incidents are why I got so frustrated.

"In my time I would brief the more interesting sightings up the chain of command to people like the Chief of the Air Staff and would get the answer back that it was very interesting and I had clearly done a good job investigating it and that was it.

"Every one is a piece of a puzzle but no one takes it seriously. There needs to be more resources and people who are prepared to look past the philosophical issues, look at the reports and investigate them properly.

"Whether you believe these things are foreign air forces testing prototype aircraft or whether you believe they are something more exotic, with the speeds and movements they are capable of, it's technology we would very much like to get hold of."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence insisted that all UFO sightings were investigated for "evidence to suggest that UK airspace has been compromised by hostile or unauthorised air activity."

She said: "Unless there is such evidence, the MoD doesn't attempt to positively identify what was seen."

Mr Pope is continuing his UFO research in a private capacity since leaving the MoD and is recognised as a leading authority on UFOs and the unexpected.

He has written four science fiction books drawing on his experience at the MoD, and lectures around the world on the subject.

He has appeared on BBC Newsnight and Radio 4's Today programme and has acted as consultant on numerous television documentaries.

I seen one!



I had at the time I vaguely remember quaffed a couple of bottles of fine claret and was digesting my bbq with a few double brandy's but yes, I remember the incident quite clearly!

Gazbom.

Wow! That was quite a large quote for such a small answer.

Anyhoo, can you please provide a link with the article please.

Originally posted by Smugallo
Wow! That was quite a large quote for such a small answer.

Anyhoo, can you please provide a link with the article please.

Which article?I've looked for the Times article but I can't find it,sorry.But it was July 8th.

Here is the Daily Mail story that the OP found.

www.dailymail.co.uk...


If you enter “Aliens” in the search bar on the page, you will get some nice stories there, like Dr Stephen Hawkins saying

“Space is full of aliens, warns Hawking. But they aren't too bright”

www.dailymail.co.uk...

Oh! And if you start a thread with this, just mention where you found it!

I am still looking through the Times archive!

H


[edit on 28-7-2008 by Havalon]

Cheers Havalon.Your a betterwo/man than me when it comes to finding stuff.