The recent NBC News article titled Disclosure or Deception? New UFO Pentagon Office Divides Believers claims, “The U.S. government hasn’t comprehensively studied UFOs in decades — but not all ufologists are excited about a new Pentagon investigative office.” Is this statement accurate, or is there a misunderstanding? The New York Times highlighted in its 2017 piece, Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program, that the government allocated tens of millions for UFO research. Are journalists neglecting their responsibilities, or does the term 'comprehensively' serve as a loophole? This word seems to downplay the fact that the U.S. Government has indeed been involved in UFO studies, regardless of Congressional involvement.

An often overlooked aspect is the video embedded in the Glowing Auras article, where a Navy pilot states, “There’s a whole fleet of them! Look at the S.A…” Thanks to the New York Times coverage, we know about AATIP (Advanced Aerial Threat Identification Program), part of AAWSAP (Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program), suggesting the government has not ceased its UFO investigations since the 1950s. The book Skinwalkers at the Pentagon is filled with more acronyms than one might encounter in a can of alphabet soup, providing further historical context beyond what the New York Times reported. Considering the government's contracting with Robert Bigelow, who has invested substantially in UFO and paranormal research, the confusion regarding NBC's article becomes clearer.

It’s worth noting that Robert Bigelow appeared on 60 Minutes and asserted that aliens are present. When challenged about potential skepticism, he replied, “I don’t care.” Although his statements may not be used as definitive evidence of government UFO research, his financial involvement in space and defense contracts is notable.

Lockheed also benefits from U.S. contracts. Ben Rich, from Skunkworks, famously stated, “We have the technology to take ET home.” Is this a nod to a Spielberg film or a reference to extraterrestrials from the Roswell incident? Does contracting out work mean the government isn’t studying UFOs? Numerous ambiguous statements and deliberate misdirection abound. Nonetheless, it is evident that capabilities for interstellar travel exist!

When discussing Bob Lazar, many dismiss him due to claims about his educational background. However, he was pivotal in bringing Area 51 into the public consciousness. Prior to him, few had even heard of it, and he also revealed S4, another site near Area 51.

The government has long denied Area 51's existence, yet attempts to purchase surrounding land occurred as public interest grew. Why the contradiction? Furthermore, Chris Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, visited Area 51 at Bigelow's request and hinted at the validity of the rumors. Hence, the knowledge of Area 51 is intrinsically linked to UFOs, and those in the know are part of the AAWSAP and AATIP programs. So, how long has the government been investigating UFOs?

It's clear that their studies didn't just commence in 2021.

Is the question about whether they studied UFOs in an official capacity, similar to Project Blue Book? Those familiar with ufology know that Project Blue Book was more about disinformation than genuine inquiry. What, then, is the real agenda behind the NBC article? Is it merely to create confusion?

Alex Seitz-Wald reported, “The U.S. government is finally getting back into the UFO business.” But when exactly did they step out?

> “It’s been decades since Washington formally studied UFOs in any kind of comprehensive way,” he states.

That seems to hold some truth.

> “But the movement has long believed the government is covering up the greatest secret in history…”

Are we discussing ufologists here? At least he avoided the term “tinfoil hat people.” If the New York Times's revelations about extensive government funding for UFO research are correct, the ongoing disparagement of UFO witnesses by the government constitutes a cover-up. This isn't complex reasoning. When evidence corroborates ongoing investigations, it transitions from conspiracy to fact. The question remains whether this new office is yet another misdirection. With the volume of data available, the claim that UFOs don’t exist is increasingly untenable.

> “The military has made it clear it’s mainly focused on incursions into restricted airspace, such as military bases, and has talked more about drones and new technologies developed by the Russians, Chinese, and other earthlings.”

This perspective is also questionable. While it may reflect military statements, it raises an obvious query: “What, then, is AAWSAP about?” It is explicitly concerned with weaponizing UFO technology, and based on other initiatives, it seems they aim to weaponize paranormal phenomena as well!

Once again, I might be easily perplexed, but if an amateur writer can draw these connections, shouldn't professional journalists exploring UFOs reach similar conclusions? Can they maintain skepticism at this stage, or write about the topic without deeper investigation?

A few clear conclusions must be acknowledged:

UFOs are real—this debate is settled. Luis Elizondo made this clear on 60 Minutes, and others are echoing it. The Pentagon is affirming this reality.

Luis Elizondo participated in a military program examining UFOs during a time when reports of sightings invited ridicule from both military and media. This attitude is waning, yet the media and academia seem intent on letting the topic fade. The coinciding decades of rumors regarding government cover-ups only intensify scrutiny. Where are the scientists citing Occam's Razor now?

UFOs, or UAPs, likely do not represent human technological advancements. They could be of terrestrial origin, suggesting non-human intelligence has existed on Earth long before humans. This implies the possibility of both Earth-based non-human entities and extraterrestrial visitors. Interdimensional beings might also be a plausible category.

Given the reality of UFOs, we must reevaluate evidence surrounding abductions, crop circles, and related phenomena. Credible scientists have long affirmed the legitimacy of these occurrences. There is now more reputable literature in this domain than there was concerning exoplanets two decades ago. Confirming the existence of other planets took years, and skepticism was prevalent. Today, we recognize over 5,000 confirmed planets outside our solar system—some even beyond our galaxy.

Daniel Sheehan, a knowledgeable figure, has represented military personnel who reported UFO sightings to Congress long before 2017. While Congress has largely ignored this dialogue, it has persisted for over 70 years.

This isn't a new topic, yet one might think that journalists have only just discovered it. I suppose I should express gratitude for the emergence of UFO news stories. So, thank you, Alex Seitz-Wald! Your article has reignited my interest, and I’m eager for more.