Actor Will Smith plays a fictional fighter pilot confronted by an alien UFO capable of fending off nuclear weapons and disabling large parts of the U.S. arsenal in the 1996 blockbuster film, Independence Day. Wild science fiction? Not according to seven former US Air Force officers who held a press conference in Washington, D.C. at the National Press Club to discuss UFO encounters. According to the airmen stationed at different bases throughout the Country, all witnessed UFO’s and some even experienced loss of use of nuclear weapons under their care. One airman described red orbs disabling nuclear weapons for two days.
“Nobody was injured and I don’t consider it an attack but it certainly it was a national security incident and something the Air Force said has never happen in their official policy documents,” said Robert Salas, a former U.S. Air Force Nuclear Launch Officer.
An Air Force program called Project Blue Book investigated UFOs from 1948 to 1969. Project Blue Book concluded that “no UFO reported, investigated and evaluated by the Air Force has ever given any indication of threat to our national security.”
Source: Woman’s Day
– Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Carlyle Moulton,
I’m currently reading “Hunter of Worlds,” and just finished “Brothers of Earth.”
Brothers was sort of a let down since I had recently read LeGuin’s “Left Hand of Darkness.” I tend to go through thematic phases, in this case alien cultures.
I just finished a Post Nuclear war jag: both Leibowitz novels, “Ape and Essence” (an underrated little gem from Huxley), The original Shannara series (some junk food fantasy).
Byron,
Have you spent much time around stoners? They have this annoying habit they have about making EVERYTHING about pot. You’ll be watching “The Ninth Gate” and have to hear “Oh that chick is soooo high,” every time the blond girl with Mismatched socks comes on.
Don’t be that guy.
Byron,
“I would also point out that ET, if he exists, is a free market capitalist. No other way to have the money or knowledge for space travel.”
Engaging in a little wishful thinking?
They’re aliens, B. They may not even have the concept of a medium of exchange let alone market driven economics.
Rafflaw:
“The aliens have stepped off of their spacecraft and have landed on Earth. We now refer to them as Teabaggers!”
Not to point out the obvious, but any group of individuals that can travel millions of light years through space is a highly advanced species/race and is certainly capable of many things.
I would also point out that ET, if he exists, is a free market capitalist. No other way to have the money or knowledge for space travel.
Buddha,
All of Lem’s aliens that I can think of are completely foreign (I’m excluding “The Cyberiad” and “Mortal Engines,” because those aren’t Sci-fi they’re fairy tales about robots). One of Lem’s biggest complaints about American Science fiction was that the aliens are just humans from another planet.
I wonder if you’ve read Scott Sigler’s alien invasion books? Not exactly hardcore sci-fi but they do give a plausible scenario.
For what it’s worth, I remember the whole computer virus thing was explained in a deleted scene: Modern computers were reverse engineered from the downed spacecraft in Area 51.
Oh and incidentally, Eric Nylund has a newer book out, “Mortal Coils.” Not his best work (but at least it’s not based on a video game), but it’s a fairly entertaining read. I think it was aimed at Teenagers.
Speaking of aliens . . .
Denver Voting On Extraterrestrial Affairs Commission
Gingerbaker,
I’m not psychotic about the science in my science fiction, but it has to rise to a level above what was shown in ID. It was good eye candy though and I do give it credit for that. I have no issue with the either the acting or the cinematography.
But the storytelling? Yeah, I’ve got an issue with that. The story is junk. I’ll excuse a little bad science in my science fiction as the genre is inherently speculative, but I can’t forgive the bad science AND bad storytelling. That’s like saying “I’d really like an Almond Joy with no coconut and no nuts. Leave off the chocolate while you’re at it.” It can’t be good science fiction (note I did not use the word “enjoyable” – there can be a visceral thrill from mindless entertainment) without some good science or some good fiction but one of the two has to be solid. This film has neither IMO.
Dr. Dredd:
I think it means they had to be rearmed.
I’ve always respected former news anchor Peter Jennings. His body of reporting work was as impressive over the years as just about anybody on the planet.
In the last year of his life, when he knew he was dying, he made the decision to focus on stories that he personally was interested in, but that had never quite made it onto prime time, according to his surviving family members. Here’s one of the best prime time, non-biased reports I’ve ever seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsyD3_KHwCY
You all be safe out there.
This line disturbed me: “According to the airmen stationed at different bases throughout the Country, all witnessed UFO’s and some even experienced loss of use of nuclear weapons under their care.”
WTF? Does this mean they tried to fire them off?! “Oops, it didn’t work!”
Gingerbaker
I agree. I’d watch it again and that’s my criterion.
Reporter: Uh, question for the barbecue chef: Don’t you think there is an inherent danger in sending under-qualified civilians into space?
Homer: I’ll field this one. The only danger is if they send us to that terrible Planet of the Apes. [thinks for a moment] Wait a minute, Statue of Liberty – that was our planet! You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!
Budha said:
…”We beat the aliens with a computer virus written by Jeff Goldblum? Seriously?… ”
Why not? After all he is a world-renowned chaotician, and invented matter-transport technology. He also knows how to triangulate the position his wife’s phone using a single receiver, plus he recycles.
Also, don’t forget that he did have access to the alien ship and its computer system for quite a while down there in the bowels of area 51, and his being fall-down drunk probably helped him figure out the alien code. Plus, he had access to both a PC AND Mac laptops – think of the synergy involved there.
I am not enslaved to the idea that my sci-fi du jure has to have valid scientific verisimilitude. It’s entertainment. I love ID – the special effects are still spectacular, there are real characters with real character development, the aliens are ugly, smelly and chilling-scary; there is something resembling a believable plot, and the acting is way better than it needs to be. This already puts the flick in the upper echelon of sci-fi.
Plus, Judd Hirsch is adorable as the Jewish father, and the movie has Mary McDonnell in it, btw. Did I mention the film has Mary McDonnell in it?
The probability that these UFOs are some kind of alien spacecraft is almost zero. Aliens must abide by the same speed limit that we do, and the distances are prohibitive.
Elaine M:
It’s a heavy burden I shoulder finding these tidbits. I am even pushing myself to read Maxim.
“Which is to be expected considering most science fiction writers are human.”
Most?
Carlyle Moulton
Many years ago I devoured every book I could find on UFOs and a lot of Science Fiction. I agree that Dr. Hynek’s and Jacque Valle’s books were the most informative, Valee’s especially.
The thought that UFOs might be an illusion makes me wonder if a way to produce what we call holograms but on a large scale could be a possibility.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately if they’re really REALLY hostile) I’ve never seen one either, though I think I’d like to.
PatricParamedic
I have also talked to several pilots, both military and civilian, and they without exception, related that they have decided that they would not report a sighting because of the repercussions from such a report. Some had seen “something” and agreed with the pilot/co-pilot not to report it.
I have relatives, a middle-aged couple at the time, that stood and watched a UFO manuver for about 30 minutes (daytime) in northern Michigan. These are two of the most unlikely persons one could imagine to make up a story. Also my mother’s friend’s twenty-year-old son swore he was followed home by one through the dark countryside for about 20 miles. His mom told mine he was terrified when he got home.
As I was driving across country about 50 years ago, I got the idea of asking people, waitresses, gas station attendants, etc. if they had ever heard of UFOs locally. Almost everyone had a story of someone they knew (never themselves) that had seen something. Try it sometime.
Byron.
I dispute that intelligence exists on planet Earth except for a few exceptions such as Albert Einstein and Richard Feynman.
Patric.
In my view belief in the reality of the phenomenon of people seeing UFOs makes more sense than belief in the real existence of Napoleon Bonaparte or any historical character from centuries ago.