Unidentified ‘Anomalous’ Phenomena: Congress are taking ‘UFOs’ very seriously

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Proposed Congressional legislation was released and reported on this week. Unfortunately for the horde of eager pseudo-sceptic types, it was bad news. The proposed legislation from Congress showed that they are still very much invested in pursuing genuine ‘Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena’ (UAP) – historically known as ‘Unidentified Flying Objects’ (UFOs) and most recently popularised as ‘Unidentified Aerial Phenomena’ (2017-2022). Arguably, the lengthy proposal is the most detailed to date on UAP, and in theory – should it be passed and enacted upon – will provide us with meaningful progression. However, as the last few years have proven, the Department of Defense (DoD) have another agenda which doesn’t involve the Congress or the mainstream.

With the delay of the ‘UAP Report’, which should have been released to Congress on October 31^st 2022, it may have appeared that the Congressional investigation into UAP had lost momentum. Certain voices were quick to jump on the narrative that UAP technology was nothing more than misidentified planes, drones, balloons and any number of other conspiratorial elaborations around Congressional oversight committees being tricked into action. Which of course was is a complete fabrication of truth. However, as per the legislation proposal – Congress mean very serious business. They know, as we know, UAP are significant.

Firstly, we notice that Unidentified ‘Aerial’ Phenomena was officially replaced by Unidentified ‘Anomalous’ Phenomena (UAP), after some campaigning openly and behind the scenes to allow the terminology of UAP to be more indicative of a genuine mystery – which is what this is. It is important to consider ‘anomalous’ as a long-term definition that tentatively allows mainstream conversation around the potential for non-human intelligences and technologies.

 

As we understand it, Congress is keen to move UAP away from the ‘Gough-era’ and all things aerially explainable. They wish to collate data around the more unidentifiable objects – such as Tic-Tacs, Flying Discs and Cubes for example. Which is the entire point, these UAP are true unknowns, or anomalous.

Particularly significant, given that within the Congressional legislation, there are proposals relating to UAP for material retrieval, material analysis, reverse engineering, research and development. Unless of course they really do want to understand and reverse engineer ‘Go-Fast’ balloon technology. After all, balloons are a big threat to national security, right? … or maybe not.

 

The All-Domain Anomly Resolution Office

As we understand it, the UAP Task Force is to be terminated (again), following the official creation of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), although we wonder why AARO wasn’t already fully active and how Congress can ensure actions are followed through this time? Critical voices have claimed there is no functional Task Force. Others have pointed to a lack of transparency from Ronald Moultrie of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (OUSDI) which explains the lack of movements within the AARO twitter feed which is supposed to keep the public informed.

The legislation states that the Director of AARO will provide to the appropriate congressional committees classified briefings on unidentified anomalous phenomena. Also, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the head of  AARO (Director of AARO to be appointed, again?) and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall establish a secure mechanism for authorized reporting of—

• any event relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena; and
• any activity or program by a department or agency of the Federal Government or a contractor of such a department or agency relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, including with respect to material retrieval, material analysis, reverse engineering, research and development, detection and tracking, developmental or operational testing, and security protections and enforcement.

So what is the official definition for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena? Well, it is seemingly very similar to Unidentified ‘Aerial’ Phenomena of previous legislation. Here we see the term ‘Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena’ means –

(A) airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable;

(B) transmedium objects or devices;

(C) submerged objects or devices that are not immediately identifiable and that display behaviour or performance characteristics suggesting that the objects or devices may be related to the objects described in subparagraph 7 (A).

• 7. (A) observed to transition between space and the atmosphere, or between the atmosphere and bodies of water.

Essentially, what the Congressional oversight committees requires from the Department of Defense (DoD) is evidence of technologies which are beyond what are currently in the remit and understanding of modern-day physics. Transmedium objects for example, are technologies that transition between space, atmosphere and water and is something not usually accepted as being one holistic technology. Additionally, Congress want events relating to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – not explainable Chinese Drones and Air-trash. As multiple sources have stipulated to various individuals, Congress was not happy with The New York Times article. Thus, as journalist Chris Sharpe (and extended sources from within DoD) correctly pointed out, there was always a conversation occurring despite the report not arriving on any Congressional official’s desks.

Additionally, Congress have set up a mechanism for the authorised reporting to analysts and scientists of AARO (regardless of the classification of information contained in the disclosure or any nondisclosure agreements). The legislation states that “unless the employees or contractors administering the mechanism have concluded that the majority of information available regarding the disclosure indicates that the observed object and associated events and activities likely relate to a special access program or compartmented access program that – which as of the date of the disclosure, have been explicitly and clearly reported to the congressional defense committees or the congressional intelligence committees”.

As far as this goes, my amateur interpretation is that Congress are chasing unacknowledged programs that may or may not exist and which hypothetically would not have Congressional oversight. Long has it been rumoured that defense contractor programs have crashed materials and even bodies related to UAP, all hidden from oversight. But who knows for sure? Is this language enough? That might be answered over the next few weeks and months.

 

The Congress recognised the link between UAP and Nuclear facilities.

Congress wants to know the number of reported UAP incidents, and the descriptions of the anomalous phenomena associated with military nuclear assets, including strategic nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered ships and submarines. In consultation with the Administrator for Nuclear Security, Congress is requesting the number of reported incidents, and descriptions of unidentified anomalous phenomena that are linked with facilities or assets associated with the production, transportation, or storage of nuclear weapons.

Here we see Congress confirming the link between nuclear technology and UAP technology, or, at least enough of a link to warrant further investigation. Consider when some activist in 2018 accidentally released Lue Elizondo’s letter from Chris Mellon’s website and how the Director of AATIP mentioned in his letter that very same nuclear link. Then also consider Congressman Mike Gallagher and his questions about the 1960s Maelstrom UFO incident while at the May 2022 UAP hearings.

 

Science Plan

The Director of AARO, on behalf of the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, shall supervise the development and execution of a science plan to develop and test, as practicable, scientific theories to—

• account for characteristics and performance of unidentified anomalous phenomena that exceed the known state of the art in science or technology, including in the areas of propulsion, aerodynamic control, signatures, structures, materials, sensors, countermeasures, weapons, electronics, and power generation;
• and provide the foundation for potential future investments to replicate or otherwise better understand any such advanced characteristics and performance.

Seemingly Congress wishes to understand the origin and nature of UAP, similar to what AATIP/AAWSAP did in the early parts of the 21st Century. Hopefully, AARO will be more successful due to the open transparency and backing of Congress.

 

An effort to understand and capture UAP

Another part of the proposed legislation was based around fully understanding UAP from a strategic perspective. Congress wanted an analysis of data relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, which will be collected through—

• geospatial intelligence;
• signals intelligence;
• measurement and signature intelligence.

Additionally, the number of reported incidents of unidentified anomalous phenomena over restricted airspace of the United States during a one-year period is requested. Also, they request identification of any incidents or patterns regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena that indicate a potential adversarial foreign government may have achieved such a breakthrough in these unique aerospace capabilities.

• An update on the coordination by the United States with allies and partners on efforts to track, understand, and address unidentified anomalous phenomena.
• An update on any efforts underway on the ability to capture or exploit discovered unidentified anomalous phenomena.
• An assessment of any health-related effects for individuals that have encountered unidentified anomalous phenomena.
• Identification of potential aerospace or other threats posed by unidentified anomalous phenomena to the national security of the United States. An assessment of any activity regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena that can be attributed to one or more adversarial foreign governments.
• The Department or such an element, have access to procedures by which the personnel shall report incidents or information, including adverse physiological effects, involving or associated with unidentified anomalous phenomena directly to AARO.

 

Efforts to prevent obfuscation

Interestingly, focus is being placed on the period beginning on January 1, 1945, (which can now include the alleged Trinity UAP crash) and ending on the date on which the Director of AARO completes activities under this subsection;

• include a compilation and itemization of the key historical record of the involvement of the intelligence community with unidentified anomalous phenomena, including
• any program or activity that was protected by restricted access that has not been explicitly and clearly reported to Congress;
• successful or unsuccessful efforts to identify and track unidentified anomalous phenomena;
• any efforts to obfuscate, manipulate public opinion, hide, or otherwise provide incorrect unclassified or classified information about unidentified anomalous phenomena or related activities;

Long has it been theorised that some agencies within DoD may have historically attempted to provide misinformation/disinformation. Even in recent years, there has been a disinformation campaign around the AATIP program and still to this day the role of Elizondo has been obfuscated.

 

 

 

Historical Report on UAP

No later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, the Director of AARO shall submit to the congressional defense committees, the congressional intelligence committees, and congressional leadership a written report detailing the historical record of the United States Government relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, including—

• the records and documents of the intelligence community;
• oral history interviews;
• open source analysis;
• interviews of current and former Government officials;
• classified and unclassified national archives including any records any third party obtained pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States Code;
• such other relevant historical sources as the Director of the Office considers appropriate.

Seemingly, Congress is demanding a historical report about UAP that goes back to 1945, although arguably research would suggest that be at least 1942. Whether this is done objectively, fairly or accurately remains to be seen.

Overall, the proposed legislation seems promising however the real question is whether DoD are willing to comply. The last few years have proven that DoD simply do not want to engage this UAP topic. They are more than happy to continue to obfuscate and provide disinformation to journalists of their choosing. Congress can pass all the laws they wish, but until they are ready to somehow ensure these laws are followed, we cannot rely on DoD to do the right thing.

 

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