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Subject: IUFO: UFO : [CAUS : The Amazing French Report On UFOs And Defense - A Summary]
Date: 29 Dec 2000 08:14:11 -0500
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       The Amazing French Report On UFOs And Defense - A Summary

                            By Gildas Bourdais

                http://aerial.itlnet.net/cometa_report.htm
                                12-28-00



On Friday July 16, 1999 an important document was published in France
entitled, UFOs and Defense: What must we be prepared for? ("Les Ovni Et La
Defense: A quoi doit-on se préparer?"). This ninety-page report is the
result of an in-depth study of UFOs, covering many aspects of the subject,
especially questions of national defense. The study was carried
out over several years by an independent group of former "auditors" at the
Institute of Advanced Studies for National Defense, or IHEDN, and by
qualified experts from various fields. Before its public release, it has
been sent to French President Jacques Chirac and to Prime Minister Lionel
Jospin. 
                               
The report is prefaced by General Bernard Norlain of the Air Force, former
Director of IHEDN, and it begins with a preamble by André Lebeau, former
President of the National Center for Space Studies (Centre National
D,études Spatiales), or CNES, the French equivalent of NASA. The group
itself, collective author of the report, is an association of experts,
many of whom are or have been auditors of IHEDN, and it is presided over
by General Denis Letty of the Air Force, former auditor (FA) of IHEDN. 
                               
Its name "COMETA" stands for "Committee for in-depth studies." A
non-exhaustive list of members is given at the beginning which is
quiteimpressive. It includes: 
                               
* General Bruno Lemoine, of the Air Force (FA of IHEDN)
* Admiral Marc Merlo, (FA of IHEDN)
* Michel Algrin, Doctor in Political Sciences, attorney at law (FA of
IHEDN)
* General Pierre Bescond, engineer for armaments (FA of IHEDN)
* Denis Blancher, Chief National Police superintendent at the Ministry of
the Interior
* Christian Marchal, chief engineer of the national Corps des Mines and
Research Director at the National Office of Aeronautical Research (ONERA)
* General Alain Orszag, Ph.D. in physics, armaments engineer* 
                               
The committee also expresses its gratitude to outside contributors
including Jean-Jacques Vélasco, head of SEPRA at CNES, François Louange,
President of Fleximage, specialist in photo analysis, and General Joseph
Domange, of the Air Force, general delegate of the Association of Auditors
at IHEDN. 
                               
General Norlain explains in a short preface how this committee was
created. General Letty came to see him in March 1995, when he was Director
of IHEDN, to discuss his idea of a committee on UFOs. Norlain assured him
of his interest and referred him to the Association of Auditors of IHEDN,
which in turn gave him its support. As a result, several members of the
committee come from the Association of Auditors of
IHEDN, joined by other experts. 
                               
It is interesting to recall here that, twenty years ago, it was a report
of that same Association which led to the creation of GEPAN, the first
unit for UFO study, at CNES. 
                               
Most of the committee hold, or have held, important functions in defense,
industry, teaching, research, or various central administrations. General
Norlain expresses hope that this report will help develop new efforts in
France and lead to indispensable international cooperation. 
                               
General Letty, as president of COMETA, points to the main theme of the
report, which is that the accumulation of well documented observations
compels us now to consider all hypotheses as to the origin of UFOs,
especially extraterrestrial hypotheses. The committee then presents the
contents of the study. The first part consists of the presentation of some
remarkable cases from both France and other countries. 
                               
In a second part, they describe the present organization of research, in
France and abroad, and studies made by scientists worldwide which may
provide partial explanations of the UFO phenomenon, in accordance with
known laws of physics. The main global explanations are then reviewed,
from secret crafts to extraterrestrial manifestations. 
                               
In a third part, measures to be taken regarding defense are considered,
based on information from both civilian and military pilots. Strategic,
political and religious consequences, should the extraterrestrial
hypothesis be confirmed, are then discussed. 
                               
    Part I: "Facts and Testimonies"
                               
Many of the cases selected are well known
by most researchers, and need only be
mentioned here. They are: 
                               
Testimonies of French pilots: 
                               
* M. Giraud, pilot of Mirage IV (1977) 
* Colonel Bosc, fighter pilot (1976) 
* Air France flight AF 3532 (Jan 1994) 
                               
Aeronautical cases worldwide: 
                               
* Lakenheath (U.K., 1956) 
* RB-47 (U.S., 1957) 
* Teheran (1976) 
* Russia (1990) 
* San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina, 1995) 
                               
Observations from the ground: 
                               
* Tanarive (1954)Observation of a saucer near the ground by a French
pilot, J.-P. Fartek (1979) 
* Observation at close range over a Russian missile site by several
witnesses (1989)* 
                               
Close encounters in France: 
                               
* Valensole (Maurice Masse, 1965) 
* Cussac, Cantal (1967) 
* Trans-en-Provence (1981) 
* Nancy (the "Amaranth" case, 1982) 
* Counter-examples of explained phenomena (two cases). 
                               
Although the selection is limited, it seems to be sufficient to convince
an uninformed but open-minded reader of the reality of UFOs. 
                               
     Part II: "The Present State of Knowledge"
                               
The second part begins with a survey of the organization of official UFO
research in France, from the first instructions given to the gendarmerie
in 1974 for the recording of reports, to the creation of GEPAN in 1977,
its organization and its results, including collection of more than 3,000
reports from the gendarmerie, cases studies, and statistical analyses. 
                               
It then surveys agreements passed by GEPAN and, later, SEPRA, with the air
force and the army, the civilian aviation and other organizations, such as
civilian and military laboratories, for the analysis of samples and
photographs. 
                               
Regarding SEPRA,s methods and results, we are reminded of some famous
cases (Trans-en-Provence, l,Amarante), and emphasis is placed on
catalogues of cases, notably of pilots (Weinstein catalogue), and
radar/visual reports world wide. 
                               
A historical note appears here with a quotation of the famous letter of
General Twining, of September 1947, which even then asserted the reality
of UFOs. 
                               
The following chapter, called "UFOs: Hypotheses and attempts at modeling"
("OVNI: hypothèses,essais de modélisation") discusses some models and
hypotheses which are under study in several countries. Partial simulations
have already been made for UFO propulsion, based on observations of
aspects such as: speed, movements and accelerations, engine failure of
nearby vehicles, and paralysis of witnesses. One model is MHD propulsion,
already tested successfully in water, and which might be achieved in the
atmosphere with superconducting circuits, in a few decades. Other studies
are briefly mentioned regarding both atmospheric and space propulsion,
such as particle beams, antigravity, or reliance on planetary and stellar
impulsion. 
                               
It is suggested that the failure vehicle engines may be explained by
microwave radiation. In fact, high power hyperfrequency generators are
under study in France and other countries. One application is microwave
weapons. Particle beams, such as proton beams, which ionize the air and
therefore become visible, might explain the observation of truncated
luminous beams. Microwaves might explain body paralysis. 
                               
In the same chapter global explanatory hypotheses are studied next. Hoaxes
are rare and easily detected. Some nonscientific theories are discarded,
such as conspiracy and manipulation by very secret, powerful
groups. Also rejected are parapsychological phenomena, and collective
hallucinations. The hypothesis of secret weapons is also regarded as very
improbable, as is "intoxication" or hysteria at the time of the Cold War,
along with natural phenomena. 
                               
We are then left with various extraterrestrial hypotheses. One version has
been developed in France by astronomers Jean-Claude Ribes and Guy Monnet,
based on the concept of "space islands" of American physicist O,Neill, and
it is compatible with present-day physics. 
                               
The organization of UFO research in the United States, Great Britain and
Russia is rapidly surveyed. In the United States, the media and the polls
show a marked interest and concern of the public, but the official
position, especially of the Air Force, is still one of denial, more
precisely that there is no threat to national security. Actually,
declassified documents, released under FOIA, show another story, one of
surveillance of nuclear installations by UFOs, and the continued study of
UFOs by the military and intelligence agencies. 
                               
The report stresses the importance, in the United States, of private
independent associations. It mentions the briefing document Best Available
Evidence [available from CUFOS"see publications page] sent in 1995 to a
thousand personalities worldwide, and the Sturrock workshop in 1997, both
sponsored by Lawrence Rockefeller. The Best Available Evidence has
obviously been welcomed by the authors of the COMETA report. 
                               
The committee also notes the public emergence of alleged insiders such as
Colonel Philip Corso, and concludes that his testimony might be partially
revealing as to the real situation in the U.S., despite its many critics. 
                               
The report briefly describes the situation in Great Britain, with a
special mention of Nick Pope, and poses the question of the possible
existence of secret studies pursued jointly with American services. It
mentions as well research in Russia, and the release of some information,
notably by the KGB in 1991. 
                               
      Part III: "UFOs and Defense"
                               
In the third part the report states that if it is true that no hostile
action has been proven yet, at least some acts of intimidation have been
recorded in France (the Mirage IV case, for instance). Since the
extraterrestrial origin of UFOs cannot be ruled out, it is therefore
necessary to study the consequences of that hypothesis at the strategic
level, but also at the political, religious and media/public information
levels. 
                               
The first chapter of Part III is devoted to prospective strategies and it
begins with fundamental questions. What if UFOs are extraterrestrial? What
intentions and what strategy can we deduce from their behavior?
                               
Such questions open a more controversial part of the report. Possible
motivations of extraterrestrial visitors are explored here, such as
protection of planet Earth against the dangers of nuclear war, suggested
for instance by repeated flying over nuclear missile sites. The committee
then ponders the possible repercussion on the behavior, official or not,
of different nations and focuses on the possibility of secret, privileged
contacts which might be "attributed to the United States." The attitude of
the U.S. is seen as "most strange" since the 1947 wave and the Roswell
event. Since that time, a policy of increasing secrecy seems to have been
applied, which might be explained by the protection at all cost of
military technological superiority to be acquired from the study of UFOs. 
                               
Next, the report tackles the question "What measures must we take now?" At
the least, whatever the nature of UFOs, they require "critical vigilance,"
in particular regarding the risk of "destabilizing manipulations." A kind
of "cosmic vigilance" should be applied by the elites, nationally and
internationally, in order to prevent any shocking surprise, erroneous
interpretation and hostile manipulation. 
                               
Nationally, COMETA urges the strengthening of SEPRA, and recommends the
creation of a committee at the highest level of government, entrusted with
the development of hypotheses, strategy, and preparation of cooperative
agreements with European and other foreign countries. A further step would
be that European states and the European Union undertake diplomatic action
with the Unites States within the framework of political and strategic
alliances. 
                               
A key question of the report is "What situations must we be prepared for?"
It mentions such scenarios as an extraterrestrial move for official
contact; discovery of a UFO/alien base on Earth; invasion (deemed
improbable) and localized or massive attack; manipulation or deliberate
disinformation aiming at destabilizing other states. 
                               
COMETA devotes special attention to "aeronautical implications," with
detailed recommendations aimed at various personnel, such as air staffs,
controllers, weathermen and engineers. It also makes recommendations at
the scientific and technical levels, aimed at developing research with
potential benefits for defense and industry. The report further explores
the political and religious implications of UFOs, using as a model the
perspective of our own exploration of space: How would we do it, how would
we handle contacts with less advanced civilizations? 
                               
Such an approach is not new to the well-informed readers of the abundant
ufological literature, but it has a special value here, being treated
seriously at such a level. The implications for the media and public
opinion are not neglected, with the problems of disinformation, fear of
ridicule, and manipulation by certain groups. 
                               
In its conclusion, COMETA claims that the physical reality of UFOs, under
control of intelligent beings, is "quasi-certain." Only one hypothesis
takes into account the available data: the hypothesis of extraterrestrial
visitors. This hypothesis is of course unproven, but has far-reaching
consequences. The goals of these alleged visitors remain unknown but must
be the subject of speculations and prospective scenarios. 
                               
In its final recommendations, COMETA stresses again the need to: 
                               
1. Inform all decision-makers and persons in positions of responsibility. 
                               
2. Reinforce means of investigation and study at SEPRA. 
                               
3. Consider whether UFO detection been taken into account by agencies
engaged in surveillance of space. 
                               
4. Create a strategic committee at the highest state level. 
                               
5. Undertake diplomatic action with the Unites States for cooperation on
this most important question. 
                               
6. Study measures which might be necessary in case of emergencies. 
                               
7. Finally, this document is accompanied by seven interesting appendices
which are worth reading even by seasoned ufologists: 
                               
             ____________
  
1. Radar detection in France 
                               
2. Observations by astronomers 
                               
3. Life in the Universe 
                               
4. Colonization of space 
                               
5. The Roswell case and possible disinformation 
                               
6. Antiquity of the UFO phenomenon and elements for a chronology. 
                               
7. Reflection on various psychological, sociological and political aspects
of the UFO phenomenon.


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