In recent years, the US government has released several declassified reports on UFO sightings by military pilots, which have provided some new information about the phenomena. However, the nature and origin of UFOs remains a subject of debate and speculation, and there is still no definitive proof that they are of extraterrestrial origin or that they represent any kind of threat to human civilization.

The term “UFO” stands for “Unidentified Flying Object,” and refers to any aerial phenomenon that cannot be easily explained or identified. While many people associate UFOs with extraterrestrial life, the truth is that most UFO sightings turn out to be misidentified natural phenomena, man-made objects, or other known phenomena.

Despite this, there are still some UFO sightings that remain unexplained, and these have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and government cover-ups. This leads us to the hearing today, with the heard of AARO testifying before Congress and discussing the intricacies of UFO investigations and the possible implications they might have to National Security. Jacky Rosen(D-NV), Joni Ernst(R-IA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) led the hearing and asked for further information regarding the future plans of AARO and anomalous phenomena in our skies.

Sean Kirkpatrick is the director of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). He was appointed as director of the AARO when it was founded in July 2022. Prior to that, he served as the chief scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center. The AARO was established to investigate unidentified “objects of interest” around military installations.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was established within the office of the undersecretary for intelligence and security to synchronize efforts across the Department of Defense (DOD) and with other federal agencies. Its purpose is to detect and identify airborne, anomalous, unidentified space, transmedium, and submerged objects in and near military bases, training areas, special use airspace, and other areas of interest. The AARO aims to integrate and resolve threats and hazards to the U.S., while also offering increased transparency to the American people and reducing the stigma.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) questioned senior Pentagon officials, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, about the budget request for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). In response, Austin pledged to fully fund the office in the future and said the Pentagon requested $11 million for its research in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

Since its establishment in July 2022, AARO has formulated and started to leverage a robust analytic process against identified UAP reporting. Once completed, AARO’s final analytic findings will be available in their quarterly reports to policymakers. AARO’s initial analysis and characterization of the 366 newly-identified reports, informed by a multi-agency process, judged more than half as exhibiting unremarkable characteristics.

Based on AARO’s analysis and characterization of the 366 reports collected since the issuance of the last ODNI report, it says that “more than half” appear to exhibit “unremarkable characteristics,” with half a dozen attributed to aerial clutter, 26 believed to represent Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) craft or “UAS-like entities,” and 163 determined as being representative of “balloon or balloon-like entities”.

UFOs and folklore have a long and complex relationship, dating back to the earliest reports of flying saucers and alien visitors in the 1940s and 50s. Some researchers have argued that UFOs are a modern manifestation of ancient myths and legends, such as fairies, angels, demons, or gods. Others have suggested that UFOs reflect the fears and hopes of the contemporary world, such as nuclear war, environmental crisis, or technological salvation. Folklore expert Daniel Wojcik has termed belief in benevolent space aliens as “techno-millennarianism.” Instead of God, some UFO believers think forms of alien technology will be what redeems the world.

An interesting video was presented today as something anomalous in the skies, flying over Iraq and appearing to be a metallic-looking sphere. There were no obvious propulsion emissions and no flight surfaces to be seen. Kirkpatrick declared that without further data and only the video as evidence it would be impossible to classify the object. The video can be seen here – https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/video/Middle%20East%20UAP.mp4

Project Blue Book was an attempt by the U.S. government to apply scientific methods and principles to the study of UFOs. However, it was also influenced by political and social factors, such as public opinion, media coverage, military interests, and national security concerns. Project Blue Book investigated over 12,000 UFO cases, but concluded that most of them could be explained by natural phenomena, conventional aircraft, or human error. Only a small percentage of cases remained unexplained, but Project Blue Book claimed that they did not pose a threat to national security or evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Project Blue Book was terminated in 1969, following the recommendations of the Condon Report, a scientific review of the project that found no scientific value in continuing the investigation.

However, Project Blue Book did not end the controversy or curiosity about UFOs and folklore. Many critics and ufologists accused Project Blue Book of being biased, incomplete, or covering up the truth. Some former Project Blue Book personnel, such as J. Allen Hynek and Edward Ruppelt, became outspoken advocates for further research and disclosure on UFOs. Some ufologists also claimed that Project Blue Book was only a public relations front for more secretive and sinister projects, such as Majestic 12 or Area 51. These conspiracy theories have become part of the folklore of UFOs themselves.

The recent UAP report by the U.S. intelligence community has reignited the interest and debate on UFOs and folklore. The report acknowledges that some UAP are still unexplained and may pose a challenge to national security or scientific understanding. The report also calls for more data collection and analysis on UAP, as well as more cooperation and coordination among different agencies and stakeholders. The report has been welcomed by some ufologists as a sign of progress and transparency, but criticized by others as too vague or inconclusive. The report has also generated more media attention and public discussion on UFOs and folklore.

In conclusion, UFOs and folklore are intertwined in complex ways that reflect both historical and contemporary contexts. Project Blue Book was one of the most influential and controversial attempts to study UFOs scientifically, but it also generated more questions than answers. The recent UAP report may be seen as a continuation or a departure from Project Blue Book’s legacy, depending on one’s perspective. Regardless of one’s beliefs or opinions on UFOs and folklore, they remain fascinating topics that challenge our imagination and understanding of ourselves and our place in the cosmos.