Analysis: Whistleblower testimonies did not change our basic understanding of UFOs
PBS NewsHourJul 30, 2023
The Facts
The US Defense Department announced Thursday that its designated office for addressing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), launched a new website for declassified information about UFOs.
The Pentagon stated the website will serve as a "one-stop shop" for all publicly released information about resolved UAP cases, adding it will be updated in the coming months to allow current and former US officials as well as the public to file reports via a "private and secure means."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This move was a simple act of due diligence, nothing less and nothing more. While some are making outlandish and improbable claims with regard to the true origin of UAP, the AARO has decided to clear the air and post their work publicly for the world to see. While it may be much more fun to reside in the land of shadowy conspiracies and little green men, the AARO will keep following the science and resolving UAP claims, wherever the clues may lead.
Establishment-critical narrative
While this long-awaited official website is obviously a step forward, the AARO has yet to establish the congressionally ordered Historical Record Report, a formal system to collect reports involving UAP encounters, regardless of classification level. Until then, US officials and civil aviators will have to rely on the existing mechanisms available to them through their organizations, which don't allow classified information to be remotely provided to AARO.
Nerd narrative
There's a 2% chance that UAPs will have an ontologically-shocking explanation by July 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.