Spiritual Forum

This is a disturbing situation, which is why we, as citizens, must demand that the Pentagon release more information to both Congress and the American people.

The Pentagon in Washington, Jan. 26, 2020. When unidentified aircraft are penetrating our defenses and arriving at our doorsteps with impunity, it’s time for the Pentagon to show its cards, writes Gregory T. Goins.Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP 

Last week, a neighbor sent me a video of a car-size aircraft silently hovering over a nearby neighborhood, its green and red lights flashing in the night. It was one of many messages I’ve received over the last two weeks about an alarming number of unidentified objects flying over Somerset County, N.J., where I live with my wife and daughter.

As a UFO researcher for over a decade, I’m being asked by friends, family, and neighbors to explain what’s happening in our community. While I don’t have all the answers (and neither does the FBI, which is currently investigating), I try to reassure people that there’s likely nothing to fear. Gov. Phil Murphy offered a similar message on Thursday, posting on X, “There is no known threat to the public at this time.”

But the truth is, I am concerned — and I’m also searching for answers.

Elected officials, who should have clarity on these vexing objects, appear just as perplexed as the rest of us. Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told journalist Matt Laslo on Dec. 4 that he is “gravely concerned” not knowing what’s flying in America’s skies.

My concerns, like Sen. Warner’s, extend beyond the airspace above suburbs in the Garden State. Similar sightings have been reported in recent years near U.S. military and nuclear facilities in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Virginia, and off the coast of California. But even outside of the U.S., drone incursions remain an American problem. Just weeks ago, U.S. military bases in the U.K were on high alert as swarms of unidentified aircraft breached sensitive airspace.

These incidents follow a troubling pattern: dozens of aircraft varying in size and shape, emitting bright lights, and persisting for days or weeks. After years of such events around U.S. sites equipped with the most advanced sensors available, you’d think the military could offer some answers to ease public concern.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. When asked about progress in addressing these incursions during a Dec. 5 news conference, Department of Defense spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder declined to comment.

This lack of transparency is unnerving. Unknown craft are flying over my community and sensitive U.S. facilities worldwide. Last week, the anniversary of Pearl Harbor reminded us that failures to identify aircraft and effectively share information can lead to tragic results. Providing answers shouldn’t be deferred, leaving residents worrying what’s flying above our heads.

Some officials call them drones or unmanned aircraft systems, implying known technology or origin, while others refer to them as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), suggesting something completely unknown. This distinction between what’s known and unknown is critical, as each presents unique challenges requiring tailored solutions.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Nov. 19, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) indicated some of these incursions are from unidentified anomalous phenomena. “Number one, we don’t have domain awareness, which is very problematic. Number two, we don’t have domain superiority if we don’t understand how different UAPs are flying, what technology they’re using, what their mission is, what their purpose is. And at the base level, we have so many UAPs around our bases, around our military sites, around our nuclear sites, that it’s deeply disturbing.”

This is a disturbing situation, which is why we, as citizens, must demand that the Pentagon release more information to both Congress and the American people.

In September, I spent two days visiting the offices of members of Congress in Washington to promote the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act, a bipartisan effort led by Sen. Mike Rounds (R., S.D.) and cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The bill seeks to compel federal agencies to disclose their findings on unidentified anomalous phenomena to Congress and the public.

I acknowledge that national security implications must be considered before sharing sensitive intelligence information with the public. Revealing what we know — or don’t know — about these objects could risk tipping our hand to adversaries.

But when unidentified aircraft are penetrating our defenses and arriving at our doorsteps with impunity, it’s time for the Pentagon to show its cards. As citizens, we deserve the truth. And we’re prepared to handle it.

Gregory T. Goins is a UFO/UAP researcher and advocate for UAP transparency legislative action.

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/ufo-drones-new-jersey-20241210.html