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Pentagon ran secret multi-million dollar UFO programme | Pentagon ran secret multi-million dollar UFO programme |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Pentagon has been running a secret multi-million dollar programme to investigate Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), US media report. | The Pentagon has been running a secret multi-million dollar programme to investigate Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), US media report. |
Only a small number of officials were aware of the programme, which began in 2007 and was reportedly closed in 2012. | Only a small number of officials were aware of the programme, which began in 2007 and was reportedly closed in 2012. |
The New York Times says documents from the operation describe strange speeding aircraft and hovering objects. | The New York Times says documents from the operation describe strange speeding aircraft and hovering objects. |
But scientists were doubtful, stressing that unexplained happenings were not necessarily proof of alien life. | But scientists were doubtful, stressing that unexplained happenings were not necessarily proof of alien life. |
The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Programme was the brainchild of Harry Reid, a retired Democratic senator who was the Senate majority leader at the time. | The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Programme was the brainchild of Harry Reid, a retired Democratic senator who was the Senate majority leader at the time. |
He told the New York Times: "I'm not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this thing going. I've done something that no one has done before." | He told the New York Times: "I'm not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this thing going. I've done something that no one has done before." |
Mr Reid - former senator for Nevada, home to the mythologised "Area 51" classified US Air Force base - later tweeted that the programme was a serious effort to get to truth amid "plenty of evidence to support asking the questions". | Mr Reid - former senator for Nevada, home to the mythologised "Area 51" classified US Air Force base - later tweeted that the programme was a serious effort to get to truth amid "plenty of evidence to support asking the questions". |
The programme is reported to have cost the Department of Defense more than $20 million (£15m) before it was shut down in order to save costs. | The programme is reported to have cost the Department of Defense more than $20 million (£15m) before it was shut down in order to save costs. |
Although its funding ended in 2012, officials have reportedly continued to investigate sightings of unusual aerial phenomena and suspicious objects alongside their daily duties. | Although its funding ended in 2012, officials have reportedly continued to investigate sightings of unusual aerial phenomena and suspicious objects alongside their daily duties. |
One former congressional staffer told Politico the programme may have been set up to monitor the technological progress of rival foreign powers. | One former congressional staffer told Politico the programme may have been set up to monitor the technological progress of rival foreign powers. |
"Was this China or Russia trying to do something or has some propulsion system we are not familiar with?", they said. | "Was this China or Russia trying to do something or has some propulsion system we are not familiar with?", they said. |
Earlier this year, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released millions of pages of declassified documents online. | Earlier this year, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released millions of pages of declassified documents online. |
The records included UFO sightings and a collection of reports on flying saucers. | The records included UFO sightings and a collection of reports on flying saucers. |
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