SAUCERS, SECRETS AND SHICKSHINY KNIGHTS

This article, published on GnosticWarrior.com in 2014, examines the intersection of ufology, intelligence agencies, and political extremism. The author, Moe, posits that the study of UFOs has long been influenced by intelligence agents, citing a CIA admission from the 1950s regarding a policy to debunk UFO reports to prevent public hysteria that could interfere with Cold War security. The article focuses heavily on Philip J. Corso, a retired U.S. Army colonel and co-author of 'The Day After Roswell.' The author characterizes Corso's claims—which include overseeing the handling of alien material and the development of modern technology from recovered debris—as lacking evidence and resembling science fiction. The author suggests that Corso may be a 'disinformation specialist' or a 'provocateur' whose work serves to discredit serious inquiry into UFOs. Furthermore, the article explores Corso's background, noting his membership in the 'Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem,' also known as the 'Shickshinny Knights of Malta.' This group is described as a fanatical, ultra-rightist organization with ties to figures like General Charles Willoughby and various anti-communist movements. The author argues that Corso's narrative aligns with a broader pattern of right-wing conspiracy theories that seek to alienate the public from the government and promote distrust of 'liberal' elements within the intelligence community. The article concludes by suggesting that the national security establishment may have moved beyond simple debunking to actively fomenting confusion or using UFO narratives as a 'smokescreen' for secret military developments, such as those at Area 51. By linking Corso to the militia subculture and other conspiracy-oriented groups, the author frames the modern UFO phenomenon as a tool for political manipulation rather than a genuine scientific or extraterrestrial mystery.