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Astronaut Edgar Mitchell Claims Alien Cover-up

Dr. Edgar Mitchell is a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission and he was the sixth man to walk on the Moon. Dr. Mitchell also insists that aliens have visited Earth and that governments are actively covering it up. "I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we've been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real," Dr Mitchell said. "It's been well covered up by all our governments for the last 60 years or so, but slowly it's leaked out and some of us have been privileged to have been briefed on some of it. "I've been in military and intelligence circles, who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited. Reading the papers recently, it's been happening quite a bit." Dr Mitchell, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and a Doctor of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics claimed Roswell was real and similar alien visits continue to be investigated. He told the astonished Kerrang! radio host Nick Margerrison: "This is really starting to open up. I think we're headed for real disclosure and some serious organisations are moving in that direction." NASA issued a quick denial. In a statement, a spokesman said: "NASA does not track UFOs. NASA is not involved in any sort of cover up about alien life on this planet or anywhere in the universe. "Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue." If Dr. Mitchell is correct about a cover-up than this is exactly the type of denial one would expect NASA to make. You can listen to the interview with Dr. Mitchell where he discusses the UFO phenomena here. Permalink | Recent Headlines | News Feeds Read more…

Battle for power and energy looms in Turkmenistan (AFP)

22.12.2006 04:33 Science - Source: Yahoo Science

ASHGABAT (AFP) - The sudden death of Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov has prompted predictions of a power struggle inside the ex-Soviet republic and a fierce contest among world powers coveting the desert nation's energy reserves.

In a deceptive semblance of normality, portraits of the autocratic Niyazov, who controlled every aspect of this mainly Muslim Central Asian republic for 20 years, continued to look down from buildings, and statues of the man known as the Great Turkmenbashi (leader of all Turkmen) remained in place.

State television broadcast funeral music following Thursday's announcement of Niyazov's death of a heart attack. New Year's decorations were removed from the streets, black ribbons were attached to flags and alcohol sales were banned.

Beneath the outward calm, a gaping power vacuum waits to be filled, left by the death of a man who declared himself president for life and ruled like a king in a country that is of growing geopolitical interest to powers such as China, Russia and the United States.

Turkmenistan not only has massive natural gas reserves but is a key part of US plans to turn Central Asia into a new energy supplier to the outside world -- independent of the former regional power Moscow.

"His death has launched a vicious fight for power in Turkmenistan and, what is more important, a new stage of struggles between Russia, China, the European Union and other interested parties," the Kommersant daily wrote in Moscow.

Ahead of Sunday's funeral, residents expressed shock at the loss of their leader.

"I feel kind of empty," said Batyr Ishankuliyev, 48, a civil servant. "You can hardly believe that our leader, whom we saw as having been sent to us forever by the Almighty, suddenly died like an ordinary person."

"I am afraid for the future. The most important thing now is that no conflict arises," said Lyudmila, 58, at one of the city's markets.

Russia's Izvestia published pictures of the jewel-encrusted rings that the deceased leader wore. The newspaper said that his close family, all of them somewhat estranged from Niyazov, were returning home -- his wife and daughter from London and son from the United Arab Emirates.

The most likely successor appeared to be the new interim president, deputy prime minister Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov -- despite a constitutional bar on an interim president standing for election.

He was shown on television sitting in Niyazov's chair of state, declaring: "We have today lost a great man. Our country is orphaned."

"Turkmenistan will continue Turkmenbashi's policy," he added.

In an early sign of infighting, Berdymukhammedov's nomination as interim leader coincided with news that the speaker of parliament -- who should have become interim leader under the constitution -- faced a criminal investigation.

Berdymukhammedov said that a session of the country's Popular Council, made up of more than 2,500 Turkmen officials, would take place Tuesday to set a date for a presidential election -- due within two months.

Opposition movements -- brutally crushed under Niyazov and all based in exile -- denounced the former leader and sought assurances that they could return safely, Russian news agencies said.

"Will we continue to live in lies, as before, or will we speak the truth?" demanded Nurmukhammed Khanamov, leader of the opposition Republican party, in a statement.

"Brothers and sisters! We call on you to unite with us ... to build a new life!" read a statement on the party's Internet site, which however is blocked in Turkmenistan.

The international community urged calm, but Washington also made clear its interest in boosting relations.

"We look forward to continuing to expand our relations... to a bright future for that country and to a government that provides justice and opportunity for its people," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Foreign heads of state expected at Sunday's funeral included Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who has cultivated energy ties with Ashgabat, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has sought a leadership role in the Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia.