Billion Dollar Secret

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Billion Dollar Secret is a 1999 TLC Video that was distributed by Discovery Channel Video. This film, written and narrated by Nick Cook, investigates military "black projects" in the United States as a possible explanation for many UFO sightings.

The programme starts by speaking of the annual Pentagon budget of 250 billion dollars which is submitted to congress for approval. From his office in London, Cook asserts that if all the line items are calculated, there is a mismatch of about 20 Billion dollars which he claims, is used for 'black projects'. He then visits America, speaking with several known personalities including a design engineer who worked for the then (1940-50's) Convair company on a design known as the 'Fish'. He also meets with a serving congressman(Rohrbacker)who supports Cooks' belief in the often denied 'Aurora' spyplane project which has allegedly replaced the SR-71 Blackbird. Now firmly onto a good thing, Cook visits scientist/engineer and ex Lockheed Martin Skunk Works guru, Boyd Bushman to try and find catch up with the latest developments in aviation technology. Discussions and investigations into Anti Gravity propulsion ensue with some interesting footage of experiments wherein objects 'lose weight' and lift off a workbench when showered with certain energies. Meantime we are treated to trying to find an explanation and/or solution to popular 'Cattle Mutilations' which have been occuring in the US for over 4 decades. The documentary raises some interesting questions about governmental expenditure of taxpayers money without the taxpayer ever knowing where it went or why. During the course of this almost hour long documentary, various other interviewees - in the main, common people like farmers, aviation buffs and UFO investigstors come forth with their handles on what, where, why and who could be initiating the various phenomenon. In one interview, an average farmer speaks of being woken late one cold winters night to note a helicopter hovering over his farmhouse which had no engine noise. He tried to ascertain if it was a turbine or mechanical engine, having had some experience in the reserve marines assisting with Helicopters, however the only sound it made was the blades swishing in the air and downdraft of wind. Next morning he wakes up to find a mutilated cow outside. Some amateur footage of mutilations is also shown. In another interview, the person speaks of a well reputed gentleman's encounter with a 'mile long metallic craft with lights' soundlessly hovering above the ground while out jogging in the American countryside. This jogger was apparently an ex-serviceman who was very shook up by what he saw and actually called NORAD to ask them if any unusual flights had been scheduled in the vicinity.

Some critiques:

The documentary ends with a clear indication that another episode is in the making because much more investigation is clearly needed to come up with ANY real answers. We are left with the feeling of being exposed to information (most of it would already be known to people interested in this type of investigation) without any concrete answers or evidence being presented. In one instance, a self professed 'UFO expert' is asked what all this means and he simply answers the question with a vague response...Q:are UFO's part of a forth dimension? Are the extraterrestrial in nature?, are they of an earthly origin? to which his answer is YES to all the above.