The Stargate Project was a secret U.S. Army unit established to explore the potential of psychic phenomena, particularly remote viewing, in military and domestic intelligence applications. The project ran from 1977 to 1995, encompassing a variety of code names and efforts to harness what some believed to be latent human abilities for strategic advantage.
Origins and Purpose
The Stargate Project originated from earlier parapsychological studies and investigations into psychic phenomena, spurred by reports that the Soviet Union was conducting similar research. The U.S. military and intelligence community became interested in exploring whether such phenomena could be scientifically validated and practically applied to intelligence operations.
Remote viewing became the primary focus of the project. Remote viewing is the claimed ability of individuals to see or describe distant objects, places, or events without any physical means or prior knowledge. The idea was that individuals could "see" targets that were geographically remote or otherwise inaccessible, potentially providing valuable intelligence insights.
Establishment and Evolution
The project was officially established in 1977 at Fort Meade, Maryland, under the auspices of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). It was initially known by various code names, including Gondola Wish, Grill Flame, Center Lane, and Sun Streak, before being consolidated under the final code name Stargate.
The program began in collaboration with SRI International (formerly known as Stanford Research Institute), a California-based contractor. Notable scientists involved included physicists Harold E. Puthoff and Russell Targ, who conducted early experiments in remote viewing and other psychic phenomena.
Key Figures and Methodology
Lt. Frederick Holmes "Skip" Atwater played a significant role in the project, serving as the operations and training officer for the remote viewing unit. Atwater was responsible for recruiting and training remote viewers, many of whom were military personnel. The training involved various techniques to enhance psychic abilities, such as meditation, visualization exercises, and other methods designed to focus the mind and enhance intuitive perception.
One of the most notable remote viewers in the project was Joseph McMoneagle, who claimed to have achieved significant successes in remote viewing sessions. McMoneagle's alleged achievements included locating Soviet missile installations and describing the interior of foreign embassies.
Notable Experiments and Cases
Throughout its duration, the Stargate Project conducted numerous experiments and operations. Some of the notable cases include:
The Pat Price Sessions: Pat Price, a former police officer turned psychic, conducted remote viewing sessions that reportedly yielded accurate descriptions of Soviet installations. Price's sessions were some of the earliest and most publicized successes of the project.
Operation Grill Flame: During this operation, remote viewers attempted to locate hostages held by terrorists in Iran and describe the layout of the Iranian embassy in Tehran. The results were mixed, with some successes and many inconclusive findings.
The West Virginia Site: Remote viewers were tasked with describing a secret Soviet site in West Virginia. Their descriptions were later confirmed by satellite imagery, lending some credibility to the remote viewing process.
Challenges and Skepticism
Despite some reported successes, the Stargate Project faced significant challenges and skepticism from the broader scientific and intelligence communities. Critics argued that the results were often inconsistent, anecdotal, and lacked rigorous scientific validation. The nature of psychic phenomena made it difficult to establish clear protocols and repeatable results, leading many to view the project with suspicion.
The secrecy surrounding the project also contributed to its controversial status. Classified reports and the limited dissemination of findings meant that the project was often viewed as fringe science or pseudoscience by those outside the immediate circle of participants.
Termination and Declassification
In 1995, the CIA commissioned a report by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to evaluate the usefulness of the Stargate Project. The report concluded that, although some remote viewing sessions had shown statistically significant results, the phenomena did not demonstrate reliable intelligence value. The lack of consistent and actionable information led to the decision to terminate the project.
On September 29, 1995, the Stargate Project was officially shut down, and many of its documents were declassified. The declassified documents revealed a wealth of information about the project's scope, methodologies, and findings, providing a fascinating glimpse into the U.S. government's exploration of psychic phenomena.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The Stargate Project has left a lasting legacy, both within the field of parapsychology and in popular culture. The project's existence and the intriguing nature of its goals have inspired numerous books, documentaries, and fictional works. Movies like "The Men Who Stare at Goats," based on the book by Jon Ronson, have popularized the story of the military's exploration of psychic phenomena, albeit with a humorous and fictionalized twist.
The project's documentation and the accounts of its participants continue to be studied and debated by researchers, enthusiasts, and skeptics alike. While the scientific community remains largely unconvinced of the practical applications of psychic phenomena, the Stargate Project stands as a testament to the curiosity and willingness of some segments of the intelligence community to explore unconventional methods.
17 years (1978-1995)
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