Editing Suppression of testimony of conspiracy witnesses (section)

=== Insiders and rules of confidentiality ===
Individuals working in sensitive roles are often subject to strict confidentiality agreements. Suppression of their testimony is reportedly achieved by reinforcing these rules, often in ways that combine intimidation with subtle coercion. 

[[William Cooper]] recounted an example in ''[[Behold a Pale Horse (book)|Behold a Pale Horse]]''. According to his account, after he and other U.S. Navy crew members [[USS Tiru UFO sighting|saw a UFO while on duty atop the USS Tiru in 1966]], a commander from naval intelligence came aboard and informally interrogated him. Cooper described the commander's reaction when Cooper told him he believed he saw a [[flying saucer]] and described his own reading of the situation:
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The man began to visibly shake and he screamed obscenities at me. He threatened to put me in the brig for the rest of my life. I thought he wasn't going to stop yelling, but as suddenly as he began, he stopped.

I was confused. I had answered his question truthfully; yet I was threatened with prison. I was not afraid, but I was not very confident, either. I figured I had better take another tack. Eighteen years with my father and four years in the [[Air Force]] had taught me something. Number one was that officers just do not lose control like that, ever. Number two was that if my answer had elicited that explosion, then the next thing out of my mouth had better be something entirely different. Number three was that his response had been an act of kindness to get me to arrive at exactly that conclusion.

"Let's start all over again," he said. "What did you see out there?"

"Nothing, sir," I answered. "I didn't see a damn thing, and I'd like to get out of here just as soon as possible."

A smile spread over his face and the Captain looked relieved. "Are you sure, Cooper?" he asked.

"Yes sir," I replied, "I'm sure."

"You're a good sailor, Cooper," he said. "The Navy needs men like you. You'll go far with the Navy."<ref name="Cooper1991">Cooper, Milton William (1991). ''Behold a Pale Horse''. Flagstaff, Ariz.: Light Technology Publishing. ISBN 978-0929385228. PDF:[https://highlanderjuan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/William-Cooper-Behold-a-Pale-Horse.pdf Highlander Juan's archive]. Internet Archive: [https://archive.org/details/beholdpalehorse0000coop/page/n9/mode/2up "Behold a pale horse"]</ref>{{rp|pp=20–21}}
</blockquote>
The commander presented Cooper with documents outlining legal penalties for discussing classified information, which Cooper was required to sign. These tactics illustrate how suppression combines formal protocols with psychological pressure.