Behold a Pale Horse (book)
 Front cover of the book | |
| Author | Milton William Cooper |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Conspiracy theories, government secrets, Illuminati, UFOs |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Light Technology Publishing |
Publication date | December 1, 1991 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 470 |
| ISBN | 978-0929385228 ISBN-10: 0929385225 |
Behold a Pale Horse is a non-fiction book written by Milton William Cooper, published in 1991. The book is known for its impact on UFO and militia circles and is considered a seminal work in conspiracy theory literature.[1]
Background
Milton William Cooper, a former United States Naval Intelligence Briefing Team member, wrote the book to share what he claimed were suppressed truths hidden in top-secret government files. According to Cooper, this information had been classified since the 1940s. The book discusses topics such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the war on drugs, secret government activities, UFOs, and the Illuminati.[2] Cooper claimed his predictions, including the lowering of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the invasion of Panama, were based on plans he encountered during his time in naval intelligence and over 17 years of research.[3]
The book’s original edition included the infamous hoax Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which Cooper later removed in revised editions upon learning it was a forgery.[3]
Contents
Behold a Pale Horse covers various aspects of Cooper's overarching conspiracy theory, including the Illuminati and the New World Order; alleged government UFO cover-ups; secret technologies and suppressed advancements; political assassinations, including that of John F. Kennedy; and the war on drugs as a government control mechanism. The book includes reprints of alleged executive orders, military reports, and other materials.
Chapter summaries
In addition to fleshing out his own research on alleged conspiracies, Cooper chose to reprint, largely verbatim, various alleged primary documents to make his case, possibly engaging in copyright in some cases.
Opening and Introduction
The initial pages feature Revelation 6:8 and a quotation by Delamer Duverus saying that "one basic truth" can upset an "entire mountain of lies". Cooper states that his goal is to awaken the reader to hidden manipulations in society and inspire a quest for the truth. He warns of dire consequences if society remains complacent, including the destruction of democratic institutions and the erosion of personal freedoms. Cooper positions himself as a patriot and a Christian dedicated to defending the Constitution, family, and faith, which he believes are under direct threat. He positions the book as a manifesto urging readers to challenge the structures of power and prepare for a fight against those he identifies as the architects of global deception. A foreword by an unnamed individual who purportedly sought to determine whether Cooper "did indeed speak the truth or was just another person seeking fame and fortune" praises Cooper: "There are many who do not want you to know what Bill has to say... The scars on his face and the loss of his leg are his badges of sincerity on your behalf."
Chapter 1 - Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
Reprinting of sections of "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars" with commentary and emphases by Cooper.
Chapter 2 - Secret Societies and the New World Order
Discussion of secret societies.
Chapter 3 - Oath of Initiation of an Unidentified Secret Order
Reprinting of an alleged initiation oath in a secret organization.
Chapter 4 - Secret Treaty of Verona
Chapter 5 - Good-by USA, Hello New World Order
Chapter 6 - H.R. 4079 and FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
Chapter 7 - Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 H.R.5210, P.L. 100-690
Chapter 8 - Are the Sheep Ready to Shear?
Chapter 9 - Anatomy of an Alliance
Chapter 10 - Lessons from Lithuania
Chapter 11 - Coup de Grace
Chapter 12 - The Secret Government
Discussion of what Cooper calls the Secret Government and its alleged dealings with aliens. This is perhaps the most widely reproduced chapter.
Chapter 13 - Treason in High Places
Chapter 14 - A Proposed Constitutional Model for the Newstates of America
Reprinting of a proposed constitutional framework created in an academic study.
Chapter 15 - Protocols of the Elders of Zion
Reprinting of Protocols of the Elders of Zion. This was removed with Cooper's assent[3] and/or the publisher[4] in later editions.
Chapter 16 - The Story of Jonathan May
Chapter 17 - Documentation: U.S. Army Intelligence Connection with Satanic Church
Appendix A - William Cooper's Military Service Record
Appendix B - UFOs and Area 51
Appendix C - Alien Implants
Appendix D - AIDS
Appendix E - New World Order
Appendix F - U.S. Government Drug Involvement
Appendix G - Kurzweil vs. Hopkins
Reception and legacy
Behold a Pale Horse has been both widely influential and highly controversial. Just prior to the trial of Terry Nichols in 1997, The Guardian described it as "the manifesto of the militia movement".[5]
Political scientist Michael Barkun characterized it as "among the most complex superconspiracy theories" and credited its widespread popularity in militia circles and mainstream bookstores for its influence.[6] Sociologist Paul Gilroy noted Cooper's claim of an "elaborate conspiracy theory" linking the Kennedy assassination, secret world government activities, and covert Illuminati schemes.[2]
Historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke criticized the book as a "chaotic farrago of conspiracy myths" filled with extraneous material, such as reprints of government documents, intended to depict the alleged imposition of a world government on the American people in violation of the Constitution.[7]
Despite the criticism, the book remains a cornerstone in conspiracy literature and has had a lasting influence on various communities, including UFO enthusiasts, militia groups, and conspiracy theorists.
References
- ↑ Nattrass, Nicoli (2012). The AIDS Conspiracy: Science Fights Back. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 4, 23–27. ISBN 978-0231149129. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gilroy, Paul (2000). "Planetary Humanism". Against Race: Imagining Political Culture Beyond the Color Line. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 352–353. ISBN 978-0674000964. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Behold a Pale Horse". Amazon. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ↑ Richard Ruelas; Rob O'Dell (October 1, 2020). "How William Cooper and his book 'Behold a Pale Horse' planted seeds of QAnon conspiracy theory". Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ↑ Vulliamy, Ed; Dirks, Bruce (November 3, 1997). "New trial may solve riddle of Oklahoma bombing". The Guardian. London. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ↑ Michael Barkun (2006). A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America. University of California Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-520-24812-0. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
- ↑ Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas (2002). "Conspiracy Beliefs and the New World Order". Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity. New York: New York University Press. pp. 284–285. ISBN 978-0814731550. Retrieved January 17, 2013.