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]
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 research on alleged conspiracies, Cooper chose to reprint, largely verbatim, various alleged primary documents, most of them in the public domain, to make his case.
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."
Foreword
In the foreword of Behold a Pale Horse, William Cooper provides an autobiographical account, detailing his life, military service, and the events that shaped his controversial claims regarding UFO sightings, government conspiracy theories, and extraterrestrial technology.[4]
Cooper recounts his upbringing in a military family and his graduation from Yamato High School in Japan in 1961. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force that fall and received training at Lackland Air Force Base and the Aircraft & Missile Pneudraulics school at Amarillo Air Force Base[4].
He was assigned to the Strategic Air Command, working with B-52 bombers, KC-135 refueling aircraft, and Minuteman missiles. Cooper had a Secret-level clearance and was awarded commendations, including the National Defense Medal and Air Force Good Conduct Medal[4]. During this period, he heard rumors of involvement in UFO crash retrieval programs, with one story describing a saucer transported under cover of night[4].
Cooper describes witnessing the assassination of John F. Kennedy on live television on November 22, 1963, while on duty as CQ for the Field Maintenance Squadron. The event triggered a DEFCON Two alert, indicating imminent war, and Cooper recounts the harrowing three days that followed[4].
After leaving the Air Force in 1965, Cooper joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Tiru (SS-416), a submarine stationed at Pearl Harbor. During a test dive off the coast of Oahu, Cooper and the crew witnessed a massive transmedium UFO emerging from the ocean, tumbling, and ascending into the clouds. The craft was described as metallic, approximately the size of an aircraft carrier, and lacking lights or glow[4]. Cooper alleges that the crew, including Ensign Ball and Geronimo, was ordered to sign non-disclosure agreements and refrain from discussing the incident[4].
Following his submarine service, Cooper was transferred to the USS Tombigbee (AOG-11), a gasoline tanker. Later, he attended the Naval Security and Intelligence School, where he trained as an Internal Security Specialist. He was subsequently deployed to Vietnam, where he commanded a patrol boat[4].
While in Vietnam, Cooper claims to have observed significant UFO activity, including reports of mysterious blue light attacks, village disappearances, and mutilations of soldiers[4].
Cooper's final assignment was at the headquarters of the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) in Hawaii, where he received a Top Secret, Q, Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance. Here, Cooper claims to have learned about classified projects such as Operation Majestic 12, the Kennedy assassination, and the New World Order conspiracy[4].
After his discharge, Cooper faced harassment, including being run off the road by a black limousine, resulting in the loss of his leg[4]. He began disseminating his knowledge through mailings, lectures, and computer bulletin boards to protect himself by ensuring widespread dissemination of his claims[4].
Cooper also criticizes figures like William Moore and Stanton Friedman, alleging they were disinformation agents tasked with misleading UFO researchers[4]. Despite these challenges, Cooper emphasized his commitment to exposing the truth, supported by his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Dorothy[4].
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[5] 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".[6]
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.[7] 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.[8]
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 "Behold a Pale Horse". Amazon. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Cooper, Milton William (1991). Behold a Pale Horse. Flagstaff, Ariz.: Light Technology Publishing. ISBN 978-0929385228. PDF:Highlander Juan's archive. Internet Archive:"Behold a pale horse" Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Cooper1991" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 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.