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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Cooper provides an autobiographical account and describes his ancestry, upbringing, military service, and events that led him down the path to his theories. Cooper criticizes figures like William Moore and Stanton Friedman, alleging they were disinformation agents tasked with misleading UFO researchers.[4] Cooper emphasizes his commitment to exposing the truth, supported by his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Dorothy. He claims to have uncovered evidence suggesting that secret societies had been formulating plans since 1917 to fabricate a perceived extraterrestrial threat. This manufactured crisis, he argued, was intended to unite humanity under a centralized, one-world government, which he referred to as the New World Order.[5]
Chapter 1 - Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars[edit | edit source]
Reprinting of sections of "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars" with commentary and emphases by Cooper.
Chapter 2 - Secret Societies and the New World Order[edit | edit source]
Discussion of secret societies.
Chapter 3 - Oath of Initiation of an Unidentified Secret Order[edit | edit source]
Reprinting of an alleged initiation oath in a secret organization.
Chapter 4 - Secret Treaty of Verona[edit | edit source]
Chapter 5 - Good-by USA, Hello New World Order[edit | edit source]
Chapter 6 - H.R. 4079 and FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency[edit | edit source]
Chapter 7 - Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 H.R.5210, P.L. 100-690[edit | edit source]
Chapter 8 - Are the Sheep Ready to Shear?[edit | edit source]
Chapter 9 - Anatomy of an Alliance[edit | edit source]
Chapter 10 - Lessons from Lithuania[edit | edit source]
Chapter 11 - Coup de Grace[edit | edit source]
Chapter 12 - The Secret Government[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Chapter 14 - A Proposed Constitutional Model for the Newstates of America[edit | edit source]
Reprinting of a proposed constitutional framework created in an academic study.
Chapter 15 - Protocols of the Elders of Zion[edit | edit source]
Reprinting of Protocols of the Elders of Zion. This was removed with Cooper's assent[3] by the publisher[6] in later editions.
Chapter 16 - The Story of Jonathan May[edit | edit source]
Chapter 17 - Documentation: U.S. Army Intelligence Connection with Satanic Church[edit | edit source]
Appendix A - William Cooper's Military Service Record[edit | edit source]
Appendix B - UFOs and Area 51[edit | edit source]
Appendix C - Alien Implants[edit | edit source]
Appendix D - AIDS[edit | edit source]
Appendix E - New World Order[edit | edit source]
Appendix F - U.S. Government Drug Involvement[edit | edit source]
Appendix G - Kurzweil vs. Hopkins[edit | edit source]
Reception and legacy[edit | edit source]
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".[7]
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.[8] 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.[9]
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[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ Cooper, p. 28
- ↑ 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.