In a development that would make Agents Mulder and Scully proud, the CIA has released some declassified photographs that purport to show unidentified flying objects in the sky, igniting debate over the existence of aliens for those who, ‘want to believe.’ The images were classified during the 1950s and tucked away as the spy agency investigated the validity of these images. They were then declassified in 1978 but not made available or freely released online until now. The released is reportedly in celebration of the return of the popular science-fiction series, The X-Files. According to the documents released by the spooks all but 100 UFO sightings had a reasonable explanation, although they still kept an eye out for further reports. However, before you get the impression that the CIA is confirming contact with aliens, the company says that all but 100 of the cases had logical explanations, a document reading, ‘Less than 100 reasonably credible reports remain, unexplainable at this time. It’s recommended that CIA surveillance be continued.’ Unfortunately the ten files – released to coincide with the revival of cult sci-fi series The X Files – don’t give us any clues about alien abductions or crashed spaceships. A spokesman for the CIA said they decided to release documents that both sceptics and believers would find interesting. Playing with the X-files concept, they chose five cases they thought X-Files character Agent Fox Mulder would love to use to persuade others of the existence of aliens. While the other five files would help his sceptical partner, Agent Dana Scully, prove there is a scientific explanation for UFO sightings. However, UFO conspiracy theorists don’t believe the CIA’s decision is an innocent PR stunt. Stephen Bassett, the executive director of the Paradigm Research Group – which campaigns to get the US government to ‘admit’ to the existence of aliens – believes the release is a face-saving exercise by the CIA to get the public ready for the existence of extraterrestrials. He told the Mirror: The recent postings to the CIA website could well be strategic on the part of the agency. It appears the CIA used the revival of the X-Files franchise as a convenient time to remind the public the agency has, in fact, engaged the extraterrestrial presence issue in the past. Post-disclosure the CIA will have substantial public relations issues as it has played a significant role in maintaining the truth embargo over six decades. These recent postings could have an inoculative effect in service to the agency’s future PR strategy. Basset clearly hasn’t read the news recently – doesn’t he know aliens have been wiped out by global warming?