The Men Who Stare At Goats -
The story of The Men Who Stare at Goats has had a lasting impact on modern warfare. While the use of psychic powers in the military is still a topic of debate, the idea of using unconventional tactics to gain an advantage on the battlefield has become more widely accepted.
One of the most influential figures in the development of remote viewing was a man named Ingo Swann, a self-proclaimed psychic and researcher who claimed to possess exceptional clairvoyant abilities. Swann was recruited by the CIA to lead a team of remote viewers, which included a young military officer named Jim Marrs.
Two decades after its publication, The Men Who Stare at Goats remains a landmark work of gonzo investigative journalism. Ronson’s particular genius—his “very British vagueness,” his insistence on winning over his interviewees before interrogating their facts, his willingness to present himself as slow on the uptake—allowed him to extract confessions from subjects that more serious journalists might never have obtained.
In 2009, the book was adapted into a satirical black comedy film starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey. The film follows fictional reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) as he stumbles upon Lyn Cassady (Clooney), a man who claims to be a psychic spy reactivated for the Iraq War. As they journey into Iraq, Cassady flashes back to the 1980s, revealing the founding of the "New Earth Army" by Bill Django (Bridges)—a character based on the real Jim Channon. The Men Who Stare At Goats
The movie embraces the absurdity of its source material, opening with the famous on-screen disclaimer: “More of this is true than you would believe”. It delivers a lighthearted, often slapstick comedy in the tradition of M A S H* and Dr. Strangelove , complete with scenes of psychic soldiers trying to run through walls, bend spoons with their minds, and—of course—stare goats to death.
In 1979, the United States Army founded a secret unit that believed a soldier could walk through walls, become invisible, and kill a goat simply by staring at it. This sounds like the plot of a surreal satirical comedy—and it did indeed inspire one. However, the reality behind The Men Who Stare at Goats is a deeply bizarre, historical truth that blends Cold War paranoia, New Age philosophy, and military intelligence.
So the next time you see a soldier staring too intently at nothing, or a general meditating in his office, remember the goats of Fort Bragg. Remember that for a brief, shining, terrifying moment in the 1980s, the United States Army genuinely believed that if you squinted hard enough, you could kill a goat with your mind. The story of The Men Who Stare at
Bill stared. The goat stared back.
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The animal of the title demands analysis. The goat is not a predator; it is a domestic, almost comical creature. In Judeo-Christian tradition, the goat is the scapegoat, a vessel for communal sin cast into the wilderness. In the film, the goat represents several things: Swann was recruited by the CIA to lead
"I’m trying, Sergeant," Ray said, sweat beading on his forehead despite the morning chill. "But he’s looking at me. He knows."
The Army wasn't alone in this madness. At the same time that Stubblebine was trying to walk through walls, the CIA and DIA were funding a secret program known as .
Seeing distant locations using only the mind.
An exploration of how this relates to modern military psychological operations? Share public link
The movement was largely propelled by figures who merged military command with New Age philosophy.