"The NEED TO KNOW mind-sets in American Intelligence"

As I and America watched with pride the launch of STS-135 Atlantis, it was disheartening and disturbing to hear the media say that America's ability to put humans into space was over.  The Military community and the alleged "Above Top-Secret" programs are indeed thriving and because they see no viable need to share information with public, they are perpetuating that negative mind-set.  Be assured, America has 2 perhaps 3 operational/manned Space Planes with far greater capabilities, diversity, and performance than the 30 year old Shuttles. They have even greater potential and application as advanced weapon systems, as well.  Just as the venerable SR-71 Blackbird was inexplicably retired in 1996, an Aurora-like hypersonic Wave Rider replacement secretly entered service.  Thanks to the "Dis-information" campaigns of the CIA, everything from UFO's to Alien encounters have been dismissed as science fiction fantasy with the perpetrators being labeled and ridiculed as conspiracy nuts or dreamers, etc. The same mind-sets exist with what has been called 1st, 2nd & 3rd tier scientists with the 1st knowing what we know and with the 3rd tier privileged with only Top Secret knowledge. For those in doubt, rest and sleep comfortably tonight as America is still on Top of her game!  A Sentimental and Loving "GOOD-BYE" to the All-American Space Shuttle and her Brave Astronauts!