Not that I think they'll find anything, but ...
While I find such mysteries fascinating, Amelia Earhart stories generally win less of my attention than others because I’ve become convinced that little if anything more can be learned about her fate.
Yet this morning comes word that the U.S. government, fronted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is lending its support (if not dollars) to another attempt to find the wreckage of Earhart’s plane. This effort is based on what is being described as a newly discover photograph.
From the Wall Street Journal:
The impetus for the latest expedition is a recently discovered photo, apparently taken near Nikumaroro just months after Ms. Earhart’s disappearance. Some experts believe it may show a portion of the plane’s landing gear.
State Department officials held a hastily arranged briefing Monday night to describe the photo. After “very intense photo analysis” by government and outside experts, according to one senior official, “the judgment is that it’s worth exploring.”
The official added that “a very healthy dose of skepticism has to be in play.”
Every skeptical bone in my body says this is yet another waste of money and time destined to produced nothing but publicity for the professional Earhart hunters. However, I cannot imagine why the U.S. government would be involved — never mind the Secretary of State — if there wasn’t something at least potentially compelling about this “new” photograph. These are serious people who will be — or at least should be — seriously embarrassed if there’s nothing to see here.
Call me curious.
(Update: Here’s an Associated Press story about today’s press conference. If the newly discovered photo has been released publicly, I’m unable to find a copy of it.)
