Just Cause - 1989 03 - No 19 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: 19
Volume: NEW SERIES
Date: March 1989
Publisher: Lawrence Fawcett
Editor: Barry Greenwood

This issue of "Just Cause" magazine, published in March 1989, addresses several key topics within the UFO and paranormal community, including media portrayal of UFOs, a military personnel case, the controversial MJ-12 documents, and new information on the Roswell incident. The publication aims to provide in-depth analysis and report on developments in UFO research.

Editorial: "UFO Cover-Up Live" and Media Portrayal

The editorial section critiques the "UFO Cover-Up Live" program that aired in October, finding its faults "pretty self-evident." The editor notes that the "Twilight Zone"-type music used in the broadcast was not audible in the studio by the participants, leading host Mike Farrell to express concern that producers might add such elements when the show's substance is deemed insufficient. The editorial argues that television programming follows formulae, using light effects for comedies and heavy effects for drama, with science-fiction music for UFOs. The editor states that media professionals define the UFO phenomenon for the public with the primary goals of "Entertainment" and "The Buck" (profit), and will only engage with the subject if these elements are satisfied. The "UFO Cover-Up Live" broadcast, which promised "never-before-seen things," reportedly drew forty million viewers but resulted in a "deafening" silence afterward due to the sensation being "unbelievable" and ultimately disappointing. The editor believes this setback could push UFO research back by ten years, despite some "solid, albeit older, UFO information" being buried in the sensationalism. The program did, however, beat "Beauty and the Beast" in the ratings.

ARMY SERGEANT WINS UFO COMPLAINT

This section details the case of Sgt. Clifford Stone, a 20-year Army veteran assigned to the New Mexico Military Institute, who was relieved of his duties for conducting UFO research. Stone's interests included "Project Snowbird" and the Roswell incident, and his name appeared in early UFO/FOIA requests. As an outspoken proponent of UFO cover-up revelations and citizen's right to know, Stone faced pressure from his superiors due to frequent FOIA requests and inquiries to Senators and Congressmen, even when conducting his research off-duty. Despite advice to cease these activities, Stone continued, believing his research violated no regulations. His superiors initiated a "Command Referral" for psychological evaluation on October 27, 1987, which concluded his mental status was within normal limits and the problems appeared related to situational stress. However, pressure continued, including an internal memo in June 1987 discussing a press article about Stone and questioning his retirement date, suggesting psychological pressure to induce him to leave. In late 1987, the National Security Agency contacted Senator Pete Domenici's office about Stone's research, requesting a letter be "reworded," which Stone refused without a written request. Consequently, Stone was relieved of duty that month.

A Department of the Army memo dated September 12, 1988, is reproduced, which vindicated Stone and criticized his superiors. The memo found that Stone's relief was not justified by "insufficient substantiation of 'inefficiency and unreliability'" and that the administration of the relief action was "significantly flawed." It suggests the "relief" was a failed attempt to pressure him to retire early, and that the XO (indorser) overreacted to Stone's UFO interest and congressional contact, exhibiting intolerance and bias. The memo concluded that Stone's relief was highly questionable, with a lack of documented counseling and supervision, and that his superiors mishandled the situation. The recommendation was to void the "Relief for Cause" report, deeming it an inaccurate rating prejudicial to his career. The report also notes that both the rater and indorser were relieved later, raising questions about the report's validity.

The article draws parallels to the experiences of CAUS staffer Larry Bryant, highlighting that both men faced career attacks for their interest in UFOs and for believing the public was subjected to "bad policy decisions." CAUS views these incidents as victories for "freedom of the intellect."

PECULIAR SATELLITE PHOTO SURFACES

This item presents a National Weather Service satellite photo, forwarded by a colleague in Puerto Rico, Mr. Jorge Martin. The photo, taken on February 7, 1985, at 22:01 Hrs, shows an area of the eastern U.S., Central America, and northern South America. An oval-shaped object is visible in the upper right portion, partly obscured by a data bar. The magazine states it is not endorsing the picture as UFO evidence but presenting it as an oddity, and is in the process of locating an original for study. Several possible explanations exist, and the publication promises to keep readers updated.

FBI OPINION ON MJ-12

On October 11, 1988, FBI agent Bill Vinikus visited CAUS Director Peter Gersten regarding findings on the MJ-12 documents. Vinikus showed Gersten a photo and asked about "Doty," identified as Richard Doty, a former Air Force OSI agent and a prime source for MJ-12 information. Gersten did not recognize Doty from the photo. Vinikus stated that the FBI would not prosecute William Moore on the MJ-12 matter because there was no clear-cut violation of federal law, and Doty would not be prosecuted by the FBI either. However, the FBI was assisting the Air Force in an investigation related to the Ellsworth AFB UFO hoax, concerning Doty's alleged use of government stationery for unauthorized purposes. The FBI determined that the MJ-12 documents themselves were not classified materials, and therefore not genuine government documents, finding it hard to believe Moore presented them as authentic.

MORE ON MJ-12

This section mentions a critique of MJ-12 by Christopher Allan, a technical author and Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, titled "MJ-12: Fact or Fantasy?" This paper responds to "Phil Klass and MJ-12, What are the Facts?" by Stanton Friedman and William Moore. The paper is 11 pages long and requests can be sent to Christopher D. Allan in England.

Furthermore, the article reveals information suggesting that in 1982, the Project Aquarius/MJ-12 material was planned as a fiction novel by Bill Moore, Bob Pratt, and a third party using the pseudonym "Ronald L. Davis" (possibly Richard Doty). This was allegedly an attempt to present the Aquarius/MJ-12 data in a fictional context to make it more publishable, as sufficient evidence to relate the story as non-fiction apparently did not exist. The article questions why, if "Falcon" is Doty, he didn't supply Moore and Pratt with proof in 1982, instead opting for a fiction novel route, which made the story harder to prove and potentially tainted later "leaked official documents." The author expresses confusion about the situation, where a fiction novel is based on "fact" which is based on fiction, and that fiction is later declared fact based on documents that seem to be based on fiction.

NEW ROSWELL DATA SURFACES

This section announces that a new military witness has contacted the publication with details about the transportation of Roswell wreckage and bodies from Roswell Army Air Field. This information supplements Case 10 in Leonard Stringfield's "UFO Crash/Retrievals: Is the Coverup Lid Lifting, Status Report V." The report is available for purchase. Additionally, an extract from the formerly-classified "Combined History, 509th Bomb Group and Roswell Army Air Field, July 1 - July 31, 1947" is reproduced. This extract details that the Office of Public Information was busy answering inquiries about a "flying disc" reported in possession of the 509th Bomb Group, which turned out to be a radar tracking balloon.

CAUS ON JAPANESE TELEVISION

On March 12, 1989, the editor and publisher of Just Cause were filmed for a documentary on UFO secrecy by Japan's Nippon Television Network. The documentary explored evidence for UFO cover-ups, including discussions on the 1950 FBI/Guy Hottel memo, the NSA affidavit, MJ-12, and the 1975 overflights. The director, Hidehiko Amemiya, has experience in investigative reports on UFOs. He noted that the Japanese government, like the U.S., does not publicly engage with UFO reports despite public interest. However, he mentioned that the government had recently released some UFO documentation.

MJ-12 IN JAPAN?

A CAUS correspondent, Mr. Josen Takano of Hakui City, Japan, forwarded a document alleged to be an official internal memorandum of the Defense Agency of Japan (DAJ). The memo, translated with assistance from Nippon TV crew members, is dated May 1, 1979, and is from OSI Mr. Yamada. It states that the U.S. Air Force has resumed collecting UFO information and data, at the CIA's request, possibly due to a UN Space Science Committee request. The real reason, however, is stated to be the recent discovery (April 26) of a crashed "Adamski-type" spaceship near the U.S.-Mexico border. The memo asks if there is a section specializing in UFO matters within the Japanese Self-Defense Air Force, and concludes that the UFO field will become sensational in the near future. Nippon TV's Hidehiko Amemiya confirmed the memo was on genuine stationery but could not verify its official status, and an attempt to trace Mr. Yamada failed. The publication notes the difficulty in translation and the reference to an "Adamski-type" craft, maintaining a questioning attitude.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "Just Cause" revolve around government secrecy, military involvement in UFO phenomena, and the role of media in shaping public perception. The editorial stance is critical of sensationalized media portrayals of UFOs, advocating for a more substantive approach to the subject. The publication champions the pursuit of truth and freedom of intellect, as evidenced by its support for Sgt. Clifford Stone's case. There is a strong emphasis on document analysis and investigative journalism, particularly concerning the MJ-12 controversy and historical UFO incidents like Roswell. The magazine also highlights international aspects of UFO research, as seen in the coverage of the Japanese government's stance and documentation.