JUST CAUSE

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: 28
Date: June 1991
Publisher: Lawrence Fawcett
Country: USA
Price: $15 US, $20 Foreign

This issue of JUST CAUSE features a detailed account of the experiences of Airman Simone Mendez, a former U.S. Air Force Telecommunications Specialist, in an article titled "AIRMAN MENDEZ VS THE BUREAUCRACY - A CASE OF UFO 'ESPIONAGE'" (Page 1).

Airman Mendez vs The Bureaucracy - A Case of UFO "Espionage"

The article details Simone Mendez's career in the Air Force, her lifelong interest in UFOs, and a pivotal event in October 1981. While stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, she was given a Top Secret message by a colleague, Airman Green (pseudonym), which reported that NORAD had detected a group of unknown objects entering Earth's vicinity from deep space and heading towards the Soviet Union. The message indicated the objects hovered near Moscow for over an hour.

Mendez, who had a "Top Secret" clearance and worked with high-security telecommunications equipment, was fascinated by the message, seeing it as confirmation of her belief in UFOs. However, her possession of this classified document, which she held onto for weeks, led to a severe investigation.

Initially, she confided in two acquaintances, George and Marsha, who were also UFO enthusiasts. The situation escalated when Airman Green's girlfriend, Mary, urged her to return the document, suggesting it might be false. Upon returning the document, Mendez was confronted by an FBI agent, Agent Miller, who questioned her intensely about the origin of the document and whether she was a spy.

The investigation subjected Mendez to extensive grilling, leading to her hospitalization for depression. She underwent multiple polygraph tests over several months, which were initially deemed inconclusive due to her stress and anxiety, causing her to flunk them. The OSI and FBI repeatedly threatened her with espionage charges and long-term imprisonment, jeopardizing her military career.

Despite the emotional and psychological toll, Mendez eventually passed a final polygraph test on June 10, 1982. The official case was closed in early July 1982. However, the ordeal left her with lasting scars, including the loss of her position at the message center and a redirection of her career to less sensitive roles. The article notes that the incident continued to follow her throughout her Air Force career.

The article includes commendations for Airman Mendez's performance, including a "Letter of Appreciation" dated March 19, 1984, and an "Award of the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Force Good Conduct Medal" dated July 20, 1987. These documents highlight her dedication, expertise, and exemplary conduct, contrasting sharply with the espionage accusations she faced.

The narrative concludes by posing the question of whether the document was real or not, suggesting that further events would help Mendez answer this, hinting at a "dramatic discovery" to come in "Part Two."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on UFO phenomena, government secrecy, and the potential for cover-ups. The detailed account of Simone Mendez's case suggests an editorial stance that is critical of bureaucratic overreach and supportive of individuals who encounter unexplained phenomena and face official scrutiny. The publication seems to champion the idea that UFOs are real and that governments may be involved in concealing information about them. The article highlights the personal cost of such encounters and investigations, emphasizing the psychological impact on individuals caught in these situations.