Just Cause - 1991 12 - No 30 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: Number 30
Date: December 1991
Publisher: Lawrence Fawcett
Editor: Barry Greenwood
Address: CAUS, P.O. Box 218, Coventry, Ct. 06238
Rates: $15 US, $20 Foreign

This issue of "Just Cause" focuses heavily on the theme of "Document Fakery" within the UFO community, exploring how the proliferation of hoaxes and questionable documents impacts legitimate research and the credibility of UFOlogy. It critiques the government's handling of UFO information and provides an overview of agency stances on the subject.

Document Fakery

The lead article, "Document Fakery," addresses the concern that hoaxes, particularly the MJ-12 incident, have negatively affected legitimate UFO document research. Prior to MJ-12, genuine government documents or plausible rumors from credible sources were the primary forms of inside information. The article distinguishes between plausible events, like radar-tracking incidents, and less plausible ones, such as alien abductions. It acknowledges that federal agencies can release fake documents, but emphasizes that evidence is the moderating factor. Hoaxed information was typically clumsy and did not significantly impact the UFO controversy. The article notes that while some FOIA-released documents have faced scrutiny due to new information, the MJ-12 documents were particularly sophisticated fakes that required significant effort to debunk. The realization is that government UFO document research has been damaged by the uncritical support of "UFO experts" for questionable documents, making it harder to prove serious government interest in UFOs. The MJ-12 hoax serves as a perpetual counter-argument against any sensational documentation.

The publication has developed a policy requiring UFO documents to come from certifiable government sources, officially endorsed in writing. Photocopies of government documents are common but easily concocted, and false text can be laid over legitimate letters. Such documents are not acceptable as evidence unless a genuine original exists. Extreme care is advised when dealing with UFO evidence.

A specific example of a hoax is presented as Figure One: a letter allegedly from a professor at the University of Chicago verifying studies on alien bodies. A check revealed the professor never wrote the letter, and examination showed evidence of false text laid over a genuine signature. The hoax was not highly sophisticated, with white-out potentially revealing the false text.

Another example discussed is "THE AQUA BLUE SCRAMBLE" (Figure Two), an alleged government paper from the November 8, 1990, Gulf Breeze Sentinel, concerning UFO reports in northwest Florida. Sent by Edward Witkowski, it was supposedly leaked on February 28, 1990, and reprinted by UFO periodicals without verification. The article criticizes the document for being suspect due to its leaked nature, lacking a cover letter or confirmed source. It points out misplaced security markings, spelling errors (e.g., "Febuary," "verticle," "aquired"), and the absence of a source identification. The report's classification as "sensitive" is questioned, as is the use of a non-governmental dating style similar to that in the MJ-12 briefing. The author notes the UFO community's tendency to regard information as genuine until proven fraudulent, making it difficult to prove sources, especially for anonymously mailed documents.

Government Agency Stances on UFOs

Status Report of Current Agency Opinions on UFOs details the government's public stance on UFOs in 1991, twenty-two years after the closure of Project Blue Book. Agencies continue to receive inquiries, but the pace of document releases has slowed dramatically.

• U.S. Air Force: Fact sheets refer to Project Blue Book conclusions and state that all UFO data is stored at the National Archives. Information obtained after 1970 via FOIA, including the 1975 overflights and a 1700-page intelligence file, is not mentioned. The public is led to believe only pre-1970 documents exist.
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA claims its official interest in UFOs ended in the 1950s. Available UFO papers are primarily from a 1979 lawsuit, totaling nearly 900 pages, few of which are dramatic. Recent releases of Foreign Broadcast Information Service transcripts are not mentioned in public responses. The CIA was allowed to withhold 57 documents in the 1979 lawsuit.
• National Security Agency (NSA): The NSA acknowledges 156 UFO documents it will not release. FOIA requests often incur a $250 search fee, after which no documents may be released. Only a small number of UFO papers are available from the NSA.
• NORAD: NORAD will not honor FOIA requests for UFO data, declaring itself exempt as an "international agency" (cooperative with Canada). It could be a source for tracking information on overflying unknowns but is immune to public pressure.
• NASA: NASA released a few documents in 1977, primarily related to President Carter's attempt to reopen UFO investigations, which NASA refused. A 1990 letter from NASA's Brian Dunbar stated that investigations concluded most sightings were faked, with few interesting events pointing to terrestrial explanations. NASA claims its public involvement was at President Carter's request and that while it wouldn't ignore legitimate physical evidence, none has been presented. Isolated instances of NASA studying UFO incidents are known, such as X-15 pilots filming objects in 1962, which NASA dismissed as ice flakes. Recent inquiries about these incidents have been met with "amnesia."

A side issue involves a claim by UFO investigator Robert Oeschler that NASA was to be involved in an exhibit promoting UFOs and extraterrestrial life, featuring an alien corpse. This information, detailed in Timothy Good's book "ALIEN LIAISON," was investigated by Dr. Armen Victorian, who reportedly refuted Oeschler's claims with documented evidence.

The issue concludes that the government's public UFO stance is not encouraging to UFO faithful and significant changes are unlikely unless major UFO news coverage warrants it.

UFO Crash at Roswell

The article "UFO CRASH AT ROSWELL" discusses the publication's tough stance on claims of crashed UFOs and alien bodies, requiring physical artifacts or indisputable official documentation. While acknowledging the compelling nature of anecdotal evidence, it stresses that such information remains circumstantial.

The Roswell Incident is described as the most debated UFO crash story. It gained attention in the 1970s when Major Jesse Marcel, a former Roswell Army Air Field intelligence officer, reported finding wreckage of an unknown flying object and a subsequent military cover-up. The article notes that individuals like Marcel were part of the military infrastructure, making their reports significant.

Indisputable facts include that something crashed and was recovered, verified by press coverage, and that the government changed its story about the object's nature. However, very little government documentation exists for researchers.

UFO researchers Don Schmitt and Kevin Randle are credited with a detailed investigation in their book "UFO CRASH AT ROSWELL." The article praises their effort in locating witnesses and documenting government actions, presenting a circumstantial case for a mystery. It questions the discrepancy between the official explanation (a balloon-borne radar target device) and witness statements.

From CAUS's perspective, the lack of government documentation for the Roswell incident is puzzling. If it were a spaceship, classification would explain the lack of records. However, even if it were a mundane object, the scarcity of official papers is bothersome, especially for such a high-profile event.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of evidence, the importance of document authenticity, and the skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims within the UFO community. The editorial stance is one of rigorous investigation, demanding verifiable proof and official documentation, while acknowledging the significance of credible witness testimony. The publication clearly aims to uphold the credibility of UFO research by actively debunking hoaxes and exposing misinformation, urging researchers to be diligent in combating the dissemination of false information. There is a consistent emphasis on the need for transparency from government agencies regarding UFO-related data. The issue advocates for patience and continued vigilance in the pursuit of UFO truth.