Just Cause - 1996 03 - No 47 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: 47
Date: March-June 1996
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS)
Editor: Barry Greenwood

This issue of Just Cause, identified as Number 47, covers the period from March to June 1996. The magazine's address is Box 176, Stoneham, MA 02180, with rates of $15 US and $20 Foreign. The editor is Barry Greenwood.

New National Security Agency Release

The main focus of this issue is the release of 240 pages of UFO records by the National Security Agency (NSA). This release is a result of a lawsuit filed by CAUS against the NSA in 1980. The article details the breakdown of the released documents: 54 pages related to the lawsuit itself, and 186 pages not directly related to the lawsuit but predating 1980. The NSA's 21-page top-secret 'In Camera' affidavit from October 1980, which outlined reasons for withholding files, is also mentioned.

• The new release consists of:
• NSA: 104 pages (plus 54 pages of lawsuit data)
• Army Intelligence: 7 pages
• Defense Intelligence Agency: 75 pages

This brings the total pages available from the NSA to 104 out of 160 documents they claimed to have in 1980, and 82 pages from other agencies out of 79 originally identified. The article notes that while some goals of the CAUS suit may have been satisfied, an accurate percentage cannot be determined without knowing the total page numbers from the NSA.

Credit for this release is given to Richard Giordano of Massachusetts, an independent researcher who has a long history of investigating UFO phenomena and has worked with CAUS associates. The article highlights the lengthy and frustrating process of FOIA requests, detailing Giordano's initial request in June 1992 and the subsequent delays and interactions with NSA officials over several years.

Giordano's initial request was received on June 16, 1992. After months of no response, a phone call in November 1992 revealed a backlog of 477 requests, with his estimated to take six more months. Nine months later, in August 1993, the backlog had reduced, but still included UFO requests. Another year and two months passed, leading to a conversation in October 1994 where the 21-page NSA affidavit was being reviewed for declassification. After another year and a half, Giordano lodged an angry complaint letter, which resulted in a phone call on March 23, 1996, stating action was being taken. He was informed that the NSA maintained an updated UFO file, though recent information was not included in his release.

Interestingly, a February 3, 1992 release to another researcher included 15 pages of news stories from recent times stored on NSA computers, material not provided to Giordano. The article questions why this was withheld, suggesting it might be a bureaucratic foul-up.

The article also touches on the NSA's reasons for secrecy, as revealed in the affidavit, including a 'serious shortcoming' in communications intelligence interception and reporting procedures, with UFO phenomena used as an illustration of this technical problem.

Documents Released by Intelligence Agencies:

• Army Intelligence:
• IIR 2 727 1030 68, UFOs over China, 7-17-68.
• IIR 2 221 0123 70, UFOs over S. Korea, 1970.
• IIR 2 727 1227 68, UFOs over Taiwan Strait, 8-12-68.
• Report 2842074464, UFOs over China, 1960.

• Defense Intelligence Agency:
• Message 10-31-90, Swedish Radar Intelligence.
• IIR 1 856 0138 68, UFOs over Laos, 11-28-68.
• IIR 1 865 0011 67, UFOs over Morocco, 1967.
• IIR 5 804 0048 65, UFOs over Antarctica, 6-23-65.
• IIR 2 884 0188 67, Fallen Object, Saudi Arabia, 10-67.
• IIR 2 218 5506 67, UFO in USSR.
• Report 2217023564, UFO over E. Germany, 1963.
• IIR 1 369 0015 67, B. Cathie UFO Theories (file).
• IIR 1 345 0016 65, Fallen Object, Indonesia.
• IIR 1 842 9999 67, UFO over China, 1965.
• IIR 1 838 0030 67, UFO over Guatemala, 4-23-67.
• IIR 1 818 0201 66, UFOs over Taiwan, 7-10-66.
• IIR 1 817 0046 65, UFOs over Chile, 1965.
• IIR 6 846 0392 78, UFOs over Iran, 7-78.
• IIR 6 846 0380 78, UFO over Iran (photo), 1978.
• IIR 6 889 0174 74, UFOs over Spain, 1973-74.
• IIR 1 901 0007 68, Russian UFO Interest, 1968.
• IIR 1 900 0031 66, UFO in Uruguay, 4-8-66.
• IIR 1 817 0057 65, UFOs over Chile, 9-6-65.
• IIR 1 900 0079 65, UFOs over Uruguay, 1965.
• IIR 1 804 0123 68, UFOs over Argentina, 1968.
• IIR 1 865 0069 67, UFOs over Morocco, 4-67.
• IIR 1 309 0112 67, UFOs over Brazil, 1967.

• National Security Agency:
• Document: UFO Hypothesis and Survival Questions.
• Memo: Report on 1978 MUFON Conference.
• File: 1976 Iranian Jet Chase.
• Article: Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (no source).
• Document: Report Bibliography (various UFO publications from the U.S. government).
• Document: Exploitation Report: Fragment Metal Recovered in the Republic of the Congo.
• Document: Subject: UFOs (deletion).
• Document: Memorandum and Order (From NSA suit).
• File: Publicity on the NSA suit.
• Document: 21-page, top secret NSA affidavit.
• Document: UFO report (no source).
• Document: UFO report (assorted 1955), filed with the Northeast Air Command.
• Document: IR 4-58, UFOs over Panama.
• Document: IIR 5 366 0524 68, UFO over Cuba, 8-10-68.
• Document: Assorted State Department Airgrams on UFOs, 15 pgs.

The article notes that small amounts of the 21-page affidavit, previously censored, have now been made public. These do not explain UFOs but rather the NSA's reasons for withholding information, including a 'serious shortcoming' in communications intelligence and reporting procedures, for which UFO phenomena was used as an illustration.

Air Force Intelligence UFO Files Surface

This section discusses the surfacing of thousands of pages of UFO case files from the National Archives, related to the Air Force's 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron (AISS) during the mid-1950s. The 4602nd acted as an investigative arm for Project Blue Book, using intelligence personnel to investigate UFO reports. Their in-house records, including cases not sent to Blue Book, were not part of the National Archives' Blue Book holdings.

These documents were found through a search by Project 1947 coordinator Jan Aldrich. This information is considered raw material for statistical analysis of the 4602nd's investigations between 1954-56. The article highlights that some case write-ups are completely new, and at least two cases (Frederick, OK and Oklahoma City, OK) were listed in Blue Book as 'Case Missing.' The Frederick sighting had no investigation authorized by the 4602nd, yet specific details were included.

The article explains that 'Case Missing' listings in Blue Book often meant that the 4602nd had details but had forwarded only a line listing to Blue Book for statistical purposes. If an investigation was not authorized for reasons like lack of time or the report not being compelling enough, nothing else was sent. Indexers, finding only a summary card, would mark the case as missing.

Jan Aldrich's work is credited with accounting for some of Blue Book's missing reports, which is seen as an important development that may reduce 'paranoia index' on the matter.

Review: HIGH STRANGENESS-UFOS FROM 1960-1979

This section reviews Jerome Clark's third volume in his 'UFO Encyclopedia' series. The book, published by Omnigraphics, is priced at $95 and is described as being thick with information. The reviewer acknowledges the vast amount of research involved and notes that the book provides a reasonably balanced reporting of the UFO field between 1960 and 1979.

The reviewer states that the information in the book is as good as its publication date and found the volume to be up-to-date, not stilted, and unbiased in its case conclusions. Many case discussions are based on substantial inside information. Clark, described as a pro-UFO writer, is noted for resisting the temptation to attack UFO critics and for being critical himself at times. An example is his discussion of the Condon Report, where he quotes Allen Hynek asking for Condon's scientific recognition apart from the UFO study.

The review suggests that the encyclopedia might irritate some readers, with saucer critics finding it too favorable to UFOs and some UFO believers finding it too critical. However, the reviewer judges the book's value by how often one returns to it, and Clark's work is expected to keep the reader busy.

More on the 1949 General Mills Incident

Professor Charles Moore provides a response to a previous article about his UFO sighting in the 1949 General Mills Incident. He clarifies that the object he saw had sharp edges, not diffuse, and that while he couldn't get a 'hard focus,' the theodolite was likely in focus for his eyes. He recalls the object being yellowish in color and appearing to be in shadow. He also states he has no memory of a trail behind the object.

Notes

The 'Notes' section briefly mentions the movie 'Independence Day,' stating that while it generated media interest in UFOs, there was no evidence of an increase in actual UFO sightings. The movie is described as a standard alien invasion film, with the aliens depicted as unintelligent.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy surrounding UFO information, the effectiveness and frustrations of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process, and the historical investigation of UFO phenomena by various agencies. The editorial stance, as reflected in the content, is one of advocating for transparency and the release of information, while also acknowledging the complexities and bureaucratic hurdles involved. The magazine appears to support the efforts of independent researchers like Richard Giordano and highlights the importance of historical UFO documentation.