Just Cause - Vol 1 Issue 09 - Old Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: Vol. 1 - No. 9
Date: December 1979
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS)
Country: U.S.A.
Focus: UFOlogy, Government Secrecy, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

A Primer on UFOlogy as a Public Issue

This section introduces newcomers to the political landscape of UFOlogy, suggesting two recent media events for a capsule explanation. The first is the publication of Patrick Huyghe's article in The New York Times Magazine (October 14, 1979), titled "UFO Files: The Untold Story." This article reportedly traces the growing credibility gap between what the U.S. Federal Government secretly collects and evaluates on UFOs and what it publicly acknowledges, suggesting a deliberate, continuous UFO-data coverup by agencies like the CIA, FBI, NSA, military departments, Department of Defense, and the State Department. The article's publication in a major publication like The New York Times is seen as a milestone for investigative UFOlogy.

The second event highlighted is a press conference held by CAUS legal director Peter A. Gersten in Bronx, New York, on October 25, 1979. This conference aimed to publicize recent developments in the litigation of Ground Saucer Watch, Inc. Vs. CIA, and to announce plans for CAUS to file FOIA lawsuits against the NSA and the Department of the Air Force. The goal is to address concerns that the government's apparent mishandling of UFO data could endanger the national interest. Gersten distributed a press kit containing selected government documents obtained via FOIA actions, including an NSA 1968 monograph titled "UFO Hypothesis and Survival Questions."

Call for National Convocation on UFO Secrecy

A CAUS member from the Washington, D.C. area proposed a coalition of UFO research groups to sponsor a day-long National Convocation on UFO Secrecy in Washington, D.C. This event would coincide with the anniversary of the amended U.S. Freedom of Information Act. The convocation's objectives include:

• Fostering open public discussion on the policies and practices of Federal, State, and local agencies in perpetuating official UFO secrecy. This would involve speakers on UFO secrecy and news management, a panel of experts, and the publication of the proceedings.
• Providing a secure forum for witnesses of officially suppressed UFO data to share their testimony without fear of retribution. This could include confessions of UFO secrecy by past participants in official UFO research and the coming forward of principals involved in cases of alleged retrieval or storage of "crashed saucers."
• Formulating direction and plans for an aggressive campaign to end UFO secrecy and coordinate the release of heretofore secret UFO data from U.S. and foreign governments. This could involve workshops on using the FOIA and forming a lobbying corps for legislative reform.

Managing the Project

This section outlines the requirements for undertaking such a large-scale project, emphasizing the need for thorough planning, sound management, adequate funding, and dedicated hard work from volunteers. It poses a question to readers about their interest in becoming the Project Manager or joining the cadre of planners and coordinators necessary for developing and executing the project, inviting them to send their names and qualifications to CAUS headquarters.

Foreign Forum

This section notes that official UFO secrecy is not confined to North America, as evidenced by foreign UFO journals. It mentions that in totalitarian nations, secrecy is inherent, but even in the U.S., UFO secrecy was once a closely guarded fact. CAUS correspondents in Spain acknowledge their government's poor record in fostering the free flow of UFO data. Jose Carlos Fernandez Garcia, president of Spain's Instituto Reusense de Investigacion Ufologica, expresses solidarity with CAUS's efforts to plan for the dissemination of UFO information, highlighting the risks associated with a lack of information and the attitudes taken by many countries regarding the submission of UFO-related objects.

The Mexican Connection

This part discusses a potential UFO data "powder keg" in Mexico. Mexican embassy officials in Washington, D.C., have reportedly ignored CAUS inquiries about Mexico's role in the U.S.-led recovery of an alleged flying saucer that crash-landed on Mexican soil on December 8, 1950. UFO researcher W. Todd Zechel suggests that the U.S. military recovery team from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, may have misled the Mexicans into believing the saucer was merely an experimental American craft, thus claiming it as U.S. property. Speculation arises that Mexican officials might be embarrassed by this intelligence scoop or are complicit in a U.S.-engineered conspiracy to suppress data about the recovery mission. CAUS researchers are pursuing other avenues to uncover information about this case and other UFO data from Mexico.

A Note to Canadian Causians

This brief note mentions a Canada-based UFO researcher investigating alleged European retrievals of UFO hardware and/or software. CAUS plans to pursue the secrecy aspect of these incidents and commends their Canadian counterparts.

Carter's Broken Promise

This article by Larry W. Bryant discusses President Jimmy Carter's perceived failure to fulfill his campaign promise to make "every piece of information this country has about UFO sightings available to the public and the scientists." The author suggests that Carter may have accepted the out-of-hand answers of his intelligence advisors regarding the UFO controversy. The article notes that the President's reneging on this promise has left a significant portion of the electorate disillusioned. It questions whether any UFO-oriented citizen truly expected Carter to prioritize UFOlogy, given the history of previous presidents dodging the issue.

The Pulse of Disillusionment

This section presents excerpts from letters sent by citizens to President Carter regarding UFOs. The letters come from diverse backgrounds and express a common message of concern and a desire for transparency. Key themes in the letters include:

• A direct question to the President about honoring his campaign promise to make UFO information available.
• Surprise and concern about a reported upcoming disclosure of "astounding and surprising" UFO information by the President, questioning its source (e.g., Project Blue Book).
• A plea from a long-time UFO observer to make all government information about UFOs publicly available, including details about who is investigating them, suggesting that while the USAF officially ceased investigations in 1969, other agencies, possibly a special branch of the CIA, may be covertly involved and harassing witnesses.
• A letter from a self-proclaimed skeptic who became convinced of the reality of UFOs and alien spacecraft through reading and personal sightings. This writer expresses belief in government cover-ups, particularly by the Air Force, and states that the Air Force has allegedly threatened individuals with good evidence not to talk to the press. The writer urges the President to release all UFO information, believing the public has the right to know and that Americans are not easily panicked.
• A letter expressing frustration with the Secretary of the Air Force's form-letter responses to inquiries, which dismiss advice and support, leading to a disinclination to trust the government.

Editorial: The Crashed Saucer Secret: How We're Getting It - Why We'll Tell It

Larry W. Bryant's editorial addresses the implications of the U.S. Government's actions regarding the publication of information from unclassified sources, particularly in the context of "The Progressive Magazine" case. It raises questions about potential government intervention in UFOlogy media's efforts to publicize facts and myths surrounding the retrieval and storage of downed UFO hardware and occupants by U.S. officials.

The editorial highlights Leonard Stringfield, a specialist in "crashed saucers," who meticulously documents evidence. It acknowledges the challenges Stringfield faces, including fruitless leads, personal sacrifices, frustration, and abuse from those who resent his work or leadership role. It also notes the exposure of his interim reports to critical scrutiny from other researchers and media analysts.

The editorial emphasizes the importance of a citizen's right to know and the need to protect this right from unwarranted governmental intrusion. It advises readers to enlist the aid of public-interest groups like CAUS and the American Civil Liberties Union for legal advice and to utilize widespread publicity as a weapon against unconstitutional government actions. The piece concludes by encouraging citizens to remain strong in their position to withstand unwarranted government control and to persevere in their efforts to be conduits of information from reticent sources.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "JUST CAUSE" revolve around government secrecy concerning UFO phenomena, the importance of public access to information, and the role of organizations like CAUS in advocating for transparency. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of declassifying UFO-related data and empowering citizens to demand accountability from government agencies. The publication champions the use of the Freedom of Information Act as a primary tool for uncovering hidden information and encourages active participation from its readership in these efforts.