Just Cause - Vol 1 Issue 10 - Old Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: VOL.1-NO.10
Date: June 1980
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of Just Cause delves into the persistent controversy surrounding President Jimmy Carter's alleged campaign promise to release all official UFO information to the public and scientists. The magazine details the ongoing legal battles waged by CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) to obtain classified UFO documents from government agencies, particularly the National Security Agency (NSA), which cites national security as a reason for withholding them.

Carter's Broken Promise - II

The lead article, "Carter's Broken Promise - II" by Larry W. Bryant, addresses reader responses to a previous article about President Carter's alleged pledge. A researcher from the West Coast questions the existence of this pledge, citing an interview where Carter stated he would make information available but also expressed reservations about releasing data related to secret experiments or national security. The researcher argues that a passing comment in a press conference cannot be considered a pledge and that releasing all UFO data could impact national security. CAUS, however, maintains that the collective belief that Carter made the pledge is significant, especially since it was never denied.

To clarify the issue, CAUS sent a letter to President Carter on December 19, 1979, posing two questions: the exact wording of the alleged promise and whether his administration had fulfilled it. The response, received from Daniel M. Chew, Director of Presidential Correspondence, indicated that the letter would be forwarded to the Department of Defense. Chew also noted that President Carter had inquired with NASA about reopening UFO investigations, but NASA reported that such investigations were not warranted without credible evidence, though they would reconsider if such evidence emerged.

Bryant expresses surprise that the letter was forwarded to the Air Force rather than NASA. He outlines a presumed White House mailroom procedure: inquiries about UFO secrecy go to the Air Force, while technical or scientific aspects go to NASA. The Air Force, through Col. F. W. Hausmann, responded with a form letter stating that Project Blue Book documents are available at the National Archives and that the Air Force has no information being withheld. They also indicated that further UFO investigation by the Department of Defense was unlikely due to resource constraints and the lack of presented evidence.

The Machinery for UFO-Correspondence Referral

This section details the bureaucratic process of handling UFO-related inquiries. CAUS's letter to President Carter was initially expected to go to NASA but was instead sent to the Department of Defense, and subsequently to the Air Force. The article highlights a perceived SOP where secrecy-related inquiries are directed to the Air Force, and technical/scientific ones to NASA. The Air Force's response, as detailed by Col. F. W. Hausmann, essentially stated that all relevant documents from Project Blue Book are in the public domain and that no further investigation is warranted or likely.

A Presidential Finger Still in the Pie?

This section discusses another instance of a form-letter response from the White House, this time to CAUS member Richard W. Heiden. The response, from Daniel M. Chew, referenced a NASA Information Sheet (No. 78-17) which stated that without tangible evidence, another full-scale investigation like Project Blue Book was not deemed necessary. NASA officials, however, maintained an open mind. The article concludes this section by noting that regardless of how Carter's promise is perceived, its impact on UFOlogy will linger, and he still has an opportunity to revive the promise and demonstrate a commitment to objective governmental treatment of the UFO enigma.

CAUS Files For Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court

This article details CAUS's legal actions to obtain UFO documents. CAUS has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for a 'writ of certiorari' to review the decisions of lower courts that favored the National Security Agency. The NSA claims that releasing documents would compromise its intelligence-gathering techniques. CAUS argues that if UFOs don't exist, the government has nothing to hide, and if they do, the public has a right to know. The organization is also facing challenges with fee waivers for document searches from agencies like the CIA and State Department, which could lead to further lawsuits.

The article also mentions a pending lawsuit against the Air Force concerning withheld documents related to radar tracks of unknowns in 1975. Additionally, the State Department has acknowledged withholding four previously unreported documents, one of which is entirely withheld, prompting an appeal from CAUS.

Washington News Conference Provides Perspective

This section reports on a CAUS news conference in Washington D.C. where attorney Peter Gersten presented the organization's case. Gersten argued that the government must be honest about official UFO documentation and use its resources to reveal the nature of UFOs. He tied this to the government's handling of UFO fly-overs at military installations in 1975. Dr. Bruce S. Maccabbee, an optical physicist, provided a backgrounder on the 1975 incidents. A surprise witness, a former Air Force sergeant named Stephen B. Eichner, countered the Air Force's explanation of 'unknown helicopters' at Loring AFB, describing a football-shaped object. Gersten criticized the government's 'isolated-incident' approach to UFO encounters, stating that national security is at stake and that citizens are losing confidence in government authorities.

UFOs? What UFOs? Records? What records?

By Ward Sinclair, Washington Post. This article focuses on the legal battle between CAUS and the National Security Agency (NSA) over 131 secret documents related to UFOs. The NSA is refusing to release these documents, citing that their disclosure could compromise global electronic snooping and code-breaking techniques. CAUS argues that if UFOs don't exist, there's nothing to hide, and if they do, the public has a right to know. The article mentions previous releases of Air Force and CIA reports on UFO sightings that had no national security implications, obtained through Freedom of Information Act suits. It also details the 1975 sightings over northern US military installations and the case of Stephen B. Eichner, a former Air Force sergeant who witnessed a strange object over Loring Air Force Base.

Local News

This section provides updates on local UFO groups and events. The Northern Ohio UFO Group (NOUFOG) is mentioned with its board of directors and upcoming meetings. NOUFOG meetings feature lectures on UFO contactees, films, and discussions of UFO sightings. Full and Associate Memberships are available, which include receiving the 'UFO JOURNAL'. A weekly radio show, "UFO JOURNAL" on FM radio WBWC, is also highlighted, featuring interviews and call-in questions.

The 19th Annual National UFO Conference, sponsored by the 'UFO JOURNAL' and UAPA, is announced, scheduled for May 29, 1982, in Parma, Ohio. Featured speakers include prominent figures in the UFO community. Tickets for the conference will be available at the March NOUFOG meeting at a special pre-convention discount price.

The Fund for UFO Research

This article introduces the newly established Fund for UFO Research, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to serious UFO research. The Fund, incorporated in Washington D.C., aims to provide fiscal management for UFO research proposals, including those related to the Freedom of Information Act and legal activism. They invite proposals and offer guidelines for submission. The article also notes that the Fund will work with CAUS on proposals concerning UFO secrecy policies, helping to define terms and improve proposal articulation.

A Note on the Future of Just Cause

This note explains that the current issue of Just Cause is an effort to fulfill outstanding subscriptions due to unresolved financial aspects with a leading UFO-research organization that was to acquire CAUS's mailing list. Negotiations have been suspended. The magazine will attempt to publish future issues as resources allow, but new subscription orders have ceased. Back issues are available for sale as xerographic copies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around government transparency, particularly concerning UFO information, and the persistent efforts of organizations like CAUS to uncover and disseminate such data. There is a strong emphasis on the legal and bureaucratic hurdles faced when trying to access classified documents through the Freedom of Information Act. The magazine also highlights the public's interest in UFOs and the perceived lack of serious governmental engagement with the phenomenon. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of greater openness and accountability from government agencies regarding UFOs, advocating for the public's right to know and for thorough investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena.