SUBJECT: OPEN LETTER FROM BILL MOORE 12/88 FILE: UFO1879
WILLIAM L. MOORE PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH
ANTARES PUBLICATIONS; THE FAIR WITNESS PROJECT, INC.; "FOCUS"
SPECIALIZING IN UFOS, NEW AGE, METAPHYSICAL AND OCCULT RESEARCH
4219 WEST OLIVE AVE., SUITE #247, BURBANK, CA 91505
PHONE (213) 463-0542 (10 AM - 6 PM)
10 December 1988
AN OPEN LETTER FROM WILLIAM L. MOORE
I had hoped that it would never be necessary for me to write a
letter like this; however, in light of numerous allegations, rumors
and accusations presently being circulated about me and my work, and
in direct response to a vicious guilt-by-innuendo article on the
MJ-12 matter which I am reliably informed is currently being
prepared by CSICOP spokesman Kendrick Fr[a]zier in close concert
with Phil Klass, it seems appropriate to make some sort of statement
which will clear the air.
First of all, let me begin by stating for the record that I am not a
"forger", a "hoaxer", a "fabricator" or a "counterfeiter"; nor, to
the best of my knowledge, have I ever participated in any illegal or
un-American activity in connection with my more than eight-year
involvement with the MJ-12 controversy. Furthermore, to the best of
my knowledge and belief, none of my colleagues and associates has
participated in any such activities either.
Rumors circulating to the effect that I am some sort of government
agent or "disinformation" expert are totally false. In spite of
pronouncements made principally by John Lear and others associated
with him, I am not on the US Government's (or any other
government's) payroll. Nor did I enjoy any sort of "control
position" with respect to the recent "UFO Cover-up?...Live!"
television documentary.
Whether the MJ-12 and associated documents are authentic, and
indeed, whether the entire MJ-12 story has any truth to it at all
remains an entirely open question. I and my colleagues have
conducted our investigation into this matter in our own way and
essentially outside of the UFO-community at large. The information
which we have made available concerning this process has been
entirely in keeping with our own methods and objectives. What has
been withheld has been withheld for good reason. It is no secret
that many of you who read this letter have voiced strong objections
to the way things have been done. Some, having raised valid
questions which remain unanswered, have wrongly assumed that there
are no answers and have seen fit to vent their frustrations by
pointing an accusing finger. Others, perhaps seeing the controversy
surrounding MJ-12 as some sort of threat to their own stature as
self-styled "UFO experts", or "skeptics", have chosen the
convenience of dismissing the entire matter out-of-hand rather than
the prudence of withholding judgement until all of the facts are in.
To individuals in both of these rush-to-judgement groups, my advice
is simply be calm and be patient. We have every intention of getting
to the bottom of this matter, and we have every intention of making
a full and complete disclosure once this process is complete. Until
that time, I and my colleagues are going to continue to follow our
own counsel and to do things in our own way -- preferably with the
support of the UFO community, but if necessary without it. Once the
entire story comes out, it is our firm conviction that all of the
dark spots in this very strange picture puzzle will become clear and
we will all have answers to many of the questions which now exist
about the true nature of our government's involvement with the UFO
phenomenon.
Meanwhile, it seems completely inappropriate at this time for
members of the UFO community and skeptics alike to continue to
assail my methods or to cast aspersions upon my integrity and
honesty through grape-vine gossip and the typically half-baked,
poorly researched journalism of the Skeptical Inquirer. Equally
inappropriate is the continuing high level of sheer speculation
concerning the true identities of the two sources who appeared on
the "UFO Cover-up?...Live" show under the codenames "Falcon" and
"Condor". In the eight weeks since the airing of this show, the
controversy has grown to such outrageous proportions that, to date,
"Flacon" has been "reliably identified" as no less than three
different people and "Condor" as five! For obvious reasons, my
position continues to be one of "no comment" with respect to who ANY
of my sources might be.
Indeed, the identity of any or all of the TEN "inside" contacts I
and my colleagues have developed is ultimately of FAR LESS
IMPORTANCE than the fact that, to date, FOUR of them have agreed to
tell their story before members of Congress! As of this writing,
commitments are currently being sought from the others, and
negotiations are under way with two members of Congress who have
expressed an interest in the matter. If we are successful in these
efforts, then the entire matter of the credibility of sources and
the authenticity of documents will have been placed in a forum
entirely out of our hands, and the question of Bill Moore's, or
Jaime Shandera's, or Stan Friedman's motives, methods and
credibility will no longer be an issue. It is toward such an end
that we actively seek the unity and support of the entire UFO
community.
At the Washington, D.C. MUFON UFO Symposium in June of 1987, when we
first brought the essence of this matter to the attention of the UFO
community and the public, I asked for assistance and support from
anyone interested in helping us get to the bottom of it. Some of
you joined that effort-- most did not. Many of you remained
properly skeptical, and in so doing put the lie to oft repeated
charges of a few hard-line UFO-bashers that most UFOlogists are much
too gullible or credulous for their own good. Others, who disagreed
with our way of doing things and apparently saw us as some sort of
threat to the well-being of UFOlogy in general and themselves in
particular, saw fit to throw as many rocks in our direction as they
possibly could.
It is now time to put those emotions aside and pull together in an
effort to bring this matter to a conclusion. As Jerry Clark noted
in an International UFO Reporter editorial over a year ago, the
MJ-12 affair, unlike most other aspects of UFOlogy, is one where it
is possible to obtain answers-- one way or the other. If this
information is real and the sources providing it are bona fide, then
we have a major story on our hands. If, on the other hand, it turns
out to be some sort of eight-year-long, elaborate disinformation
scheme, or even an outright hoax, then we have an equally important
story of another type. In either case, the truth will ultimately be
made known and, once that happens, UFOlogy will go on. Petty
bickering and emotional tirades have no place in this search for the
truth, and they are unbecoming to a field of study which is well on
its way to becoming a recognized area of scientific and journalistic
endeavor. We have every intention of seeing our work through to its
conclusion, what your role will be in that process is entirely up to
you.
This letter, then, is intended as an olive branch from me and my
associates to you-- UFOlogist, skeptic and UFO-basher alike. Our
goal, like yours, is to ultimately get to the bottom of this very
important matter. It is our belief that progress towards this end
will be better served by a united effort than by continued
animosity. If you agree, please let me hear from you in the near
future.
Yours very truly,
{signed}
William L. Moore
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