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From: Steven Kaeser <steve@konsulting.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 13:53:08 -0400
Fwd Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 22:58:47 -0400
Subject: UFORC response to Dr. Steven Greer


The UFO Research Coalition has responded to some of the comments that have
been posted to the Internet, and hopes to clarify some information that they
believe to be inaccurate.  This statement was received in hard copy, and I
have attempted to correct all of the OCR errors that it contained after
scanning it.  Please advise me of any obvious errors that need correction.

Comments and questions can be directed to Richard Hall, Chairman of the UFO
Research Coalition.  He may be reached via phone/fax at 301-779-8683.

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 statement=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

COMMENTS ON STEVEN GREER'S JUNE 3rd LETTER ON THE INTERNET
TO MICHAEL LINDEMANN

It is time to expose the egregious, self-serving and false remarks made by
Steven Greer on the Internet on June 3rd regarding the UFO Research
Coalition's (hereafter referred to as UFORC) Briefing Document and his
misguided reasons for distributing illegal pirated copies of it.  Following
is background information, fully documented, on a point by point basis, to
refute the false claims and accusations that Greer has written,

I. Greer Involvement with MRG and BSW Foundation: Plans and Proposals:

In September 1993, at the JY Ranch in Wyoming, Marie Galbraith (hereafter
referred to as MRG) was invited by Laurance Rockefeller (hereafter referred
to as LSR) to attend a small conference of eight UFO researchers convened
by the Human Potential Foundation to discuss various aspects of UFO
phenomena.  At that time, MRG was in no way involved in UFO matters or
research.  Greer, one of the participants, met MRG.

In the months to follow, Greer kept in touch with MRG and sent her several
unsolicited documents describing his organization, CSETI, and outlining an
effort to raise money for a grandiose plan called Project Starlight.

CSETI was described as "The Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial
Intelligence, the only worldwide organization dedicated to establishing
peaceful and sustainable relations with extraterrestrial life forms." Its
RMIT training programs promised to teach "how to initiate contact with ET's
and vector in their space craft".  CSETI investigation teams were described
as "having successfully made contact with extraterrestrial craft and guided
them into their immediate geographical area." The immodest claim was made
that "the unanticipated rate of success of these efforts suggests that
CSETI's ultimate plans to make contact with and put a human team aboard an
ET craft will soon be realized." Project Starlight was described as "a
one-year project to prepare the world for this first formal contact between
human beings and extraterrestrial intelligence=85 Completion of this Project
should occur by summer 1994, and preferably by the spring."

In his description of his relationship with MRG during this period, Greer
describes her as taking an immediate "keen interest" in his affairs.  Greer
translates his constant mailing of promotional material to MRG into her
wanting to have an active involvement with his plans.  He states:

"In the summer of 1993, I was invited to a meeting at Mr. Laurance
Rockefeller's JY Ranch =85 where I met Mrs. Marie (Bootsie) Galbraith.  I
shared with Ms. Galbraith and the others gathered there our plans=85 Mrs.
Galbraith indicated a keen interest in assisting with this effort."

In January 1994, Greer invited both MRG and LSR to a "Strategy Team"
meeting for Project Starlight at his home in Asheville, NC.  In the
paperwork sent to them, their names were already listed as part of the
CSETI Strategy Group, Core Strategy Section, without their previous
knowledge or permission.  Neither one attended this meeting.

In February 1994, Greer called MRG and asked her if she would arrange for
him to speak about UFOs to New Yorkers whom she thought might be interested
in knowing more, about the subject.  MRG was still not in any way involved
with UFO matters, but she was curious about Greer and UFOs.  She graciously
arranged the talk for him.  MRG's friends were given unsolicited fund
raising material.  One friend, Sandra Wright (then Houghton) embraced
Greer's ideas with fervor.  Later in May, MRG and Ms. Houghton went to a
CSETI RMIT in Colorado to see what Greer was up to.

In July 1994, a year and a half after she had met Greer at the JY Ranch
meeting, MRG was asked to undertake a major UFO research project by LSR, to
recommend funding for valid UFO\ETI investigation and to encourage
governments worldwide to open their files, At the suggestion of Ms.
Houghton, the project was placed under the "aegis" of the BSW Foundation,
her recently formed family foundation.  Although the LSR project was
carried out by MRG under the name of the BSW Foundation, Ms. Houghton had
minimal direct involvement with it.  The project was funded by LSR and was
carried out in an office, which had been previously rented by MRG for other
purposes.

From July to December 1994, MRG acquainted herself with the field of UFO
events, and the researchers investigating them, in the USA and in Europe.
Greer was only one of many researchers that MRG/LSR/BSW were interested in.
Greer was only one of many researchers who sent in proposals for funding.
While most applicants for funding call their applications "proposals",
Greer refers to his efforts as a "collaboration".  Greer calls his funding
proposals and presentation of plans as "consultation" and "strategic
input".  Moreover, Greer claims that from the moment he met MRG at the JY
ranch, a close involvement was set up.  Greer infers that for 2 years he
acted as her guide. (In fact, MRG "et al" did not begin the UFO project for
LSR until mid July 1994, and by the end of October 1995, Greer had ceased
communicating with her.) Greer writes:

"For nearly 2 years we collaborated on this matter, and CSETI continued to
provide consultation and strategic input=85 In the fall of 1995, some 2=
 years
after first providing the concept, title, strategy etc. to Mrs. Galbraith
et at,,"

Greer's CSETI Project Starlight proposals went through several changes
between December 1993 and December 1994.  Greer described grandiose plans
for the announcement of the imminent arrival of Ets: opening an office and
a central media center, briefings for government officials and press
worldwide, obtaining amnesty for government and military witnesses,
collecting the Best Available Evidence, etc.  These proposals had different
estimated time and cost frames varying from, six to eight months at
$250,000 - $500,000, to one year (with an international staff of 49 people
plus outside professionals) at $5,684,074!!  References to what the BAE
would consist of was put into three categories: Witnesses, Documents, and
Hard Evidence (Bodies, Metal).  More specifically, a December 31, 1993
Project Starlight Overview states:

"In descending order of desirability for the BAE: EBE tissue samples/slides
which would definitively establish the extraterrestrial origin of these
beings; significant artifacts of extraterrestrial origin; photos, movies or
videos of the above, or of intact Ets or EBEs; satellite, gun camera or
other photos, videos and movies of Ets on or near earth; genuine government
documents with substantial detail "

Aside from the fact that such conclusive evidence is impossible to produce,
it certainly bears no resemblance to anything in the UFORC Briefing=
 Document,

In January 1995, Greer asked MRG and Ms. Houghton if he could call a
meeting of his Core Strategy Team for Project Starlight in New York at Ms.
Houghton's apartment to discuss the creation of the "Starlight Coalition",
a new entity which was to one day include as many UFO groups and
researchers as possible in a united effort to bring UFO reality to the fore
worldwide.  The Director would be Steven Greer.  The apartment was made
available, but with the clear stipulation that this did not guarantee or
imply BSW (i.e. LSR) funding or endorsement in the future.

On January 30, 1995, Greer met with his group in New York.  Also present
were MRG and her assistant Ria Finazzo (to take minutes), Sandra Houghton,
and George Lamb from LSR's office.  After discussing the desired Coalition
creation, structure and funding, there was mention of a "BAE Summit", which
would cost $500,000, to present the collection of UFO\ETI evidence for a
briefing document.  There was also mention of a "Witness Summit" to gather
secret government witness testimony on video.  This was the only time Greer
met with "Galbraith et al" in New York. (Later, after much deliberation,
MRG and George Lamb decided that a modest grant, via the MRG project at the
BSW Foundation, should fund a small "Witness Gathering" in the coming
months, organized by Greer, in order to test what he could produce.)


II.	UFORC Involvement with MRG and BSW Foundation; Plans and Proposals:

In February 1995, MRG met with the heads of the newly created UFO Research
Coalition - Mark Rodeghier and George Eberhart (CUFOS), Richard Hall and
Don Berliner (FUFOR), and Walt Andrus and Tom Deuley (MUFON) - to discuss
proposals for funding.  It was decided to produce a full and serious
summary report on the case for UFO reality to be published privately in
1,000 copies and to be funded by LSR via the MRG project at BSW. (A
"Briefing Summary" had already been suggested by Don Berliner in November
1994 with an outline for evidence, investigations and conclusions, most of
which were incorporated into the final document.)

The document would be divided into four sections: Overview of the Problem;
best documented, worldwide and least controversial Case Histories since
1945; Quotations from prominent government and military officials,
astronauts and scientists, world wide; and Appendices with miscellaneous
useful information. (Between them, the members of UFORC have the largest
data bank of UFO material available in the world.)

Don Berliner was chosen to be the author. (Midway through the project,
Antonio Huneeus joined Berliner to help with some research and editing of
the document, MRG authored two pages on Government Secrecy and also served
as editor. (The time of preparation for the document was ten months, with
an additional two months for printing.  The total cost was under $50,000.)

III.	Greer's Claims of Credit for the UFORC Briefing Document:

Greer twists the truth to his own purpose when he states:

"In addition to my creating the title, concept, criteria and strategy for
the use of the BAE, I flew to New York to meet with Galbraith et al and
spent considerable time discussing specific cases to be selected for the=
 BAE."

First of all, Greer omits the real purpose of his one trip to New York to
meet with "Galbraith et al", i.e. the meeting with his core team on January
30th to discuss setting up the "Starlight Coalition".  There was absolutely
no discussion of "specific cases" for any BAE, and certainly not those
presented later in the UFORC document.  If he is referring here to his own
BAE (as described above), it would have been totally unacceptable for the
UFORC document.  If he is here referring to the UFORC BAE for their
briefing document, his alleged suggestions for "specific cases" would have
been given before the meeting between MRG and UFORC took place in February,
when UFORC first agreed among themselves to propose the briefing document
with non-controversial case histories. (The funding for this was later
approved by LSR.)

"Additionally, numerous hours were spent via long distance telephone
discussing the BAE with Mrs. Galbraith and in selecting specific cases to
be used"

If Greer is referring to his own BAE here, this make no sense because BSW
(i.e. LSR) was not funding or endorsing the BAE Summit of the Project
Starlight, nor the idea of a Starlight Coalition, and had only agreed to
fund instead a small "Witness Gathering".

If Greer is referring to the UFORC BAE, why would he want or try to butt in
on their business?  How can he in any way claim credit for a project
organized, written and researched by the UFORC team and funded by BSW (i.e.
LSR)?  Why would he try to interfere in a process being carried out by a
group who did not want to associate with him in any way?  Why does he claim
that MRG would give all his ideas to UFORC to carry out?  Why does he not
credit UFORC with ideas of their own?

How far does the imagination have to be stretched to give Greer the credit
for providing UFORC via MRG the specific cases for their briefing document?
Contrary to the written affidavits from Don Berliner and Antonio Huneeus
re their own work and the origin of their ideas and research for the
briefing document (which were sent to Greer over a year ago when he first
complained about MRG to LSR in a letter dated March 12, 1996), and contrary
to the many witnesses to events over this time frame and to in-house
documents, we have only Greer's misguided words to substantiate his claims.

Greer exaggerates and frequently misinterprets events.  Greer is known to
have evangelical ideas of his own "mission" and importance.  Does he
misconstrue the facts because he does not have time to check his
information, or simply because he misinterprets events and rearranges the
facts to suit his own illusions?

The methods and style of the two parties, Greer and UFORC, are totally
different.  Only their common purpose, to investigate and bring to light
the likely reality of UFO\ETI, is shared.  Their similar idea to write a
document to convince people can be understood in an analogy: hundreds of
people want to write cookbooks (not an original idea), but the ideas for
recipes vary widely.

Greer resolves all questions concerning his claim for the creation of the
title, concept, criteria and strategy for the UFORC Briefing Document by
sticking to his illusions:

"Mrs. Galbraith and the BSW Foundation... offered to take on the task of
writing the BAE. The BAE was to be a collection of Classic, if traditional,
UFO cases of strong evidential integrity.  It was decided that my efforts
should go into obtaining extraordinary evidence and deep cover first-hand
military and intelligence data and witness testimony."

Greer implies that MRG and BSW "offered" to do him a favor and would pay
for his now "classic" BAE ideas and inspirations to be written by others.
(Greer describes Berliner's and Huneeus's work elsewhere as "a mere
technical endeavor by paid writers"). Thus, with his own illusions neatly
intact, Greer comfortably fits himself with impunity into the picture,
still claiming control over MRG, still being her guide in UFO matters.  In
his own mind, he was the leader and MRG was always his follower.

Greer continued to apply his interpretation to their correspondence, on
witness matters and other matters, for a long while.  In a long letter
written to M.RG on September IO, Greer whined to MRG for her lack of input
to him:

"We must assure that a mutual, fair and equitable exchange of resources and
information occurs between our coalition and others.  The perception exists
that, to date, this has been primarily in one direction - yours=85 We have
received not one piece of evidence from you; no witnesses have been
introduced to us through you; no photographs, videos or documents have been
received; and no funding has been provided for our network and operations,
which are strained to the breaking point due to lack of support=85 There is
the sense that supports information, evidence, contact, etc. flow only in
your direction=85 For example, I was saddened to learn of your meeting with
Pamela Harriman through contacts we have in the French and US governments
and not from you directly."

Greer seems to misunderstand the function of the MRG project at the BSW
Foundation, namely to fund projects by different members of the UFO
community for serious research, which would benefit the entire community
effort.  As for the last comment, MRG's husband was US Ambassador to
France.  MRG meets people every day that Greer would like to know about.
She does not discuss UFOs with everyone she meets.

From February to October 1995, correspondence between MRG\BSW and Greer
focused on the subject of his collecting witness testimony to use to obtain
eventual government amnesty for all government witnesses and to make a
video one day to use as evidence.

MRG also kept Greer (and others) informed on the progress of the UFORC
Briefing Document. (MRG was in touch with researchers all over the world on
this and many other subjects.  She was hoping to have the Briefing Document
endorsed by some of them, but time was running out and this idea was
abandoned.)

The only example of a request sent to Greer by MRG concerning possible
evidence for the Briefing Document occurred in memos in late July and
August when she asked him to send her copies of material on pilot cases
(for Huneeus) which Richard Haines had sent him.  Haines understood from
Greer that he and BSW were joined at the hip, and assumed that Greer would
automatically forward his material to BSW.  MRG did write "perhaps we could
borrow them for a short period of time to see if we could summarize the
material and use it for a short presentation in our "Briefing Document".
The material was never sent.  UFORC also had these pilot cases, but they
were never used.

IV.	Funding of the UFORC Briefing Document:

Greer states:

"Mrs. Galbraith and the BSW Foundation, with funding assistance from Mr.
Rockefeller and others offered to take on the task of completing and
writing the BAE=85 I should point out that the principal of BSW (i.e. Sandra
Houghton), who provided significant funding (along with Mr. Rockefeller)
for the writing of the BAE=85 Notwithstanding the fact that BSW [as separate
from the LSR\MRG funding] partially funded the document=85 "

The funding for the UFORC document was taken care of totally by LSR, via
BSW. Ms. Houghton provided no funding for the UFORC document.  Greer makes
blatantly false statements here, which the LSR, BSW and UFORC bank accounts
can attest to.

V.	Copyright and Distribution of the UFORC Briefing Document:

Greer states desperately, using some capital letters:

"It was always the explicit and repeatedly stated intention of Mrs.
Galbraith, BSW, Mr. Rockefeller and CSETI to create a BAE which would be a
PUBLIC DOMAIN, NON-COPYRIGHTED DOCUMENT=85  In the fall of 1995=85  she=
 [MRG]
mailed me a NON-COPYRIGHTED Best Available Evidence document to be used for
briefing leaders=85  We SPECIFICALLY AND EXPLICITLY DISCUSSED THE USE OF=
 THIS
JOINTLY CREATED DOCUMENT AS A PERMANENTLY NON-COPY RIGHTED, PUBLIC DOMAIN
D0CUMENT=85"

Where is the proof of this?  Certainly the UFORC, LSR and MRG are unaware
of such intentions.  Again, there is only Greer's word against others.
Again, Greer is reinventing history.  An October draft of the Briefing
Document was sent to many members of the UFORC team and to some researchers
in the USA and in Europe for editing and comments.  Greer was also sent a
copy.  MRG never heard back from Greer.  Others were very helpful with
their comments.  This document was presented in draft form and not as a
final product.

There was no copyright page attached to the draft.  Present copyright law
(Federal Copyright Statute 17 U.S.C. # 405 (a), amended in 1989, and 17
U.S.C. #101 et seq. protects uncopyrighted drafts as well as the final
products that result from them.  The final copyrighted product,
Unidentified Flying Objects - Briefing Document, appeared in February 1996,
in bound form with a blue cover.  This was also duly sent to Greer.

As for Greer's concern for its free distribution in the public domain, free
use of some UFORC material was additionally provided.  An Executive
Summary, written by Dick Hall, and a Summary of Quotations were printed up
and handed out, free of copyright to any and all who desired to have it.
These could be copied and distributed by anyone free of charge, provided
the material was left as it was presented in the original.

Greer makes a final complaint concerning the distribution issue:

"=85 Mrs. Galbraith and the so-called UFO Research Coalition will not even
allow BSW to purchase copies of the document for free distribution to VIPs
and world leaders."

There are only a handful of the original UFORC Briefing Documents left, and
these are being tightly held by the UFORC for the moment for their own
choice of recipients.  Moreover, the UFORC has never desired in any way to
be associated with Greer, neither in the past and certainly not in e=
 present.

VI.	Mrs. Galbraith's Working Agreements and Arrangements:

Finally, Greer accuses MRG of several "violations":

"Mrs. Galbraith, in collaboration with the so-called and newly formed UFO
Research Coalition, attempted to seize this jointly created BAE, document,
copyright it, and restrict its use, in clear and reprehensible violation of
the spirit of how the document was created. In doing so, Mrs. Galbraith
violated our working agreement, and further violated her arrangement with
the founder and principal of BSW foundation=85"

What does it mean to "seize" one's own document?  What was the "working
agreement" between CSETI, MRG and the RSW Foundation?  Or the "arrangement"
between Ms. Houghton and MRG regarding the UFORC Briefing Document?  Are
there some written agreements and arrangements?  If so, let us see them.
If not, all we have is Greer's vague innuendo that he and Ms. Houghton have
been badly treated and misled.

On October 19, 1995, MRG wrote to Greer saying that the BSW wished to
continue to help him in some of his efforts which would benefit the entire
UFO community, but that she could not necessarily agree with his
interpretation of much of the UFO phenomena and that he must be "very
careful when using LSR's name that it is not associated with an assumed
approval of your interpretation of events." Greer never replied, All
correspondence ceased thereafter.

On December 15, 1995, MRG separated from the BSW Foundation, by a mutual
agreement with Ms. Houghton made months earlier, and she returned to
working as a consultant directly for LSR, as was the original intention.


VII.	Conclusion:

Greer claims that there are multiple witnesses and dated documents, which
support his facts.  It would be interesting to see them. The documents in
the hands of the UFORC, of which only a few are quoted here, tell a very
different story from the one Greer recounts.

Greer describes the actions of many of his fellow UFO researchers as
demonstrating "venal and destructive behavior" which occurs "out of malice
and jealousy".  Greer accuses Lindemann as having "failed to engage in due
diligence" in calling Greer "grossly dishonest".  He accuses MRG of
"treachery".  He lies about facts, which can be easily checked and proven,
such as the funding for the UFORC Briefing Document.  He has committed at
least two illegal acts by distributing (in the words of the copyright
lawyer) "a blatantly pirated copy of a document written by Don Berliner for
the UFORC." Aside from the copyright issue, he has violated the federal
Lanham Act 15 U.S.C. # 1125 (a) by using Berliner's name on the cover of
the so-called CSETI Project Starlight document.  Legal action is now being
taken against Greer by the UFORC.

Might we suggest to Greer that he follow the Bible's suggestion: "first
cast out the mote which is in thine own eye"!

To those who are familiar with the UFO "scene", Greer's behavior sounds
like that of a spoiled child who has not gotten his way, stamping his foot
in fury and frustration.  He has interpreted events to suit his aspirations
and illusions and seems unable to face the reality of being a small fish in
a big pond.  He continues to misrepresent and manipulate facts to flaunt
his own importance.  His arrogance can be seen in his typical comments
about himself and his work in his Internet letter:

His critics are described as those who:=20

"wish to derail the historic events and momentum of the CSETI Project
Starlight effort=85 these elements within the UFO community have chosen to
obstruct the process of world education on the subject=85"

"An historic gathering was convened in Washington, D-C, on April 9, 1997=85
Meanwhile historic and promising developments continue with the CSETI
Project Starlight disclosure Strategy."

A final quote from Greer's own writing might serve as advice to apply to
himself:

"The most, the best, we can do is to allow our individual, finite selves to
be at the service of a rapidly unfolding Plan, the Architect of which is
infinitely wise and skillful.  In a true sense, we need only to get out of
our own way, to forget self and follow guidance.  Even as it is said in the
Mathnavi, a mystical writing: 'The death of self is needed here, not
rhetoric: Be nothing, then, and walk Upon the waves.' When we die to self,
the Divine will shine through and guide us."

If Greer believes in what he writes and quotes above, and if he believes
that the common goal of awakening the world to the reality of UFO\ETI is
more important than his own ego, he would rejoice in any serious step that
moves forward towards achieving this goal.  To the man who wrote the words
above, a well-done Briefing Document, which is being offered to influential
members of the world community, should elicit his gratitude.  To such a man
it should not make any difference, whether or not he is the creator of it,
that his name was not attached to it.

Would the real Steven Greer please step forward?