On October 5, 1982, Dr. Brian Clifford of the Pentagon announced that contact between US citizens and extra-terrestrials or their vehicles is stricly illegal. According to a law already on the books (Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations, adopted July 16, 1969), anyone guilty of such contact automatically becomes a criminal and may be jailed for one year and fined up to $5000.

The NASA administrator is empowered to determine, with or without a hearing, that a person or object has been exposed to an extraterrestrial and impose an indeterminate quarantine under armed guard, which can not be broken even by court order. This legislation was buried in the 12111 subsection of the 14th section oa a batch of regulations very few members of government have bothered to read in its entirety -- and slipped stealthily into the books with little or no public debate.

The excuse offered by NASA is that extra-terrestrials might have a virus that could wipe out the human race. Certainly a possibility, but it would seem there is probably another reason: the silencing of witnesses. According to NASA spokesman Fletcher Reel, the law as it stands is not immediately applicable, but in case of need could quickly be made applicable. What this means is that it is ambiguously worded, so that it can be interpreted as the government desires.

This press conference with Dr. Clifford was held during the period when the popularity of the film E.T. was at its peak. Perhaps the portrayal of benevolent and cute aliens goes against the grain of those who would like to propagate fear. ":V" and Independence Day feature the militaristic, xenophobic approach to contact aliens. And the military and arms dealers may someday need a new venue -- space.

What I'd like to know is why they actually bothered to write and enact such a regulation, if extraterrestrial contact or sightings are all hoaxes. Or are they just preparing for the inevitable? And whose interests do these laws protect? And whatever happened to the Constitution?