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From: tarl@sw.stratus.com (Tarl Neustaedter)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: The USF.
Message-ID: <6213@lectroid.sw.stratus.com>
Date: 18 Jun 91 23:32:28 GMT
References: <15060EB320203F33@semassu.edu>
Sender: usenet@lectroid.sw.stratus.com
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
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I've asked the same questions, both in email and in postings to this group.
I've gotten snotty replies with no information and been ignored. I quote:
"My time is too important to waste on the likes of you :-I". Someone else
managed to provoke some real vitriol out of the USF, posted to this group.
I've done some checking and found out the following facts:

	1) The postmaster at cornell does not know the USF from adam, and
	   Rick Dobson doesn't show up on her lists of Faculty, Staff or
	   students. I don't know this is a psuedonym.

	2) The only official-sounding name on his list of participants is
	   Francois Spiero, listed as representing the European Space Agency.
	   He doesn't, his participation is personal; The USF has (I quote)
	   "absolutely no link with ESA whatsoever". Mr. Dobson, a disclaimer
	   is needed here. I suspect the same applies for a few others.

Given that this group is arrogating to itself the authority to "draft and
enforce international space law", I think detailed scrutiny of the current
organization, it's funding and official backing, is very much in order. Any
law-writing/enforcement organization needs continual monitoring of who and
what controls it; sources of funding are the primary means of such monitoring.

The organization is either a joke, or an extreme danger to all of us due to
the nature of the current "executive director" (who regards "people like me"
as beneath his notice, and responds to queries about funding with vitriol and
paranoia). If someone knows how to go about forcing this information out of
the USF, I'd appreciate it.

USF members, if you don't have the above information, think twice about
allowing your name to be used in public postings. You might also ask your
employers if they mind their name being used in these postings (without
disclaimers, take note). And I'd appreciate it if you send me any of the
information I've asked for, that you have. Your director won't.
-- 
         Tarl Neustaedter	tarl@vos.stratus.com
         Marlboro, Mass.	Stratus Computer
Disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for my opinions.