Does clearance make Lacatski's claims stronger?

Introduction

A common argument in favour of James Lacatski’s UFO-related books is that they were reviewed and cleared for public release through government prepublication procedures. For some readers, that fact appears to add official weight to the books’ most dramatic claims. However, the key question is not whether the books were cleared, but what that clearance actually means.

In credibility terms, prepublication review is a security process, not a truth-verification process. A book can pass review because it contains no classified information that reviewers believe should remain protected, while still containing interpretations, allegations, memories, opinions, or extraordinary claims that the government has not independently confirmed. Understanding this distinction is essential when assessing Lacatski’s credibility and the evidential value of his published accounts. [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review… [Defense Intelligence Agency]dia.milDefense Intelligence AgencyPrePublication ReviewThe prepublication review process ensures that information proposed for public release co…

Does clearance make Lacatski’s claims stronger?

The fact that Lacatski’s books underwent review is not meaningless. It does provide some information.

First, it suggests that the authors took their obligations as current or former government personnel seriously enough to submit material for review where required. Second, it indicates that reviewers did not identify information that they believed should remain classified or otherwise protected from public release. [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review… [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review…

However, that is a much narrower conclusion than many readers assume.

Promotional material for Skinwalkers at the Pentagon prominently states that the book was reviewed by the U.S. Department of Defense and “cleared for public release”. Supporters often cite this wording when arguing that the book contains information that the government has effectively acknowledged. [Amazon]amazon.nlAmazonSkinwalkers at the Pentagon: An Insiders' Account of…Skinwalkers at the Pentagon has been reviewed by the U.S. Department of Def…

The problem is that clearance and validation are different things. A manuscript can be approved for release because it does not disclose protected information even if reviewers never investigated whether its central claims are factually correct. The existence of a review process does not automatically transform author testimony into independently verified evidence. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsDirector of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose… [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review…

What prepublication review actually checks

The official purpose of Department of Defense and Intelligence Community prepublication review is relatively straightforward: prevent the unauthorised disclosure of classified, protected, or otherwise sensitive information obtained through government service. Reviewers examine manuscripts for security concerns, not as academic peer reviewers or investigative fact-checkers. [sgp.fas.org]sgp.fas.orgReviewing the Work of CIA AuthorsThe sole purpose of prepublication review is to assist authors in avoiding inadvertent disclosure of cla… [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review… [Defense Intelligence Agency]dia.milDefense Intelligence AgencyPrePublication ReviewThe prepublication review process ensures that information proposed for public release co…

In practice, reviewers may ask for edits, deletions, or clarifications if material appears to reveal classified information. They are not generally tasked with determining whether a witness’s recollection is accurate, whether a conclusion is scientifically justified, or whether a controversial interpretation is ultimately true. [sgp.fas.org]sgp.fas.orgReviewing the Work of CIA AuthorsThe sole purpose of prepublication review is to assist authors in avoiding inadvertent disclosure of cla… [Default]Lawfarea step in the right direction for prepublication reviewgovernment requires that current and former U.S. government officials who have or had TS/SCI clearance submit their writing for review…

This distinction matters particularly in UFO and UAP discussions because many claims depend on interpretation rather than on the disclosure of a classified document. An author may write that a recovered object exists, that a briefing occurred, or that investigators reached a certain conclusion. Reviewers may determine that publication of such statements does not reveal classified information while remaining completely agnostic about whether the statements themselves are correct. [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review…

Why clearance is not government verification

The strongest evidence against treating clearance as official confirmation comes from the government’s own policies.

The Intelligence Community’s current prepublication-review directive explicitly states that approval to publish does not imply endorsement of the material. It also does not imply that the government agrees with the author’s conclusions or assertions. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsDirector of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose…

Similarly, published clearance language used in Department of Defense reviews has stated that public-release approval does not imply Department of Defense endorsement or factual accuracy. In other words, reviewers may permit publication while taking no position on whether the content is true. [Scribd]scribd.comDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review ResponseScribdDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review…Jun 7, 2023 — The public release clearance of this publication by the Depar…

This is the central false-validation risk surrounding Lacatski’s books. Readers may see the words “cleared for public release” and unconsciously upgrade the status of the claims from “author testimony” to “government-confirmed fact”. The review system itself explicitly warns against making that leap. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsDirector of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose…

The issue is not unique to Lacatski. Similar misunderstandings have appeared around books and statements from other former intelligence and defence officials discussing UAPs. Public debate often treats clearance as evidence that reviewers secretly know the claims are true. Yet the documented purpose of review is security protection, not evidential certification. Default [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review…

How this affects Lacatski’s most controversial assertions

This distinction becomes especially important when evaluating Lacatski’s most widely discussed claims, including statements associated with alleged recovered technology and access to a “craft of unknown origin”.

If such claims appear in a cleared publication, several interpretations remain possible:

• The claim is accurate and reviewers allowed publication because it was not classified in the form presented.
• The claim is inaccurate or incomplete but not classified.
• The claim reflects an author’s personal understanding of events.
• The claim is based on information obtained from other sources rather than direct documentation.
• Reviewers lacked any mandate to determine whether the claim was true or false. [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review… [Defense Intelligence Agency]dia.milDefense Intelligence AgencyPrePublication ReviewThe prepublication review process ensures that information proposed for public release co…

Clearance alone cannot distinguish among these possibilities.

As a result, the evidential value of the claim still depends on the same factors that would apply without clearance: documentary records, corroborating witnesses, physical evidence, chain of custody, contemporaneous reporting, and independent verification. Clearance does not remove the need for those forms of evidence. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsDirector of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose… [Scribd]scribd.comDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review ResponseScribdDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review…Jun 7, 2023 — The public release clearance of this publication by the Depar…

How readers should weigh cleared insider claims

For credibility assessment, a balanced approach is to treat prepublication clearance as a limited but relevant data point.

It can modestly strengthen confidence that an author is discussing matters connected to genuine government experience and that the material passed a security review. It does not, by itself, strengthen confidence in extraordinary factual claims contained within the text. [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review… [Defense Logistics Agency]esd.whs.milDefense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review…

Readers evaluating Lacatski’s books should therefore separate two questions:

1. Was the author sufficiently connected to government programmes to have potentially relevant knowledge?
2. Has the author provided evidence that independently supports the specific claims being made?

Prepublication clearance may bear on the first question. It does little to answer the second. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsDirector of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose… [scribd]scribd.comDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review ResponseScribdDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review…Jun 7, 2023 — The public release clearance of this publication by the Depar… Within the broader debate over insider books as evidence, this is the key takeaway. Lacatski’s cleared publications are significant because they provide an insider narrative from someone linked to AAWSAP and related UAP investigations. But the clearance process should not be mistaken for government certification that the books’ most extraordinary claims are true. The credibility of those claims still rises or falls on the underlying evidence rather than on the existence of a release stamp. Amazon [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsDirector of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose…

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Does clearance make Lacatski's claims stronger?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

The Demon-Haunted World

By Carl Sagan

Teaches how authority and official processes differ from evidence.

See on Amazon

Book

Calling Bullshit

By Carl T. Bergstrom, Jevin D. West

Helps readers assess claims that rely on institutional credibility.

See on Amazon

Book

Bad Science

By Ben Goldacre

Explains why institutional approval does not automatically validate claims.

See on Amazon

Book

Skinwalkers at the Pentagon

By James T Lacatski D.Eng., James T. Lacatski et al.

Frequently marketed as cleared for public release.

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon: The Demon Haunted World Calling Bullshit Bad Science

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Endnotes

1. Source: amazon.nl
   Link: https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/James-T-Lacatski-D-Eng/dp/B09HR54GQF
   Source snippet

   AmazonSkinwalkers at the Pentagon: An Insiders' Account of...Skinwalkers at the Pentagon has been reviewed by the U.S. Department of Def...

2. Source: amazon.com
   Link: https://www.amazon.com/Skinwalkers-Pentagon-Insiders-Account-Government/dp/B09HR54GQF
   Source snippet

   at ran from the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, DC.Read more...

3. Source: sgp.fas.org
   Link: https://sgp.fas.org/eprint/hedley.html
   Source snippet

   Reviewing the Work of CIA AuthorsThe sole purpose of prepublication review is to assist authors in avoiding inadvertent disclosure of cla...

4. Source: scribd.com
   Title: Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review Response
   Link: https://www.scribd.com/document/651514586/Defense-Office-of-Prepublication-and-Security-Review-Response
   Source snippet

   ScribdDefense Office of Prepublication and Security Review...Jun 7, 2023 — The public release clearance of this publication by the Depar...

5. Source: amazon.com
   Link: https://www.amazon.com/Skinwalkers-Pentagon-Insiders-Account-Government-ebook/dp/B09J484KYD
   Source snippet

   UFO study that ran from the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington...Read more...

6. Source: amazon.com
   Link: https://www.amazon.com/Skinwalkers-Pentagon-Insiders-Account-Government/dp/B0BT665PF1
   Source snippet

   UFO study that ran from the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, DC.Read more...

7. Source: esd.whs.mil
   Link: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Records-Declass/Security-Review/PrePublication-and-Manuscripts/
   Source snippet

   Defense Logistics AgencyDefense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe purpose of the prepublication security and policy review...

8. Source: dia.mil
   Link: https://www.dia.mil/PrePublication/
   Source snippet

   Defense Intelligence AgencyPrePublication ReviewThe prepublication review process ensures that information proposed for public release co...

9. Source: esd.whs.mil
   Link: https://www.esd.whs.mil/DOPSR/
   Source snippet

   Anyone in the author's leadership chain authorized to sign general correspondence can sign the DD1910.Read more...

10. Source: dni.gov
    Title: ICD 711 Prepublication Reviews
    Link: https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICD/ICD-711-Prepublication-Reviews.pdf
    Source snippet

    Director of National IntelligenceICD 711 Prepublication ReviewsJul 12, 2024 — The approval of a request to publish or otherwise disclose...

11. Source: Lawfare
    Title: a step in the right direction for prepublication review
    Link: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/a-step-in-the-right-direction-for-prepublication-review
    Source snippet

    government requires that current and former U.S. government officials who have or had TS/SCI clearance submit their writing for review...

12. Source: brainly.com
    Link: https://brainly.com/question/66171077
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    Which statement is true about the prepublication review...18 Mar 2026 — The true statement regarding the prepublication review process i...

13. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io2Cl1u5gmU
    Source snippet

    Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)JAMES - Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) (Official Music Video) 'Getting Away With It (All Messed...

Additional References

1. Source: nsa.gov
   Link: https://www.nsa.gov/Helpful-Links/Prepublication-Review/
   Source snippet

   Prepublication ReviewPrepublication review is the process to determine that information proposed for public release contains no protected...

2. Source: reddit.com
   Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1bos3d4/where_is_david_gruschs_op_ed/
   Source snippet

   Where is David Grusch's op Ed?: r/UFOsIs it coming soon? What happened?? In an interview with NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas, Grusch said...

3. Source: justsecurity.org
   Link: https://www.justsecurity.org/100244/the-new-intelligence-community-directive-on-prepublication-review-important-reforms-and-critical-omissions/
   Source snippet

   The New Intelligence Community Directive on...Sep 20, 2024 — The ODNI's prepublication review directive improves several important aspec...

4. Source: wearejames.com
   Link: https://wearejames.com/
   Source snippet

   the official JAMES websiteAll the news, tour dates and more from the band James. Nothing But Love - The Definitive Best Of James is out now...

5. Source: forums.whirlpool.net.au
   Title: whirlpool.net.au Are UFOs Aliens or aliens visiting us (page 5)
   Link: https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/988l82m5-5
   Source snippet

   UFOs Aliens or aliens visiting us (page 5) - Science12 Jun 2023 — Pick up a copy of George's book Skinwalkers at the Pentagon and turn to...

6. Source: wearejames.com
   Title: Live All the news, tour dates and more from the band James. Nothing But Love
   Link: https://wearejames.com/live/
   Source snippet

   LiveAll the news, tour dates and more from the band James. Nothing But Love - The Definitive Best Of James is out now...

7. Source: aei.org
   Title: the odnis new and disappointing prepublication review process
   Link: https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-odnis-new-and-disappointing-prepublication-review-process/
   Source snippet

   The ODNI's New and Disappointing Prepublication Review...Sep 4, 2024 — The new directive is clearer that prepublication review should be...

8. Source: Lawfare
   Title: the odnis new and disappointing prepublication review process
   Link: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-odnis-new-and-disappointing-prepublication-review-process
   Source snippet

   ODNI's New and Disappointing Prepublication Review...by J Goldsmith · 2024 — The new directive is clearer that prepublication review sho...

9. Source: Wikipedia
   Title: Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review
   Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Office_of_Prepublication_and_Security_Review
   Source snippet

   Defense Office of Prepublication and Security ReviewThe legality of the DOPSR program is based upon non-disclosure agreements signed b...

10. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/617328327480084/posts/842301668316081/
    Source snippet

    Skinwalker Ranch, Dr.Colm Kelleher to discuss: - Following up "Skinwalkers at the Pentagon" - Importance of the books contents in days ah...