[Imc-dc-editorial] Ellsberg Feature

[Chuck0]

Rev Brian wrote:
> I'm at work on getting the video cut, so I am going to
> make this short.  I haven't read the entire discussion
> on this, so please excuse any ignorance of points
> already raised.
> 
> My take on Ellsberg's talk today was that he
> contrasted the new GCHQ/NSA leak to the Pentagon
> Papers in that:
> 
> 1) It was released prior to overt hostilities;
> 
> 2) More than one individual is involved in the leak-
> but it is not an organizationally sanctioned leak;
> 
> 3) He believes that others leaking similar material
> could have a significant effect on a war;
> 
> 4) He believes that the war planning in the current WH
> is not dissimilar to worst-case scenario planning in
> the Nixon WH.
> 
> I think these points merit a new feature on his talk
> today.  I'll stop putting words in his mouth and get
> back to cutting the video on my crashy machine so he
> can speak for himself.
> 
> -b

Excellent points, Brian. I recently read the unauthorized biography on 
Ellsberg, which provided lots of insights on the current war drive.

In regards to point #4, the planning during the Vietnam War included many 
scenarios about how to get out of the conflict, some of which pre-dated the 
advent of the anti-war movement. I've gotten the impression that Johnson and 
Nixon continued the war because they couldn't figure out a face-saving way to 
end the war on their watch. Ellsberg is making this call for government 
workers to release information because there are probably lots of secret 
material that shows how opposed the Pentagon is to the war.

-- 
Chuck0

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