“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Premieres in the US This Week

Best,

I’ve just watch “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” on TV, and I must say I was just silent. What if an ordinary person, as a major factor and one about rewriting history that I had never imagined. I’ve also got a different view on the entire Vietnam War. To be honest, I knew nothing about it but now I know basically how it works. I was shocked … How something so big is so quiet and kept to the world how 1 man, risking their lives for others and the nerve to bring it into the world there are few words. There is perhaps something near it, and that is “guts” but still. For thousands and thousands of pages so the ordinary man to bring the gruesome story to tell what the truth was and always has been.I like little man will never be able to do all the stories that disappear into top secret files.Perhaps not all stories are published but some do, just because we as people going to work every day should not know everything but we do have the right to know the truth and certainly where horrific things as wars are concerned. .. Here in the small country Belgians never done great things people think, they say, and I quoted: “that happened only in America, not here” until the day here and done, just like last weekend at a 5 kilometer boy of just 13 years, an agent shot and why, no one knows. So what we learn from, it happened not only in America. It happened just near us, for our own door. It seems nothing compared to the 2 million victims in Vietnam years ago. This could happen here, with us. And when we get to hear the truth that we deserve, unfortunately I fear for …
The reasons why I send this letter because I am interested in the whole war happen, not so much the weapons and violence, but the cause and the truth (if not already given and if it is correct) . And voorwat and especially why we fight? Because what they do not correct? It can nevertheless be solved a different way than fighting!
But the reasons why I send this letter because I look up to you and respect you have. Not many peers interested in the war and similar issues. But I do, I want to hear the truth, the truth which we are entitled to! I therefore send this letter to share my opinion and hope for an answer in the quest for truth, the truth or not we deserve.

Sincerely, Jan Bellen Jr.

Saw the film screened on BBC 4 the other night, and as we in the UK are currently being whitewashed by a so-called ‘independent Iraq Inquiry’ and the unapologetic performance by Blair before the panel, can only say, as the push in Afghanistan develops into even greater losses, that the need for clear analysis of how our leaders get us into such conflicts, the on-going real price paid by those involved, plus as Joseph Stiglitz & Linda Bilmes aptly describe it in their book ”The Three Trillion Dollar War’ re the staggering long-term costs re the provision of care for the troops maimed for life, one can only say many sincere thanks for the risks you took on behalf of us all – not just the American public in identifying how those in power being economical with the truth affects the world we live in.

Dear Dr Ellsberg: I served in the U.S. Army, in Vietnam, as a young person. I was appalled by what I saw there. After my discharge from the Army, in 1971, I spent the next 20 years reading all the literature on the Vietnam War, with Bernard Fall and Neil Sheehan being by favorite authors on the topic. I always have been a great admirer of yours, and thought you should have gotten a medal for what you did. In my adult life I’ve seen far too few examples of persons putting themselves at risk to do the right thing, as you did. (And we should remember that during WW II the French Resistance was made up almost entirely of peasant farmers, radical communists, and a few college professors. The middle and professional classes were largley absent from that organization.) I oppose our involvement in both Iraq and Afghanistan, as most Vietnam Veterans do.
I saw “The Most Dangerous Man In America” today, thought it was excellent, and hope that it wins the Academy Award it has been nominated for.
I wish you all the best, Nicholas

I first knew of the Pentagon Papers and Daniel when they appeared in the New York Times in 1971. I admired hi courage and have been humbled by his wisdom to bring about justice so that Truth could be brought to light. I spent time with Daniel and many others at Camp Casey when once again he stepped up to what he and others knew as the Truth. We talked for long hours about the devil and if there is one. I bought Daniel’s book (It is wonderful!), and am anxious to see the movie. The timeliness of this is so important. How could such events take place in a world where there is no devil? Thank you to all involved.

It’s not likely that the film will make it to Dutch theaters but I expect it will get a TV screening here and be widely watched. Meanwhile I look forward to the DVD.

Jim Forest
Alkmaar, The Netherlands

Delighted to hear about this! Have been a fan ever since I came across your PhD thesis. The profession may not have existed, had 10 more theses of your kind become popular! I am very happy for you, Daniel

Congrats!!! Hoped something like this would eveolve!! Thanks for your steadfast heart and brilliant mind!! You are a national treasure. I’ll be a t a retreat at Kirkridge with Dan and Liz (Phil’s widow) this weekend. Shall spread the good word! Hearthat Tim Robbins just opened his new TRIL OF THE C’s NINE in L.A. Maybe you were there! It will be in NY in a few weeks, just as your showing goes west!! Love and peace, Elizabeth (old friend of Bill Coffin’s – you gave me a hug to deliver to him in Sept. 2002 at Cornell – just as you got in (and out again) of the waiting cab!! Thanks – and i did.) I don’t know if there is much to hope for, but you offer some fine inspiration!! Gratias!