Daniel Ellsberg: Woodward Should Give Afghan Docs to WikiLeaks

Daniel Ellsberg speaks at a WikiLeaks news conference in London, Oct. 23, 2010.

Daniel Ellsberg, the former military intelligence contractor who 40 years ago leaked the Pentagon Papers, made a surprise appearance Saturday at the WikiLeaks news conference in London to heartily endorse the group's publication of almost 400,000 Iraq war logs and warn of a U.S. government trying to close the shutters on military decision making and warfare.

Ellsberg congratulated WikiLeaks and its partners for disseminating the grim details about the war, which highlight under-reported Iraqi deaths and myriad alleged human rights abuses.

Ellsberg said revelations made months ago by WikiLeaks relating to the ongoing war in Afghanistan didn't go far enough, and he urged journalist and author Bob Woodward to release the top secret documents and records he gained access to in researching his latest book, "Obama's Wars," to shed further light on the subject.

"WikiLeaks offers itself as the best vehicle for doing that," said Ellsberg, even suggesting that researchers working for Woodward could provide the top secret materials to Assange's organization.

Ellsberg said if the documents Woodward had access to were to be made public, it could "come close" to being a Pentagon Papers on the Afghan war.

"Secrecy is essential to empire," said Ellsberg, after accusing President Obama of continuing a trend set by his predecessor, George W. Bush, of trying to greatly stem the flow of U.S. war planning and fighting information to the public through the reinterpretation of laws already in existence.

He even speculated that, if the Republican party retakes control of the U.S. Congress in an election set to take place in just more than a week, new laws would soon be drafted to keep secrets more securely behind closed doors.

He said the GOP was "almost certain to pass" a law mirroring the Official Secrets Act in the United Kingdom.

Ellsberg accused President Obama of playing a legal "experiment" with the arrest of army whistleblower Spc. Bradley Manning, who is suspected of leaking thousands of Iraq war documents to WikiLeaks. Manning is now in custody.

Ellsberg said Manning was a "hero" in his opinion.

[Electronvoltaire]

There is a certain 1984-ish quality to the WikiLeaks matter. The Pentagon, Iraq's police forces, Iran, Iraq's Sunnis, Iraq's Shias, the U.S. Democrats, the U.S. Republicans, and the Obama administration are parties involved. But the way some of these speak of each other in public appears to be light years away from what is going on more secretly. Thus, for example, U.S. Republicans say how much they're opposed to Iran. Yet Bush's policies in Iraq -- such as deBaathification and training lots of Shi'ite Iraqi police -- could hardly have been better calculated to increase Iranian influence there! And Iran appears to be almost as much opposed to the release of the WikiLeaks documents as the Pentagon and the GOP are!! "Suspicious" and "diabolical", they call the documents. It reminds me of 1984 because in 1984 people didn't know from day to day what country would be at war or at peace with what other one.

[jayeats]

Hitler had followers too. He invaded other countries. How would we feel if we were invaded and cousins fathers mothers daughters and sons died for such petty cause like oil money and power. this is a great read http://*******.com/2x3nfz

[sjc_1]

Woodward is a slimy little weasel, he would not do anything for the country but only cares about the money he receives from his scandalous books.

[Simifanene]

I'm not sure yet that WikiLeaks leaks are true, if they're not WikiLeaks is guilty of supporting the enemy in a time of war. If the leaks are true, President Obama must call for a neutral investigation. I think our President knows the truth all ready. Our CIA knows the truth. If WikiLeaks evidence is factual and war crimes we're committed then what else can be done but war time trials. Isn't that what we stand for? War crimes exist in all wars and anyone who commits war crimes is a criminal, as Hitler was a criminal, and all his generals. If there is no truth to these leaks then WikiLeaks should be destroyed as an enemy to our country. A Congressional Investigation is warranted. The truth will win this war, lies will just empower the terrorist. Am I wrong?

[Simifanene]

I agree with every you said, mate, we're on the same level. We only differ on one thing. I think President Obama has the wisdom and the courage it will take to expose any war crimes committed by our side. We have a million soldiers, up to President and the odd's are some have committed war crimes. 1 or 2 war crimes by sick individuals should be covered up because it's no the norm. When war crimes become policy then it should be investigated with a Congressional Investiagation. When Pres. Obama enter office he stopped torcher by an executive order, and was going to let Bush and Cheney get off the hook and just start over for the sake of the country. These WikiLeaks have changed that strategy. Massive war crimes accusations have been made. If President Obama is as wise as I think he is, he will address the nation on these accusations.

[Cassarit]

And for Every Ellsberg or Frank there is a Lieberman or Cantor. The lives of ordinary Americans are now being mapped out for them by the struggles for dominance of left and right wing Jews. Americans have seemingly become serfs in their own country. Welcome to the new age of semitic feudalism.

[gaiaschild-2009]

There's a young soldier accused of releasing these documents and whispers of a charge of treason !!!!!! We better watch out for that. Does that not imply a death sentence??????? Whatever community exists that prefers truth to emerge needs to watch the military prosecute.

[andacar]

I used to be a contractor at an Air Force base, and did a lot of graphics and documentation. I never had access to anything classified, but I eventually discovered that at least half the time information was classified not because its release would jeopardize lives, hurt national security or some such. Often it was simply because the information was embarrassing. Classifying documents was used to cover up gross incompetence, misappropriation of funds, misuse of office, or worse. It?s interesting that those in the public who are crying the loudest that the Wikileaks people are traitors hurting ?our boys? are the very ones screaming the loudest about how evil the government is at Tea Party rallies. Make up your minds folks.