Daniel Ellsberg
(1931-)

American Whistleblower, Peace & Anti-Nuclear Activist
Former Military Analyst, Released Pentagon Papers

2006 Right Livelihood Award Winner
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's Peace Leadership Award
Gandhi Peace Award Winner

birthdate: April 7
birthplace:
Detroit, Michigan

QUOTES

I believe we are in a national crisis, which justifies and requires acts of unauthorized truth-telling. I am calling for such patriotic whistle-blowing to take place right now.

Truth-telling to Congress and the public is not disloyal in America: it is an expression of the higher loyalty officials owe to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the sovereign public. It is a courageous, patriotic, and effective way to serve our country. The time to speak out is now.

“But I was not wrong to hope that exposing secrets five presidents had withheld and the lies they told might have benefits for our democracy that were worthy of the risks. Wouldn’t you go to jail to help end the war?”

”It is urgent to prevent new U.S. aggression. The time is now for the world to say ‘no’ to U.S. threats of air attack against Iran, and to the very notion of a nuclear first-use ‘option’ by America or any other nation.”

If monarchy is corrupting - and it is - wait till you see what overt empire does to us.

Only we, the public, can force our representatives to reverse their abdication of the war powers that the Constitution gives exclusively to the Congress.

We were young, we were foolish, we were arrogant, but we were right.

“Don't do what I did. Don't wait until the bombs are falling in Iran. Don't wait until people are dying. Go to the press and reveal.”

It is time for the rest of the world to join ... in demanding that ALL the nuclear weapons states -including Israel, India and Pakistan, but above all the US and Russia - negotiate concrete steps on a definite time - table toward the global, inspected abolition of nuclear weapons.

It is time for the rest of the world to join Mordechai Vanunu in demanding that Israel acknowledge its status as a nuclear weapons state with a large and growing arsenal,and in demanding that ALL the nuclear weapons states -including Israel, India and Pakistan,but above all the US and Russia - negotiate concrete steps on a definite time- table toward the global,inspected abolition of nuclear weapons.

My activities, for which I gratefully accept this Award, are today what they have been for over thirty-five years and will be for the rest of my life: to counter governmental secrecy about the nuclear arms race that threatens the survival of life on earth; and to help build a world movement that will prevent a first use since Nagasaki of nuclear explosions, prevent or end interventions that could lead to such an event, and bring about a world free of nuclear weapons.

 

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