Comments on: IN SEARCH OF THE NEXT PENTAGON PAPERS http://understandinggov.org/2008/03/28/in-search-of-the-next-pentagon-papers/ Informing the Public; Improving Government Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:40:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Edward Hodgman http://understandinggov.org/2008/03/28/in-search-of-the-next-pentagon-papers/#comment-617 Edward Hodgman Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:29:04 +0000 http://understandinggov.org/2008/03/28/in-search-of-the-next-pentagon-papers/#comment-617 Looking back at the Pentagon Papers themselves, they were a report prepared by Rand for the DOD about the origins and progress of the war, and as you know they included tons of correspondence, cables from overseas, etc. They were a goldmine of real information about what happened to make Vietnam such a terrible, misguided and endless war, and significantly, they reflected a study ordered by the defense establishment itself. We don't need that much -- but it would be encouraging (and important) to know if there is a serious inquiry within the nation's military about how this came about and how to end it, aside from the official line we will be hearing about from General Petraeus in short order. Looking back at the Pentagon Papers themselves, they were a report prepared by Rand for the DOD about the origins and progress of the war, and as you know they included tons of correspondence, cables from overseas, etc. They were a goldmine of real information about what happened to make Vietnam such a terrible, misguided and endless war, and significantly, they reflected a study ordered by the defense establishment itself. We don’t need that much — but it would be encouraging (and important) to know if there is a serious inquiry within the nation’s military about how this came about and how to end it, aside from the official line we will be hearing about from General Petraeus in short order.

]]> By: Ender http://understandinggov.org/2008/03/28/in-search-of-the-next-pentagon-papers/#comment-616 Ender Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:00:52 +0000 http://understandinggov.org/2008/03/28/in-search-of-the-next-pentagon-papers/#comment-616 I supported this war. For years. But at this point, I’d rather admit that I made a mistake than continue with this pointless squandering of lives and resources. Discovering a new version of the Pentagon Papers would certainly add a welcome element of certainty to the decision. But the fact that this war has dragged on longer than WWII with less than convincing results should be reason enough for reason to prevail. I supported this war. For years. But at this point, I’d rather admit that I made a mistake than continue with this pointless squandering of lives and resources.

Discovering a new version of the Pentagon Papers would certainly add a welcome element of certainty to the decision. But the fact that this war has dragged on longer than WWII with less than convincing results should be reason enough for reason to prevail.

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