Slash the Pentagon Budget in Half & Abolish ICBMs: Dan Ellsberg on How to Avoid Nuclear Armageddon

As tension rises between the United States and Russia over Ukraine, we speak with Daniel Ellsberg, the famed Pentagon Papers whistleblower, who worked for years during the Cold War on nuclear war strategy within the U.S. national security establishment. He says the threat of a catastrophic nuclear war is intolerable, with intercontinental ballistic missiles posing the highest risk. "The defense budget should be cut more than in half rather than being increased right now, but starting with the most dangerous weapons, the ICBMs," says Ellsberg, who also calls for the U.S. to commit to a no-first-use policy on nuclear arms.

#DemocracyNow

[rforrist]

For a 91 year old, he is very lucid and a good speaker

[ruthpicon]

Thanks for having Dan on. He is an important voice and we need to heard from him more.

[johnhanson]

He speaks for me on slashing the military budget and scrapping the ICBMs. Thanks Mr Ellsberg, you still "got it."

[christinaulibarri]

Thank you Amy and Democracy Now for the content of the interview and commentary.

[stephenwallace]

Fantastic man! You should have him back on!

[livondiramerian]

Greed is the cause of wars, but greed eventually destroys the greedy.

[alexander]

Dan is 91, and still as lucid and sharp as ever.

[alin-]

I always felt that eliminating all nukes in all countries that have them is possible, but when these same countries are constantly at odds w each other, it makes it nearly impossible. Nuke disarmament would have to be mutually monitored & confirmed by representatives from all nuke owning countries & I don't see it happening any time soon. Even though he helped create this mess, it's good that Ellsberg is trying to undo it.

[JohnnyPeacenic]

We now need a 70% reduction in the pentagon budget.

[alfredroberthogan]

ALL military-warfare spending should end promptly. Modestly cutting the Pentagon budget by 50% would be a small step in the correct direction but still leaves half the deadly cancer.

[saladfingers]

Maybe you should give the person advocating for nuclear abolishment longer than your arbitrary time limit allows for

[gregorylumpkin]

The pentagon budget could easily be reduced to 1/10 of what it is now. It is totally for offensive actions, not defence. And while you are at it, use the savings to provide programs for the people, instead of the criminal cabal that runs the country.

[Hellkite-erpg]

Really, she gave him 30 seconds to explain how to de-escalate the USA and Russian military industrial complex?

[JamesSmith-jevf]

"We should seek to challenge the global conflicts, not to an arms race, but to a peace race- -to advance together step by step, stage by stage, until general and complete disarmament has been achieved. Until we no longer live under a nuclear sword, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness." (John F. Kennedy, 1961)

[CanadianPrepper]

Why limit the time a person can speak? This isn't a live broadcast.

[andrewjameshenderson]

Thanks for this! He speaks for many including this Canadian. 🇲🇶, 🇨🇦

[Rhythmicons]

The US Military hasn't really accomplished any major victories since WWII; clearly the Pentagon needs to justify the need for the budget.

[fishfanatic]

Not sure i know what nukes are actually most useful for.
Seems like they basically reinforce fear of conflict with fear of armageddon. After that it only gets fuzzier

[CustomQualityElgin]

Change the rules of war. The leaders and politicians who advocate for war have to fight the battle themselves. Leave us out of it.

[sktan]

Hawking threats and supplying weapons are not consistent with sincerity to maintain peace.