Customer Reviews

The Pentagon Papers: The Defense Department History of United States Decisionmaking on Vietnam (4 Volumes)

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This massive multi-volume study of US government policy on Vietnam has permanent value not just for scholars and students of the Vietnam War, but for anyone concerned with the making of American foreign policy. The "Papers" are fundamentally important not only in terms of content, of course, but even more so in contrast to the public statements of our leaders explaining the purpose and progress of the war. While this makes the (self-)deception and lies clear enough, it is the internal dialogue of bureaucratic thinking that is most fascinating.

The format of "The Pentagon Papers" is a bit confusing, with primary documents mixed into the main narrative, but not always in a distinguishable manner. The sheer bulk of the material will naturally deter many readers, but it does repay the effort and is superior to various abridgements. While the expurgated editions are useful, the nature of the selection process gives them an episodic quality, and tends to highlight dramatic incidents rather than the all-important mundane character of bureaucracy, even on life and death matters of global import.

Daniel Ellsberg, who released the papers to the press, may well have some unheroic qualities about him. But his greatness lay in transcending the constraints of background and institutional context, and recognizing a higher duty to his country and humanity. Not only the substance of "The Pentagon Papers" ensures their significance, but also Ellsberg's example of public service. This is vitally important in a time when yet another presidential administration deceives us all in pursuit of fatally flawed military adventures. Who will be the Daniel Ellsberg of the so-called "war on terror?"

Some of the issues raised by "The Pentagon Papers" and Ellsberg's career are addressed in N. Chomsky, "American Power and the New Mandarins" (especially the essays on intellectuals' responsibility); D. Ellsberg, "Secrets;" and from a rather different stance, J. Kwitny, "Endless Enemies." The fifth volume of the "Papers" contains invaluable critical essays by notable scholars such as Chomsky and Howard Zinn. For "balance," also look at Robert McNamara's mature reflections on Vietnam, "In Retrospect." But he still seems to be partly in denial.

I accepted an offer of the Pentagon Papers, a four volume set written by the Defense Dept. and published in 1971. The offer stated "four volumes". I had earlier purchased the above title from Amazon only to receive one volume, so I contacted the seller to insure this offer was for FOUR volumes. Seller said "oops-it is only one volume",. so I canceled the order. It appears that sellers do not really look at the wording of their offers, and Amazon does not check them. Oder at your peril.