On the Radar: Pentagon Papers, first lady in Hollywood, Burress announcement
Daniel Ellsberg, the former military analyst who released the Pentagon Papers in 1971, speaks during an anti-war protest December 16, 2010 in front of the White House.
June 13th, 2011
05:58 AM ET

On the Radar: Pentagon Papers, first lady in Hollywood, Burress announcement

Three things you need to know today.

Pentagon papers: On Monday, the federal government will release in full the Pentagon Papers, the secret government study of the Vietnam War.

While redacted and edited versions of the papers have been published before, most notably in The New York Times and other newspapers, this will be the first time the documents see the light of day in their complete form.

In 1971,  Daniel Ellsberg, a former Pentagon official, leaked the papers, officially titled "United States-Viet Nam Relations, 1945-1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense," revealing that the government had lied to Congress and the American public about the progress of the war.

First lady in Hollywood: First lady Michelle Obama is in Hollywood on Monday to discuss with members of the entertainment industry ways to tell the stories of the nation's military families.

The event is part of the White House's Joining Forces initiative, a campaign launched this year by Michelle Obama and the vice president's wife, Jill Biden.

"Monday’s discussion will shed light on the unique challenges military families face and showcase the families’ strength, resilience and service to our nation. Participants will also discuss ways in which entertainment content can better reflect this American reality," read an announcement from the Writers Guild of America, West.

The panel discussion will be moderated by writer-director J.J. Abrams, whose latest movie "Super 8" led the weekend's box office take.

Other guilds participating include the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.

Burress announcement: Former NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress, released a week ago from a New York prison after serving 20 months on a weapons charge, will hold a news conference Monday to make an "important announcement," the National Urban League said.

Billed as his first public appearance since his release, the event at the offices of the National Urban League will include Burress, Urban League President Marc Morial, former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy and Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The former New York Giants player was sentenced to prison after accidentally shooting himself in the leg with a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol he was carrying in his waistband. The incident occurred in November 2008, in the VIP area of the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan.

Burress was not licensed to carry a pistol in either New York or New Jersey, where he lived.

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Filed under: Crime • Michelle Obama • Military • Politics • Showbiz • Sports
soundoff (50 Responses)
  1. Philip

    The government lied to Congress and the American people? Isn't the congress part of the government? And it took 40 years for the Pentagon Papers to be released. So look for the Pentagom's 9/11 Papers somewhere around 2042.

    June 13, 2011 at 6:06 am | Report abuse |
    • Fayaz

      It's sad but you're right. It's disgusting how backwards this country can be.

      June 13, 2011 at 6:13 am | Report abuse |
    • michaelfury

      http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/maximum-visibility/

      June 13, 2011 at 8:16 am | Report abuse |
    • StopElectingLawyers

      Stop electing lawyers. They are the MOST dishonorable types known to mankind.

      June 13, 2011 at 8:17 am | Report abuse |
    • Jazzzzzzzz

      Don't hold your breath on that one until all involved are dead and even then.

      June 13, 2011 at 11:52 am | Report abuse |
    • Jazzzzzzzz

      Although Communism would yield a positive out come for those in poverty, it would also eliminate each individuals responsibility for their own actions who are considered middle class and up. A non-communist society would co-inside with the judgement that will come for all of us by Jesus in the end. For this reason the Viet-nam war could be justified... But for those who lost loved ones... both in south Viet-Nam and the U.S, it's of little comfort. The full disclosure of the pentagon papers can only be of value if it should reveal a clear knowledge of what was buried in those (Orange Drums). yet according to the article above it is only about the "progress" not about what was done wrong to those still suffering today from psychological and physical effects of the war so many decades ago.

      My deepest sympathy to those still live that horror even today.

      June 13, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Mike R

    ...and the truth will truly set this nation free!

    June 13, 2011 at 6:10 am | Report abuse |
    • michaelfury

      “Education on the value of free speech and the other freedoms reserved by the Bill of Rights, about what happens when you don’t have them, and about how to exercise and protect them, should be an essential prerequisite for being an American citizen — or indeed a citizen of any nation, the more so to the degree that such rights remain unprotected. If we can’t think for ourselves, if we’re unwilling to question authority, then we’re just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us. In every country, we should be teaching our children the scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency, humility and community spirit. In the demon-haunted world that we inhabit by virtue of being human, this may be all that stands between us and the enveloping darkness.”

      – Carl Sagan

      http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/between-us-and-the-enveloping-darkness/

      June 13, 2011 at 8:20 am | Report abuse |
  3. Cosmotologist to the Stars

    Im still waiting for them to release the recipe for the secret sauce on Mcdonalds big macs.

    June 13, 2011 at 6:11 am | Report abuse |
    • Mea Walker

      It's Thousand Island Dressing. 🙂

      June 13, 2011 at 7:52 am | Report abuse |
    • TeenageHappyEnding

      It's that teenager's happy ending...

      June 13, 2011 at 8:18 am | Report abuse |
  4. handiman

    Tapioca pudding. That's McDonoads secret. Burnger King's is sesthame seeds

    June 13, 2011 at 6:40 am | Report abuse |
  5. handiboy

    happy meo

    June 13, 2011 at 6:41 am | Report abuse |
  6. pam

    Pentagon has to

    June 13, 2011 at 7:12 am | Report abuse |
  7. hugh

    CNN sucs

    June 13, 2011 at 7:16 am | Report abuse |
  8. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    During some presidencies, the First Lady's activities seem foolishly contrived.
    I complete support what President Obama is doing.
    I don't think that Mrs. Obama has a great contribution to make to the film industry, as she does not to our diets.
    I wish that she were advised differently.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:21 am | Report abuse |
  9. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    With maturity, I now view the USA's actions in Vietnam differently.
    I sincerely regret taking part in any demonstrations against our military action at that time.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:29 am | Report abuse |
    • Dutch

      And I sincerely regret being part of the military at that time.

      June 13, 2011 at 7:49 am | Report abuse |
  10. Dennis Cookinham

    What exactly, besides stealing these secret papers and releasing them to the NY Times, has Ellsberg done with his life. I guess he used his "fame" to shape the rest of his life and capitalize on it.. Hey Daniel, no one cares any more what an old liberal guy like you has to say.. sorry you wasted your whole life on 15 minutes of fame.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:36 am | Report abuse |
    • Paul

      You're either too young to remember the impact...or just stupid.

      June 13, 2011 at 8:59 am | Report abuse |
  11. gung hoe

    Hey joey cant you see this is just another way to get her out from barry so as he can have his own little vacations if your married you know what i mean plus i think your right about the weight thing i mean she is
    A beautiful lady in the face if she could only drop about 50 lbs

    June 13, 2011 at 7:38 am | Report abuse |
  12. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    @ gung hoe:
    Hm. Interesting speculation about Mrs. Obama's trips.
    Well, everybody in DC knew the hotel where JFK had trysts, and I always realized that the Queen's Royal Consort could have spent less time on military tours if he desired.
    I don't care what the President does as long as he does his job well. Right now, he's doing that.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:55 am | Report abuse |
  13. gung hoe

    I agree with you she would be better versed with the weight loss thing this seems to me to be a vacation her and the president are both pretty good at that

    June 13, 2011 at 8:11 am | Report abuse |
  14. michaelfury

    http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/tho-much-is-taken-much-abides/

    June 13, 2011 at 8:14 am | Report abuse |
  15. gung hoe

    To joey well we all have our own oppinions about certain things if you consider appoligizing to foreiegn countrys what we have had to do to keeP
    us free doing a good job or unemployment going from 7 to almost 10 percent good or the fuel prices do i even need to mention them and yes he is responsible for them and ok bin laden was taken under his watch but with information taken under the bush watch most of which your guy barry was jumping up and down calling bush a criminal for gaining information that barry would later use if thats good i would hate to see bad not to mention he is a racist

    June 13, 2011 at 8:32 am | Report abuse |
    • Sentence Structure

      Sentence structure and proper punctuation are amazing and beatiful things. Learn to use them.

      June 13, 2011 at 9:37 am | Report abuse |
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