Location: Agnes Flanagan Chapel

Agnes Flanagan Chapel

49th Annual International Affairs Symposium

“Lines in the Sand: The Ebb and Flow of Borders, Power, and Information”

Session 2:

“State Secrets and Public Prerogative: Does Information Transparency Compromise National Security?”

Featuring Daniel Ellsberg and Colonel David Lapan

The leaking of secure information has persistently challenged the balance between informational transparency and international security. Should the demands of national security dictate the level of transparency between the state and society? Or does freedom of information take priority in ensuring government accountability? Many countries have tried to strike this balance, but the question remains, who draws the line?

Colonel David Lapan is the deputy assistant secretary of defense for media operations at the Pentagon. Lapan served as press officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, where he was public affairs liaison to U.S. Central Command during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as public affairs officer for the Multi-National Force—West during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Daniel Ellsberg is a senior fellow of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. In 1969, Ellsberg photocopied a 7,000-page study on decision making in Vietnam that he helped produce under Robert McNamara at the RAND Corporation. In 1971, Ellsberg gave the document to the New York Times, Washington Post, and other newspapers. It became known as the Pentagon Papers.

Moderator: Paula Abrams, Professor of Law at Lewis & Clark Law School

This event is free and open to the public.