Vietnam War: The New York Times begins publication of the Pentagon Papers.

The Pentagon Papers were a classified study of the United States’ political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. Commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1967, the study was officially titled “Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force.”

Purpose and Content: The study aimed to provide a comprehensive history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. It included detailed analyses, policy decisions, and military strategies over several administrations, from Truman to Johnson. The documents revealed a pattern of governmental deception about the war’s progress and the likelihood of success.

Leak and Publication: Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst, and Pentagon employee, became disillusioned with the war and decided to make the classified documents public. In 1971, he leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times and other newspapers. The Times began publishing excerpts in June 1971.

Government Reaction: The Nixon administration attempted to block further publication through legal action, arguing that the release of the documents posed a threat to national security. This led to a landmark Supreme Court case, New York Times Co. v. United States, which resulted in a ruling that upheld the First Amendment right of the press to publish the material.

Impact: The release of the Pentagon Papers significantly eroded public trust in the U.S. government and fueled anti-war sentiment. It highlighted the extent of governmental secrecy and misinformation regarding the Vietnam War.

Aftermath: Ellsberg was charged under the Espionage Act, but the charges were dismissed in 1973 due to governmental misconduct, including illegal wiretapping and evidence tampering. The Pentagon Papers have since been fully declassified and are available to the public.

Battles of Tumbledown and Wireless Ridge, during the Falklands War.

The Falklands War, also known as the Falklands Conflict or the Guerra de las Malvinas in Spanish, was a military conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom that took place in 1982. It was fought over the control of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands, which are a group of small islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The roots of the conflict can be traced back to a long-standing territorial dispute between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands. Argentina had claimed sovereignty over the islands since the 19th century, considering them an integral part of its territory. However, the UK maintained control over the islands and considered them a British overseas territory.

On April 2, 1982, Argentine forces, under the military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, aiming to assert their territorial claim. The British government, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, viewed the invasion as a violation of international law and an attack on British territory. In response, the UK launched a military operation to retake the islands.

The British task force, consisting of naval vessels, submarines, and aircraft, set sail for the South Atlantic. The conflict involved both naval and air battles, as well as ground combat on the islands. The British forces faced significant logistical challenges in launching an operation thousands of miles away from home, but they managed to successfully retake the islands after intense fighting.

The war lasted for approximately 74 days, with the final Argentine surrender taking place on June 14, 1982. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three civilian Falkland Islanders. The sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano by a British submarine caused the highest number of casualties in a single incident during the war.

The Falklands War had significant political ramifications for both Argentina and the UK. In Argentina, the defeat led to the downfall of the military junta and the return to civilian rule. It also sparked a sense of nationalism and renewed interest in reclaiming the islands. In the UK, the victory boosted the popularity of the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher and reaffirmed British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Since the war, the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands has persisted, although diplomatic efforts have been made to find a peaceful resolution. The islands remain under British administration and are largely inhabited by people of British descent, but Argentina continues to assert its claim to the territory.

Vietnam War: The New York Times begins publication of the Pentagon Papers.

The Montana Freemen surrender after an 81-day standoff with FBI agents.

The Al Askari Mosque is bombed for a second time.

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The Montana Freemen surrender after an 81-day standoff with FBI agents.

The United States pulls out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Statement on Formal Withdrawal From the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty June 13, 2002.
Six months ago, I announced that the United States was withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and today that withdrawal formally takes effect. With the treaty now behind us, our task is to develop and deploy effective defenses against limited missile attacks. As the events of September 11 made clear, we no longer live in the cold war world for which the ABM Treaty was designed. We now face new threats, from terrorists who seek to destroy our civilization by any means available to rogue states armed with weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. Defending the American people against these threats is my highest priority as Commander in Chief.
The new strategic challenges of the 21st century require us to think differently. But they also require us to act. I call on the Congress to approve the full amount of the funding I have requested in my budget for missile defense. This will permit the United States to work closely with all nations committed to freedom to pursue the policies and capabilities needed to make the world a safer place for generations to come.

I am committed to deploying a missile defense system as soon as possible to protect the American people and our deployed forces against the growing missile threats we face. Because these threats also endanger our allies and friends around the world, it is essential that we work together to defend against them, an important task which the ABM Treaty prohibited. The United States will deepen our dialog and cooperation with other nations on missile defenses.

Last month, President Vladimir Putin and I agreed that Russia and the United States would look for ways to cooperate on missile defenses, including expanding military exercises, sharing early warning data, and exploring potential joint research and development of missile defense technologies. Over the past year, our countries have worked hard to overcome the legacy of the cold war and to dismantle its structures. The United States and Russia are building a new relationship based on common interests and, increasingly, common values. Under the Treaty of Moscow, the nuclear arsenals of our nations will be reduced to their lowest levels in decades. Cooperation on missile defense will also make an important contribution to furthering the relationship we both seek.

A fire destroys much of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The Great Vancouver Fire devastates much of Vancouver, British Columbia.