Last week, renowned military whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg publicly announced his cancer diagnosis. Many Americans have forgotten his extraordinary significance. But no one has done as much to defend humanity from the predicted horrors of America's military industrial complex and the relentless wars for profit it has unleashed around the world.

Ellsberg's prolific history includes exposing corrupt militarism, prompting a showdown between the press and the Justice Department, and helping drive President Nixon out of office.

Yet, sadly, America seems to have forgotten the ongoing pattern he exposed —despite it recurring from Nicaragua to Afghanistan in the years since he risked a life in prison to do the right thing.

Described by President Nixon as "the most dangerous man in America," Ellsberg deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. It would be not only a symbolic gesture, but could also inspire other government whistleblowers, and shame complicit "news" editors who continue to fan the flames of militarism.

The last time the Nobel prize committee—whose members are anonymous—recognized an American was in 2009. The former secretary of the organization later described the decision to grant the award to President Obama as "a mistake" given his administration's disappointing record of violating civil liberties, entrenching mass government surveillance, insulating torturers from accountability, and prosecuting truthtellers.

Nothing could help correct that mistake as much as the Nobel Prize committee finally recognizing Ellsberg. His actions helped end one war, and  also inspired the later exposure of constitutional crimes that continue to this day. They were the subject of a documentary film nominated for an Oscar in 2009.

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