Press Realizing That Treatment Of Bradley Manning Is Indefensible
from the surprising dept
The mainstream press has had a bit of a love-hate affair with Wikileaks over the past few months, often conflating some of the issues with Julian Assange with the overall operation itself. But what's been really troubling is how quiet the press has mainly been about the treatment of Bradley Manning, which is so severe that many people consider it to qualify as torture. Even the UN is now investigating whether the treatment qualifies as torture. Of course, even if you don't consider it torture, it's pretty clear that the treatment is designed to punish Manning, despite no trial and no conviction (or, perhaps, it's being used to pressure him to implicate Julian Assange in a potential conspiracy that might not actually exist).However, it's nice to see at least some in the press realize this is a serious problem. The LA Times has an editorial suggesting that this treatment of Manning is clearly indefensible, and should be stopped. It does not come out and say he's being tortured and says that it's fine to punish Manning (within the limits of the law) if he's convicted, but that to do so prior to any conviction is immensely problematic:
Some see Manning as a whistle-blower who deserves leniency for exposing official duplicity; others believe that, like anyone who engages in civil disobedience, Manning, if guilty, should accept punishment for his actions. But regardless of one's view of his alleged conduct, the conditions under which he is being held are indefensible.There's no reason that Manning can't be held under more reasonable conditions. It's sad that our government appears to not be willing to allow that to happen.
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Filed Under: bradley manning, press, treatment, wikileaks
Companies: wikileaks
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It's On Purpose
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Re: It's On Purpose
(although that may be an unwanted side-effect)
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Re: It's On Purpose
That sounds a lot like terrorism.
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Re: It's On Purpose
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That's because they were a bunch of traitors.
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What is the problem?
/sarcasm
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Re: What is the problem?
In fact, we should start torturing ourselves at home just to prove how patriotic we are! I should start selling self-waterboarding kits!
Turning torture and misguided ultra-nationalism, er...patriotism into a business opportunity is the American Way of Life™!
/sarcasm
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Re: What is the problem?
Is it still sarcasm if it's true?
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Will you people PLEASE stop rolling out this chestnut on EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE??
When you get right down to it, there is ALWAYS "more to the story". Always. WE FUCKING GET IT ALREADY.
"there must be more to the story" is not a valid counter argument or invalidation of the article when its true IN EVERY SINGLE CASE.
If all you can come up with is "there must be more" because your tiny little mind cant comprehend a news item on an OPINION BLOG, please cease commenting, as you have nothing to contribute to the discussion.
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And honestly I don't see people saying "there must be more to the story" on every single post... am I missing something?
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every.
single.
article.
it did get a bit tedious.
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Oh, the old "anything's possible" line. It's "possible" that you're a raging homicidal pedophile rapist. See, I can make stuff up too!
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Some members of the press also believe in UFOs and little green men. That doesn't mean all of the press does.
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There is really nothing new here. It's just more fodder for the TD sheeple to chew on.
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Jail is a place most often filled with people awaiting trial, or who are currently on trial, or who are appealing their conviction.
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Solitary confinement isn't torture ?
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http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/03/30/090330fa_fact_gawande
I was skeptical at first too, but that article makes a very convincing case. Then you realize that the fact that tonnes of Americans are being held in similar conditions is an atrocity, not a rationalization.
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I don't think of it as an atrocity. I think of it as the law, as enacted by the government and having been duly challenged and reviewed by pretty much every court in the land.
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Now where have I heard that before? Isn't that the same excuse that pretty much every corrupt regime uses?
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Everyone tries to make it sound like Manning is being kept in some hole in the ground, not fed, waterboarded twice a day, and left to fend for himself for food, fighting with the prison rats for scraps from the garbage pile from the officer's mess. It just isn't the case.
He is being held in a prison. He is being held alone, fed, clothed, showered, etc. Just like thousands of other criminals, both convicted and pending trials all over the US and around the world.
The rest of it is BS, everyone knows it, but because it's a "wikileaks" thing, all the bleeding hearts are out whining about the torture. You babies think torture is not getting your double latte in the morning.
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Nope, because this is also been reviewed in many other countries with the same results.
Do you see how many of the people here defending Manning keep posting those pretty blue words that back up what they are claiming. Well, they're not just eye candy, my friend, but some sort of citation to back up their claims! Now, one can't help but notice that your post, while attempting to refute the other statements, is not adorned with pretty blue words. You might as well type "nu-uh!" in response without them. That's more free advice.
Everyone tries to make it sound like Manning is being kept in some hole in the ground, not fed, waterboarded twice a day, and left to fend for himself for food, fighting with the prison rats for scraps from the garbage pile from the officer's mess. It just isn't the case.
No has said anything of the sort. This would be a textbook example of a stawman.
The rest of it is BS, everyone knows it
I assume "everyone" doesn't include all the people (including doctors) who object to his treatment? In fact, can you please explain to me your definition of "everyone", because it seems to me that by the very fact that we are having this discussion that you are wrong.
but because it's a "wikileaks" thing, all the bleeding hearts are out whining about the torture
This has nothing to do with wikileaks. Manning is being held in solitary confinement. Without being convicted. Without even going to trial. *This* is why our hearts bleed, because people like you are defending our government as it shits on the Constitution. Wikileaks is a separate matter.
Now, I have a question for you, Mr. Coward. Give us a little background on yourself. I don't need specifics, obviously. I would just like to know what type of man would defend these actions without actually thinking about the consequences.
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Notice the important words "Everyone tries to make it sound like", it doesn't mean they are saying it, rather their level of rhetoric and outrage make it sound like this, as opposed to the thought that he doesn't get TV privileges, and no second servings of rice pudding.
It's wahhhmbulance offence, I am sure.
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No, they aren't.
Ever notice how so many of the Manning haters seem to be sleazy liars? Maybe those are the kinds of people afraid of being exposed.
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I don't see anyone here saying that. In other words, you're a liar. I bet you work for the government or something.
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It's pretty vital information if you plan to have an opinion on this.
Except, your stance seems to be that you don't have to have an opinion or think about it at all - it's currently the status quo and you are happy to swallow that without questioning it or thinking for yourself in the slightest.
Do you have no interest in actually educating yourself on the subject? Are you happy to accept whatever the law says without consideration or question? Shame...
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I hereby invite you to subject yourself to some "solitary confinement" at my pleasure. Please post your identifying and contacting information so that we can get started as soon as possible.
Yeah, I didn't think so.
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Troll better.
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Sort of why TD doesn't want to talk about this one. Old Rupe going digital on the IPOD.
See, newspapers, once they go digital, are not newspapers anymore are they? Newspapers are irrelevant in the digital world. News isn't, paper is.
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http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101122/12544311971/why-murdochs-ipad-only-newspaper-misse s-point.shtml
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[Turns at green snowflake]
Maybe it's time to pack it up and go home snowflake kid. You'll get the first place tomorrow. Never give up on your dreams!
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Old Rupe makes more in a minute than TD has in it's existence. I know which one is likely to have better practical business sense.
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Time will tell who is right (hint: it won't be you)
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That's fucking stupid. Like, Myspace stupid.
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Military detainment facilities do not have the best of records as far as humane treatment goes.
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United States v. Thompson, 68 M.J. 308 (when a servicemember is placed in pretrial confinement, Article 10, UCMJ, provides that immediate steps shall be taken to inform the accused of the charges and to either bring the accused to trial or dismiss the charges; Article 10 creates a more exacting speedy trial demand than does the Sixth Amendment).
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Although, Tuna does bring up a great point about them holding prisoners a while. Gitmo anyone?
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"United States v. Thompson"
http://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/opinions/2009SepTerm/09-0145.pdf
The Supreme Court has ruled that Article 10 of the UCMJ, which ensures the right to a speedy trial, "creates a more exacting speedy trial demand than does the Sixth Amendment"
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Until that issue is settled to a level that can be taken to court, he is caught in the middle.
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That includes in the military. Ongoing investigations have NO affect on that need to bring someone to trial for a crime immediately or within one year.
In fact, if investigations are ongoing, the general rule of thumb is to NOT arrest the person in question, absent grave physical harm to someone else being probable, until the investigations are done.
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Now where have I heard that before...?
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Trivially easy to get around. Arrest, hold for 1 year, release, immediately rearrest. Repeat indefinitely.
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Not true. I presume you are referring to the double jeopardy protections. Those protections only mean that someone can't be *tried* for the same crime twice. There is no limit on the number of time they can be arrested for it.
Another way to get around limits is to hold someone outside of the US. The Supreme Court has ruled that normal protections don't apply there (or even within the US within 100 miles of the border).
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So? Who's gonna make them? The military is much better armed than the Supreme Court.
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When you are able to fine HEAVILY, in the billions of dollars? Even the military has to listen to you.
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Where does Obama stand?
If he stays silent on torture under his administration, then it means he condones it.
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Re: Where does Obama stand?
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Re: Re: Where does Obama stand?
Bush is a lot of things but all of these problems started LONG before Bush.
Look into the problems of Nixon, Reagan and Bush Sr before saying "let's blame the last president for everything wrong"
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Re: Re: Re: Where does Obama stand?
What's happening today is just a continuation of the Executive gathering power a bit at a time and not letting it go, regardless of party, because IMO, they like it. Makes sure things like Congress or Republican Ideals don't get in the way of running a war/economy/emergency du jour.
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Re: Re: Re: Where does Obama stand?
What's worse is that the current president promised to change it all - and many many people believed him (especially over here in Europe) - but instead he's taking everything one step further in the wrong direction!
They should take back his Nobel Peace Prize.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Where does Obama stand?
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Obama and the presidency
It's not the President that is the problem. If you learn anything about leadership, any organization changes from the bottom up, not the top down.
One thing I noticed about the wikileaks is how a LOT of information is going through the system, but it's not getting out to the places it's needed. Something such as weather info about climate change should be a divested interest. The problem is the bureacracy that any President or government official has to wade through.
Take for example, military needs vs business needs. How would you balance both plus add to this the fact that those needs have to be enforced?
I think that everyone has to realize that Obama isn't truly to blame. Look at the administration and how they enforce the policy. Things such as the RIAA being in league with the Justice Department didn't come out of thin air. What we need is for laws in place to stop THAT, not Obama. He's merely a figurehead.
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Re: Obama and the presidency
The guys currently torturing Manning take orders from the people who run the prison, who takes orders from the pentagon, who takes orders from the administration, where the president has the final word.
If Obama objects to (psychological) torture being used in US prison, he can order it to stop... it goes down the chain of command and it should stop. He hasn't given that order, so apparently he doesn't object.
If he doesn't object, he is to blame. It's certainly his fault that he has no moral compass on this issue.
BTW, if a presidential order to cease torturing people doesn't get implemented then it means that there is no longer civilian control over the Army, and your country is in much deeper sh*t than I first thought.
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Re: Re: Obama and the presidency
Also keep this in mind, any law or bill passed to the president, will have three or four different bills with it and if he veto's one he veto's them all. So lets say there's a bill to stop cruelty to animals, but attatched to it is a bill to allow convicts out of jail. Well you don't want the convicts out so he veto's that and in so doing, veto's the prevention of animal cruelty. Media hears about it and assumes the president is an animal hater and therefore is given a bad image. That is our system.
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Re: Re: Re: Obama and the presidency
Let's imagine for a moment that the US president is not the commander in chief and the army does not act on his orders. Then that still doesn't prevent him from having an opinion and stating that in public, if congress then vetoes it the blame can be laid there... fact is he doesn't do anything of the sort, he just stays quiet. Which means to me that he condones it.
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While Obama certainly has the authority to stop it, I'm don't believe he'd be the only one. (Unless he is the one who ordered it, which for all we know he very well may have.)
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Re: Re: Obama and the presidency
In a way, the executive Branch is the easiest control because you have ONE person you give info to. Do you really believe that all of those generals, colonels, etc, are going to tell Obama the day to day treatment of Manning? Or will they say "He's in custody." and move on towards the next order of business?
Again, I think it's pointless to think that merely the guy at the top is scrutinized so severely. Information can be easily left out until such time as it garners a lot more attention.
Just think about this for one second...
The guys currently torturing Manning take orders from the people who run the prison, who takes orders from the pentagon, who takes orders from the administration, where the president has the final word.
All of these people in a top heavy underworld society, do you think any of them can truly help Manning?
Let's think about how long it took for Bush to respond to Abu Ghraib or Gitmo and be realistic... We haven't heard the last of this, and I'm sure so long as more people put up a stink, THEN he'll be treated better.
Such is what I mean when I say the President has to hear about his plight so that people can know what the problem is.
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All I smell is a fart. A weak one.
COME ON.
ARE PEOPLE BEING BRAINWASHED BY MASS MEDIA?
Start posting signs and dissing the gov'mnt websites.
LETS SHOW THE WORLD THAT THE PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE!
Anonymous rally JAN 15!!
ALL START NOW.
What we really need is someone from a MNN (Major news network) to broadcast this, which they won't cause they are mostly corrupt. If not fully.
The USA gov'mnt is in the pay of the money-greedy corporations.
I can't wait till the whole world crashes like the great depression, but global. Then I'll make millions.
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Re: Re: Re: Obama and the presidency
Do *you* really think that they're all lying to him? Do *you* really think that they have him completely isolated and he can't even read the same stories that the rest of America can? If that's what *you* believe, then I think you need a serious reality check.
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Much like I am sure Bush knew that water boarding was being used, Obama now knows that Manning (and many others) are being psychologically tortured.
Yes we need to make more of stink about it, for as long as Obama thinks that most people don't care about the treatment of Manning, he'll do as any other politician: i.e. nothing.
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Unfortunately, my post was eaten from before. But think about all of the things that the President is debriefed about:
Foreign issues (EU's issues and concerns, Assange, Middle East, Africa's concerns, N. Korea...)
Domestic issues (Business meetings, economic crisis, legislation)
Crisis aversion (Arizona shooting, Haiti, Assange on a platter...)
With all of the things he has, I don't think Manning's condition ranks highly, especially with people thinking about him as a betrayer of the country.
Hell, if Mike hadn't investigated the story, I probably would not have known how he has been doing for the past 7 months.
Your last point says exactly what I think will have his treatment made better. People begin to discuss what they're doing to him.
I just think that people need to focus on pressuring the Secretary of Defense (Robert Gates) in regards to the treatment of military personnel. Asking for the President when his opinion can be swayed by other demands and needs is a bit much.
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Re: Obama and the presidency
Yeah, anyone can tell you that the generals take their orders from the privates.
/s
What an idiot.
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Funny how you miss that point to try for a cheap shot.
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It's only cheap because you make it so easy with such absurd statements.
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Please explain.
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Must have been a very long time ago that their government tortured somebody. Maybe back in the middle ages, or do you mean to say that that's where the US is now?
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Thank you for clearing that up.
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I mean, go head, guess away! Just don't try submitting it as evidence, okay?
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He is 100% innocent. How do I come by this number, you wonder? Well, he hasn't gone to trial. Thus, he is presumed innocent. Any deviation from 100% innocent before proven guilty deviates from the Constitution. You know, that thing that protects your right to say stupid, un-American shit on the internet. Yeah, that thing.
The chance that he didn't steal secrets? Well, they "caught" him because a self-described "hacker" turned him in after allegedly having an Instant Messenger conversation with Manning and "fearing for his family's safety". Is that the type of "proof" you feel is iron-clad?
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There's a 100% probability that's he's being punished without due process.
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Moreover, treason still has to be proven. In fact, it bears a pretty high bar of proof. You don't just brand people traitors because it seems at first glance like they are.
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If that isn't whistleblowing, nothing is. The sheer BULK of the leaks also doesn't make this any less whistleblowing. Manning might have seen that thing or something else just as bad, and said "WOW! If we are covering up this, what else are we covering up!" and done a directory dump.... which I would have also done, to be honest, if I had seen that thing above.
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That's funny coming from someone posting anonymously. What a hypocrite. You must be American, right?
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Heresy!
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http://www.chillingmesoftly.com/content/wanna-small-boy-big-mac-sir
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I think he fits that description
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http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/t103.htm
TREASON
This word imports a betraying, treachery, or breach of allegiance.
The Constitution of the United States, Art. III, defines treason against the United States to consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid or comfort. This offense is punished with death. By the same article of the Constitution, no person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.
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The only people who betrayed the US and the US constitution are those who tried to cover up war crimes as well as those who ordered and execute the torture of Bradley Manning.
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Thank you AntiCitizen 3-0-1W-U-S-S, for your cooperation.
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Good for him, Iraq campaign is not a "real war". Would it be, most probably he'd be executed already.
Anyway, somehow, after reading about his personality, i have really little pity for him. He wanted to become famous and prove something? He got it, alright. Too bad, he didn't realized the fame comes at a price.
IMHO, Assange deserves more compassion; at least the guy is on a crusade...
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A court martial is a military trial. That's exactly what we are saying: that he needs a trial, not months of questionable pre-trial custody.
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There is a whistleblowing provision for the military, but from what I can tell, he didn't follow it, as it says you should tell a member of Congress.
Fame, from what I read, had nothing to do with it. He saw what he thought was an injustice and sought to resolve it. Whether or not he made a mistake or not is another story.
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If you could be so kind as to point out your source, that would be awesome.
Once again, to prevent any unneeded anger, I don't agree with the law, but I can't see a way around it, either.
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The fact is that is UNCONSTITUTIONAL because it goes against the First Amendment, which also makes it illegitimate to take away a person's choice of spokesperson.
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You said he did not break the law because it said a military member was allowed to inform anyone who could get the information out. I was interested because when I *defend* Manning in a conversation, this point is bound to come up.
Now you say he did go outside the guidelines of the law, but it's a bad law, so it should be ignored. Do you see how you have contradicted yourself?
While I wouldn't go so far as to say every member of Congress is corrupt, I also agree that the law is naive in thinking that telling a government officials about the wrongdoings of the government will guarantee that knowledge will be used to thwart those wrongdoings.
Since you have switched paths from "not illegal" to "illegal but bad law" i should point out that civil disobedience often results in accepting the punishment for the protested law to bring light on the issue. (Google "martyr") Thus, using the "it's a bad law" is unlikely to get him out of jail anytime soon.
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The Masters have spoken!!
The "rule of law" is often evoced as if it is an absolute. It is not. It's whatever suits them. It use to be used (mostly?) for the benefit of society. Generally in a paternalistic way as we are considered to stupid to know how to behave. However, it is now becomeing obvious that that's out the window. Now it's "shut up and do what your told or else" Manning, who has been convicted of nothing, is experiencing the "or else"
http://exploreingtheinfinite.blogspot.com/
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Re: The Masters have spoken!!
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Re: The Masters have spoken!!
Absent such commitment, we are left with nothing to guide our discourse; leading to situations where the vilest and most violent amongst us WILL have their way.
Indeed, that very "Rule Of Law" calls upon ALL to REFUSE to support societies that participate in plans and preparations that are predicated on a will and capacity to commit murder, and, especially so, "Mass Murder".
Still, it remains that the vast majority, as self-centered cowards, DARE not act on such right and duty until it is absolutely clear to them that there shall be no costs or consequences, just "Tax Savings", if they should develop spine sufficient to act on such.
And so we are left to do what we can, while the world slides into a cesspool of anarchy and worldwide mass murder due the demands of America's Corporate Leadership.
There is BUT ONE WAY to save our collective future:
We MUST, regardless the risk, ACT on our lawful duty to refuse to support any society that would use its nuclear and / or other weapons of mass murder in order to secure the oil and other natural resources without which the whole of that society shall suffer as all others as the "downslope" of "Peak Oil" limits the amount of energy available to "share" amongst the nations and their millions who all DEMAND that THEIR ACCESS to such not be curtailed or even limited to any degree.
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Add your voice to reason's call.
Join the Tax Refusal.
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http://www.TaxRefusal.com
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And the related effort to wake the world:
http://www.StopYourEngines.com
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gaaaaa
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I don't know who you're talking about, but I'm talking about the guy we are torturing who has never been convicted of a crime.
http://www.bradleymanning.org/15952/psychologists-for-social-responsibility-open-letter-to -robert-gates-on-mannings-confinement/
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Case closed.
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I've read that the US military has people whose job it is to troll internet forums, posting lies favorable to the military.
So, how's it going, DS?
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Yes he has basic cable. Yes he has "approved" reading material. And yes, he even has "approved" visitors on the weekend.
Next thing you know they'll really step up the torture and only look at him with frowny faces.
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I can find no sympathy
We need to get him tried and convicted and move on. This should be tried as a capital offense because of the level of potential damage.
MSgt USAF Retired.
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Re: I can find no sympathy
http://crushingbastards.org/blog/2011/01/04/i-am-a-us-air-force-intelligence-veteran-of-the- war-in-afghanistan-and-i-support-wikileaks/
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Re: I can find no sympathy
Perhaps we should send all the speeders to jail, then at the trials mention the fact that they "potentially" could have killed hundreds of people each. Subsequently we could put these folks to death since they "potentially" could have been mass murderers!
Thank you for your service to our country but your statement above, I find incredulous.
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Re: I can find no sympathy
He shouldn't be tried for treason. Last I checked, the NYT isn't an Enemy of the State.
He should, hoever, be tried. Because right now, your country is looking more hypocritical than Darth Benedict.
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Re: I can find no sympathy
blah blah blah
MSgt USAF Retired."
You, sir, are the traitor. You took an oath to defend the constitution of the United States, not its politicians. Perhaps it is people like yourself who should receive capital punishment, "because of the level of potential damage."
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Re: Re: I can find no sympathy
Thing is, his sentiments run even deeper in the military community than the ones who say that Manning did the right thing.
In a way, I think he did the right thing, at the right time, for all of the wrong reasons.
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Interesting that you didn't object when it was Manning being called a traitor.
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It's like a mystical taboo was broken...
The only thing I can't agree is that Manning wasn't doing this for his own personal motivations and notoriety.
The fact that he may have been doing this just to say it was his work gives me the impression he could have done worse, but he also could have done better.
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Oh come on, you don't really expect him to defend THAT do you? It was written by a bunch of TRAITORS!
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Re: I can find no sympathy
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WTF?
CMON AMERICA!
You wanna become another Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan?
Holy F**k
They really are brainwashed.
Here, in australia, things ain't much better.
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WTF?
CMON AMERICA!
You wanna become another Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan?
Holy F**k
They really are brainwashed.
Here, in australia, things ain't much better.
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Military service members are subject to the UCMJ
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Re: Military service members are subject to the UCMJ
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His conditions are much different than those in civilian prisons or even for most other military prisoners.
waiting for trail in confinement is not unusual in military or civilian cases for such magnitude.
So who said otherwise? (other than your straw-man, that is)
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I see it all as a badly-scripted movie, I'm a genius screenwriter
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Re: I see it all as a badly-scripted movie, I'm a genius screenwriter
But, as a consolation prize you get a +1 for a post with the most words starting with the letter "i".
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Mr. Manning's imprisonment
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Bradley Manning
This is what has happened to Bradley Manning. He is a hero to the ordinary person because he told the truth...unlike Governments.
His incarceration is the shameful result of a Government employee being found out. His treatment is getting close to the contempt that the 'Crazy Horse' Apache pilot used when he murdered 14 innocent Iraqi's in the 'Collateral Damage' film you "were'nt supposed to see".
Shame on you America!
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ye ye ye
the word is big~~~~~
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