Investigators Still Can't Find Any Evidence To Link Assange & Manning; DoD Insists It Must Be True
from the that's-called-denial-folks dept
Last month, there were already reports that the Justice Department was having trouble linking Bradley Manning to Julian Assange -- a key piece necessary to charge Assange with any sort of crime. US investigators have known for a long time that if they can't get such evidence, they don't have much of a case. Back in December, it was reported that they had even offered Manning a plea deal if he would just implicate Assange. The only problem: it appears he's not willing to do so, and there's no other evidence. In fact, all the evidence suggests what everyone said from the beginning: Manning decided to take whatever documents he took himself, and whoever uploaded it to Wikileaks (and it's still not confirmed that it was Manning, though he's obviously the most likely) did so of their own free will, not because of pressure from Assange.The latest reports (via Julian Sanchez) suggest more of the same. The Justice Department is trying really, really hard to link the two, but seems to be quietly admitting that there may be no "there" there, and because of that, there may be no case. What's really stunning however, is that despite all of this work to try to find a simple link, and the lack of any evidence of that link, the Defense Department is still insisting that the link is there and that Assange must be charged.
I find this pretty interesting. I'm assuming the view of DoD officials is clouded by the fact that Manning, by being in the armed services, was a part of the DoD and that they can't accept the idea that he might honestly believe there were wrongdoings that needed to be exposed. They insist that Assange must have preyed on him and pushed and cajoled him into sharing the info. Of course, now the big question is what will the government do. Without this link, there's no case against Assange. So either they try some other, exceptionally weak claim. Or... the give up. They should know what the right option is, but somehow I doubt they'll choose wisely.
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Filed Under: bradley manning, defense department, julian assange, justice department, wikileaks
Companies: wikileaks
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Pffft! Easy
How much more proof could you possibly need that they are linked to one another?
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Initially is, however, not currently...as this article appears to strongly suggest.
Perhpas I missed something in the article and would welcome being directed to where in the article the DOD's current position is stated.
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History shows...
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Re: Pffft! Easy
I've seen this before....when Glenn Beck claimed that I was Nazi Communist French-Canadian Jew for pointing out the issues with no oversight.
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I wonder if there's any chance of Bradley Manning running for president? I know I'd vote for him. Maybe Daniel Ellsberg could be VP?
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New play at home game?
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Re:
I'm a Journal subscriber myself, but it's really gone downhill since Murdoch took over.
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Assange is not a US citizen, and any actions he may or may not have taken were not on US soil. Thus, he has no requirement to constrain himself to the confines of US law. In what legal manner would they have jurisdiction?
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paid testimony
It is plausible that they would do so, whether Assange had actually been involved or not. One more thing for a juror to remember.
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They can also take the third option: just go after him illegally.
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As for plea deals for Manning, that is pretty common in the entire justice system. Why get just one person when you can take down all the co-conspirators?
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Re: Pffft! Easy
Not so sure about Assange - he looks a little strange...
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Re:
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Sounds like...
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Re: New play at home game?
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Re:
That much of a link obviously exists, but there is nothing there to charge Assange with. Basically the government wants to prove some type of conspiracy between Assange and Manning because that would allow them to prosecute Assange. If they can't find any evidence of prior contact between the two, then it is going to be impossible to prove that they conspired.
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Third option
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Typo?
I'm having trouble parsing that as is, should it be:
"
...but seems to be quietly admitting that there may be no "link" there..."
Maybe I'm misreading.
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Re: Sounds like...
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Re: Re:
Assange is just an assclown facing rape charges and with a collection of bastard children (4 at last count... he apparently isn't good with condoms). He is facing enough trouble as it is.
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Re:
These are usually proposed by the "Legalus Bullius"
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Re: Re: Pffft! Easy
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Re:
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Clearly he SHOULD be acquitted, watching the government take a trumped up case to court and get slapped in the face by an acquittal would restore a lot of faith in our justice system around the world and also show the US government that fabricating charges is not an effective way to deal with problems.
If Assange were convicted at least the world would know where the justice system stood, as a mere political shield furthering the interests of the US government, without respect for the rights of foreign nations and nationals, or even our own constitution.
I know many people already think this is the case, but my eternal optimism believes there may be a little justice left in our justice system.
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Re:
Using that logic, the link between Assange and Manning is exactly the same as the link between Assange and YOU: you can both anonymously upload documents to a a website Assange founded.
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Re: Re: Re:
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why worry..
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Re: Re: Re:
How is that "clear"? I can submit documents to Wikileaks right now and never have talked to anyone, anywhere about it. Would that mean I "have a relationship" with Assange?
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Re:
"Army investigators now believe Pfc. Manning decided to steal the documents and give them to WikiLeaks on his own, out of his own malice toward the military or the government, according to a senior U.S. official."
Nowhere does it say that the "DoD insists [the link between Manning and Assange] must be true".
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Distracted twice
So either they try some other, exceptionally weak claim. Or... the give up
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Re: Distracted twice
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Re: Just because I shove something in your mailbox doesn't mean there's a link between us.
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Re: Re: Just because I shove something in your mailbox doesn't mean there's a link between us.
hehe. one way links, ya know?
(i am aware [or at least desperately hoping] that the above post was a joke :) )
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Re:
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America's Corporate Masters Don't Need "Evidence" . .
Regardless that they shall be let loose upon Humanity's latest heroes . . and do as they did to the NeuroSurgeon who was sentenced to 86 years in Jail for daring to defy America's mice . . . after keeping her in jail in Afghanistan for some 5 years and allowing her youngest child to die while in such conditions:
Bradley Manning has proved his mettle.
He won't accept any deal offered by bastards who are unable to care less about "Humanity" than they presently do.
But such will be rendered meaningless when the "Boot-Licker" nation, Sweden, manages to extradite Julian Assange from Britain and then deliver him, regardless the law against any such action, into the hands of America's torturers.
BTW: America's Corporate Masters are quite leery / hesistant about putting Bradley Manning on trial.
His defense, his only defense, is based on the concept of "Superior Duty".
All who have knowledge of crimes committed by their nation, superiors or any other that can be considered "A Crime Against Humanity" have a DUTY, at law, to ensure that such is revealed to as great an audience as possible.
Ergo: Bradley Manning and Julian Assange shall suffer for their crime of daring to do "The Right Thing".
Of course, most Americans, perhaps due the nature of their infection by the madness of greed, are unable to come to terms and accept and support the need for individuals with spine and integrity sufficient to speak up when they KNOW they must.
To help all such Americans, I offer this:
******************************
Maintain The Rage!
Add your voice to reason's call.
Join the Tax Refusal.
******************************
http://www.TaxRefusal.com
************************* *****
And the related effort to wake the world:
STOP YOUR ENGINES !
http://www.StopYourEngines.com
******************************
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Found them
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Re: Typo?
'...no "there" there' is a figure of speech sometimes heard in the US.
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Re: Re: Pffft! Easy
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