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Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON - A U.S. Army officer is recommending that Pfc. Bradley E. Manning face a general court-martial for the biggest leak of classified information in U.S. history -- the WikiLeaks case.
After an Article 32 hearing under the military legal system, the investigating officer concluded that the "charges and specifications are in the proper form and that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the accused committed the offenses alleged," according to a statement by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.
The recommendation will now be forwarded up the chain of command for a final determination. Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington will make the ultimate decision on whether Manning will stand trial. The military did not provide a timeline for those actions.
Manning faces 22 counts, including aiding the enemy, alleging that he gave more than 700,000 secret U.S. documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Prosecutors say WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange collaborated with Manning.
Defense lawyers say Manning, 24, was clearly a troubled young soldier who suffered from psychological problems stemming from gender confusion. They say the Army never should have sent him to Iraq or given him access to classified material.
If convicted of all charges, Manning would face a maximum punishment of confinement for life; reduction to the lowest enlisted pay grade, E-1; total forfeiture of all pay and allowances; and a dishonorable discharge.
The investigating officer, Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, presided over Manning's seven-day preliminary hearing, called an Article 32 investigation, in December at Fort Meade, Md. During that hearing, military prosecutors produced evidence that Manning downloaded and electronically transferred to WikiLeaks nearly half a million sensitive battlefield reports from Iraq and Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables, and video of a deadly 2007 Army helicopter attack that WikiLeaks shared with the world and dubbed "Collateral Murder."
Manning's lawyers countered that others had access to Manning's workplace computers. They say he was in emotional turmoil, partly because he was a gay soldier at a time when homosexuals were barred from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces.
Manning's apparent disregard for security rules during stateside training and his increasingly violent outbursts after deployment were red flags that should have prevented him from having access to classified material, the defense claims. Manning's lawyers also contend that military computer security was lax; and that the material WikiLeaks published did little or no harm to national security.
Jeff Paterson, a founding member of the Bradley Manning Support Network, said the recommendation was what he expected.
This article includes reporting from msnbc.com staff and The Associated Press.
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Send this disgusting creature to Leavenworth for the rest of his life, and throw away the key.
Bradley Manning is vermin.
There is no 'justification' for what he did. I am sure there are many homosexuals who have served but never betrayed their country as this man did. There is no excuse. Also the guy from wikileaks should be held accountable, if he has not already.
If he displayed the alleged behavior, he should have been stripped of his security clearance. I believe I would have been stripped of mine. But that was back in the fifties. A good friend was stripped of his because he married a japanese girl. Also I believe the Wikileaks individual should go on trial for treason.
How DARE the American people know what our military is doing abroad. It is imperative that we remain blissfully ignorant of the workings of our government and military. How else are they going to do whatever the hell they want?
Edward Donald Slovik (February 18, 1920 – January 31, 1945) was a private in the United States Army during World War II and the only American soldier to be court marshaled and exicuted
There is no excuse at all for what he did but you have to watch for Anonymous and that bunch to disrupt any and all things pertaining to this.
Good Luck!!!
Good thinking Timothy - When the military is engaged - I can think of nothing better than to tell the world what they are doing. It is obvious you have a total disregard for the life's of those that serve. Also disclosed was the personal information of informants all over the world, many of which we have lost contact. Which in other words, they were eliminated by those countries. Yes, contributing to the murder of people working on our behalf is commendable.
For what, James?
Timothy,
You are a remarkably ignorant little man. I can't believe there are so many seriously stupid people on the Internet. It's really odd that you and your ilk all seem to flock here. Probably because you wouldn't have the guts to say the stupid crap you say out in public.
It's amazing that the dumbest of the dumb are the ones with the biggest mouths. I'm looking at you Cat of Nyan, Keith and James.
Timothy please shut up, your stupidity only shows worse when you open your trap. In every war in every country the army has done things that they are not proud of. It never came to light, we all know its true. But to have all that information broadcast to every one of our enemies is not only stupid but will hurt our attempts to peacefully settle things with those people. Would you act favorably to the guy that called you a idiot to his friends, when the story got back to you. Not likely. Now comes the time when our foreign affairs people have to clean up all the messes that were made because of water cooler talk got posted to the internet.
steven b and all the rest of you brainless twits>>>>you are the vermin and the enemy of this country<<<<go inbreed some more freaks!!!!
SOB... he told the truth....Can't have that when it comes to the US military. We lied our way into the war, lied to keep it going and we will be damned if we are going to let anyone tell the truth. To make sure no one upsets the apple cart , we will make an example of anyone who tells the truth.
Reminds me of Daniel Ellsworth and what happened when told the truth. History sure repeats itself. Lied into Vietnam by the CIA, then punish anybody who tells the truth. Lied into Iraq by the CIA, punish anybody who tells the truth.
As usual there are the " never been in the military tough guys" saying kill the truth teller, as these TV military tough guys can always be counted on to talk down someone who was actually in. We still hear "we could have won Vietnam"...you just don't hear it from anybody who was there, just the draft dodgers "tough guys".
Now the soldiers coming back from our latest fools errand will be vilified by the " never been in the military tough guys", if they dare say what a fools errand it was.
"SOB... he told the truth...."
He broke the law by disseminating classified information. Freedom of expression does NOT apply, and this is clearly outlined to potential recruits. He willfully broke the law.
You may applaud a civilian who hunts down and murders a known criminal, but in the process of doing so, the civilian has committed a crime himself, knowingly, and must face the consequences of his actions. . .as will Manning.
Bill S...take away your love for Manning and the fact that you think he walks on water and farts multicolored rainbow bubbles....Whether or not you think the"world" should have known....Take away all of that and it all boils down to HE BROKE THE FRIKKEN LAW. He hacked into an area that he didn't have access to and stole information he wasn't supposed to have...Why can't people like you see through the hatred you have for America and realize he did something illegal....
And the excuse is because he was gay?? Bullsh*t....I know many people who are gay and in the military and never even thought of doing something like this....
He's lucky he won't be executed.....
And yes I have heard it from the ones who were there that we could have won Vietnam if the Politicians would have kept the fu** out of it...So please stop pretending no one who fought there didn't/doesn't think that.....
It's not about telling the truth you tool...It's about commiting a crime...But I know it's hard to see anything normally through your bellybutton....
I love how apologists for this traitorous lawbreaker happily collapse threads calling him what he is.
Well I do not agree to anybody being gay, that is not accepted in God's eyes! But have you guys or gals done any research on the material he leaked thru wikileaks? I did 30 months in Iraq, and I found actually sit reps, (situation reports) that were telling lies, of while I was there! Also some of the information that I read revealed how we were losing men, and nobody was taking preventative actions to correct the issues! What was really sad, is when you seen the video, Collateral Damage. I was an F.A.C. (forward air controller). I would have never ever called in a mission to attack men walking down a street, that were no threat, to me or my men with me! What you guys seem to forget, is all these leaked documents reveal to our country, thru our commander and chief, lied about WMD's Does that make any sense to anybody? We were sent into a country that had nothing to do with 911. My buddies, my family were murdered by attacking a nation that had absolutely nothing to do with 911.
People, please listen to "Christian Missionary". Stop dismissing people who support Manning's actions as "America haters". That barely even makes sense as an accusation. Just look into what's being discussed here and THEN talk. If you still keep the same opinion, then so be it. But you owe a duty to your country to cast an INFORMED vote. I have a strong sense that the vast majority of people posting on this article are grossly uninformed. ^Read "Christian Missionary"'s post above.
I don't think you hate America josh. I just think you're missing the whole point of the issue here.
Manning broke his oath, and the law. The law he broke exists to protect his fellow servicemen/women, and the safety of our nation. As such, that law MUST be consistently enforced. We are, after all, a nation of laws.
Manning broke the law and his oath. And the US broke its trust.
Manning will rot in jail for a long, long time.
I hope he breaks his back doing hard labor.
Is it as simple as Manning broke the law and should be punished ? If you are going to be outraged at that, then you also need to be outraged at our elected officials fighting illegal unjust wars under the false pretense of freedom and doing the right thing. While I will always support and admire our servicemen and women, it's an outright lie that they are over there fighting for freedom. America's elected officials have created this, directly and indirectly. Our elected officials directly created people like Bin Laden and Hussein, and indirectly with America's foreign policy. Does Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan endanger my freedoms and liberties ? How is that possible, they aren't coming here and invading New Jersey, let's be honest. How many American civilians have been killed by terrorism in America since 9/11 ? How many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters died serving and fighting for this country since 9/11 ? How many people committing acts of terror have we really caught with all our stepped up "security" ? All in the name of freedom ? Meanwhile back in the Hall of Justice, we have The Patriot Act, Home Land Security, crazy, invasive rules for leaving our own country, no jobs, poor, backward education system, taxation without representation, bad money and economy, I could go on and on !
By classifying everything, speaking becomes illegal. The military classify s everything, so nobody knows what mistakes and lies are being covered up.
If someone in the CIA had the guts to do what Manning did the country would have 4500 less dead soldiers, 40, 000+ less maimed individuals, and a few trillion dollars. Just what streets were the warehouses with the chemical weapons on? I want to google map the location. Same with the biological weapons...yeh and what street the nuclear complex and all the power infrastructure needed were on.
Why did we keep on fighting if there were no weapons? New bunch of lies on Saddam and the Al Quida. Someone knew these were lies, but because the information was classified it was against the law to tell the truth.
Within 10 years almost every troop that went to Iraq, will consider him more hero than traitor and will wonder who the hell else knew , but didn't speak up.
If you can't be trusted you can't be trusted, you cant play anymore, Manning is probably responsible for a lot of lives of people that trusted us, when he gave out sensitive information to the world he also supplied the enemy with the info for them to counter our efforts. this is a big issue in the dirty business of war, Manning should be hung. he caused allot of people to lose their lives its only fair. and yes people died over this.
I'm confused, I thought Manning was already serving time for this??
Actually, D Buck, it's been confirmed by the US government that Manning's release of the documents has not been responsible for any deaths.
Yet again, another case of uninformed assumption.
As a gay man, I find the attempt by his attorneys to use that as an excuse in any way shape and form to be offensive as hell.It denigrates gay people everywhere and feeds into the bigotry we have to fight against everyday.
He did the crime, and he needs to do the time. Whether or not that information should or should not have come to light and been spread is irrelevant. He was in a position of trust, he did not reveal a horrible conspiracy or crime that was being committed. He simply opened up the vault and sent it to the printer for all to see. And the value keeper is not supposed to do that. People very well may die for his actions. No gay or transgender (As he purports to be) would ever want to see that used as an excuse for treason.
I'm quite positive that defense attorneys couldn't give a damn whether you're offended or not. Their job isn't to ensure you're not offended, their job is to give whatever story they think will get their client the lightest sentence.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
Christian Missionary, you should get your facts straight. That incident, collateral damage, was not what you're trying to make it out to be. You, and a lot of other people, make believe that the shooting of the reporters was done by some out of control cowboys who thought it was fun to shoot at anything moving.
There was a firefight there, just 3-4 minutes before the helicopter showed up. There were US soldiers nearby. The crew in the helicopter took a minute or two, which is a long time in a situation like that, trying to identify the men on the ground. They talked up and back with their command post as to whether they should fire or not. The reporters had equipment slung over their soldiers. They looked like insurgents carrying weapons out to the van. The reporters share some of the blame. They should have been more careful. It's tragic, but friendly fire happens in war.
They were not some out of control cowboys like you and others try to paint them as.
As far as Bradley goes, he deserves to rot in jail the rest of his life. He almost certainly got people killed. It was the largest security leak in the history of the US. For some reason Manning is a hero to some whackos out there. Only someone who is mentally disturbed would think that. As far as incidents of innocent people getting killed, you have to be very naive not to know that accidental deaths happen in war. Releasing that part of the information didn't accomplish anything. And I agree with others, they should lock up Assange too. Send out a squad of ghosts to find him and bring him back here for a trial.
To bad they can't execute this low-life 22 times for each count of treason.
You don't know anything about this case other than what you're being told in this article, do you? Have you seen the videos released? Have you read the "military secrets" that this guy revealed? He's a whistle-blower because he values innocent human lives. He's been dubbed a scoundrel by his overseers because they don't like that now people know the dirty, horrible, disgusting, illegal things that they've been doing in secret--shooting civilians for fun, blowing up buildings and entire cities without concern for the innocent people living in them. They want to maintain a clean image for the American public, no matter how untruthful and no matter what the cost. How would you feel if your sister was walking home from the grocery store and was shot at repeatedly from a helicopter and killed for no reason. Why is it that people have such a hard time thinking of people that live in other countries as real people? And then every once in a while when an honest person pops up and says "hey this isn't right", it's people like you that have absolutely no idea what you're talking about that cheer as he's executed. There are too many people that don't research anything before forming an ardent opinion on it.
josh, are you really naiive enough to believe that armed conflict can have a 'clean image'? It can't. No sane person thinks otherwise. And it doesn't justify the violation of the oath, and the law, that Manning committed. Those laws are in place for a reason, to protect the lives of our soldiers.
That you would so eagerly toss aside the safety of our troops, your own countrymen, in favor of an individual who willfully violated his oath, betrayed the country he took that oath to, and broke the law, is incredibly telling.
This is pure BS. This guy is a private in the army?? Who gave him the authority to view classified information?? That's the guy who should be court marshalled.
are you @!$%#ing serious? have you joined the service? i guess not? especially the infantry.. if you had or if youd seen some of the @!$%# i have youd have a diffrent persepctive. that @!$%# has changed my life. i have seen some @!$%# that would scare you. so i dont want to hear anout dirty, horrible secret @!$%# youve herd about. maybe some of things youve heard about are bad, but you dont understand, so you better nut up or shut up and join the @!$%#ing service before you bag on it. peace.
Its not what he leaked you dumb a$$. You obviously never served, your just some liberal POS. This guy could have potentially put many lives in danger. Beside the fact he took the oath he swore and threw it out the window. You, idiot, need not believe everything you read on some anti war liberal nut-job website.
Hey Josh...how do you make the far reaching connection fom treason to someone's sister being shot and killed by American gunnies in helicopters? To what specific account are you refering to Josh? Were you present at that specific incident, or is it an account you read about in another forum (much like "common man" did here), or should I say liberal rag? Blowing up buildings and killing innocent people are we? Hmm....are you refering to 9/11? I thought not. 9/11 is so far in your rear view mirror you don't even recognize the fact that the very american military fighting men and women you are quick to throw under the bus for committing "illegal things in secret" are the very reason you have the right and liberty to write your comments on this forum without being thrown in jail or executed without trial? You call this private an "honest" who cried out "this isn't right?" Please do yourself a favor: read up on what you are talking about and get the damn facts right. You are clueless and in fact, quite dangerous.
Yashmak well said!
Josh, what part of, "HE BROKE THE LAW!" is so difficult for you to comprehend?
No but they can bring him to the verge of death and not kill him 22 times.
So after you guys execute this guy can we then proceed to execute the homosexual who started a war with a country who had nothing to do with 9/11. W Bush even has admitted he knew Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 but he wanted to start a war. he wasted trillions of dollars and murdered thousands of people. If that is not a capital offense then this guy Manning should get a freakin medal.
Of course I realize the importance of such laws. Manning did too, apparently, as it's been confirmed that none of the material released compromised the safety of US troops. The documents released dealt solely with injustices already committed by the US military in Iraq, and this act was one of several that turned public opinion against this war and will hopefully allow the US to leave Iraq in the near future. More lives--American and not--will be saved in part because of Manning's true patriotism to the founding ideals of this country. Obeying somebody because they've told you to obey them is not beneficial to anyone but that dictator.
I haven't served because I don't believe in this war. I understand that those who have served scorn on that, believe it to be an excuse for cowardice, or possibly just can't understand it. Of course I admire the courage and loyalty of those who have served, but I, along with countless veterans and civilians, believe it to be misled in this specific instance.
Also, my sources aren't some liberal not job website--I, too, and wary of those. The instances to which I was referring--innocent shooting of civilians-- are those documented in Manning's leaks.
The horrible @!$%# that you've seen in the army (and I have no doubt that you've seen some horrible things) is the same as what some Iranians have experienced, with one difference: You experienced it while enlisted in the military; many of them are experiencing it at home, while just going about their lives.
Pictures get distorted when you put them in black and white, Nav Doc. Obviously he broke the law, and obviously that's a risk he was willing to take. You have to ask yourself why he broke the law, though. This coverup of being a stressed-out gay is ridiculous, and it's the same as pleading insanity. He broke the law of the US military in order to uphold a greater humanitarian law. It had no consequences other than helping establish public opposition to the war, which is itself a giant illegality littered with various crimes in which US civilians (amongst others) have been the victims. Small picture vs. big picture.
Also, Yashmak, I think you misunderstood what I meant by "clean image". "Honorable image" may have been a better phrase.
josh is right
No military personnel were compromised by Manning's actions. Manning was a whistle blower.
Problem was Manning is in the military and had a conscience... that's not allowed.
Josh, no matter how altruistic you try to make Manning seem, it does not fly. He in fact broke the law and deserves to be punished as determined by a military Courts Martial. He did not break just the law of the U.S. military. The statutes he violated also apply to the Departments of State and the Department of Justice. Your comment regarding black and white is off base. It is much clearer in black and white whereas you are trying to throw different shades to your justifications. I served honorably for 20 years in the service of my country including two wars. During my service I held high level security clearances and it was very carefully explained what the consequences of violating the National Securities Act were, just as was explained to Manning. I have been retired since 1993 and still am subject to the provisions therein and I take them seriously still. People posting here say that nobody was harmed by what he did. Wrong! First of all, we the public do not know for sure what the full ramifications were. Second, even if no one was harmed, the potential for such was there which in some cases makes it just as bad! Young Mr Manning will be tried by a military court, and if found guilty, will most likely spend most of his years behind bars.
Ed:
Whenever any military is doing something that it shouldn't, and especially when it is something harmful to the general population, it always gets classified as "secret." Well, do you want to know something? If the military decides to to secret radiation testing in my neighborhood, I want someone to break silence. Secrets are used more to protect some high-ranking official's butt than they are to protect the troops.
Pvblivs; watch too many movies do you? Ed is right, you have no idea how wrong you are. People are people; we all want the best for us. Your paranoia is best left to the movie writers; it doesn't happen that way in real life. In reality, most military commanders actually lead a more moral life than you do; it comes from discipline and devout belief. Most secrets in the military would seem rather ridiculous to you, taken out of context. You really don't understand.
Mike:
No, actually, I seldom watch movies. But some secrets have historically been uncovered to have been very damaging to the public, even in this country. And, if the secrecy wasn't usually successful they would stop the exercise in futility. Furthermore, any ignorance I have on the matter is tied directly to the fact that THEY ARE KEEPING SECRETS ABOUT IT. Before you bother telling me I don't understand, break the secrecy. I understand as well as I can from the information that they are not hiding behind lock and key. As for the claim that most military commanders lead a more moral life than I: You don't know me personally well enough to make that judgement; and secrecy prevents either of us from examining the commanders' official actions swell enough to make that determination anyway. Again, you have to break the secrecy before your claim can have any merit.
As a previous security clearance holder, I can say emphatically : NO! I will not break the silence, I will not reveal anything that I may know, I will not break my oath to my country. Regardless, your circular logic doesn't hold water; according to you, any argument I may make is invalid until I do exactly what I am arguing against. Your argument is intellectually dishonest(read Robert's Rules of Debate) and ridiculous to boot. I personally hope Manning fries; my opinion, don't bother rebutting it.
I good read is Daniel Ellsburg, who faced criminal punishment for the Pentagon Papers. History has served Daniel well, as his breaking of his oath as a private security contractor and subsequant admonishment by his detractors, did little to defeat his ethical stand. We all better understand the administration of modern war, and the politics involved because of him. Freedom of speech is a principle of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. War/Security Policy is a administrtive function used to defend those freedoms.
Bob, the difference between Manning and Ellsburg is this: Manning was enlisted and gave up his rights for the UCMJ, Ellsburg was a private citizen. He never should have been given clearance, but he was a civilian. Manning DOES NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, he gave that up to serve. Wrong or right, Manning has commited treason.
Mike:
Your whole argument is that, since I don't know what you are keeping secret, that I should just shut up. Not gonna happen. Manning is a whistleblower. He is being punished for being a whistleblower. That's what this code of silence is all about. By the way, the Constitution defines treason very narrowly, and Mannings actions don't fit. But that won't stop a kangaroo court.
Fry the a hole
Biggest leak my ass.
When we outsourced our screw (propeller) milling to China they leaked the technology to the Russians in a week.
This is nothing more than 'look over here' while the fed is printing and delivering billions of dollars making everything you have worthless.
Enjoy the stage act!!
Fry the guy......putting our soldiers in harms way and putting our nation open to foreign sabotage.
It is unfortunate that we no longer execute traitors.
You wouldn't know a traitor if you were living with one
"It is unfortunate we no longer execute traitors". Maybe. But just imagine the expense of having to execute most of the so called politicians in Washington D.C.
He should be court martailed. If we can not trust military personnel to keep military information confidential, who can we entrust it to.
Code of conduct on the battle field is you have your fellow soldiers back. If he endangered one soldier he has broken that code.
b-895713 said it best. I served several years in Iraq and I always taught my soldiers to treat everyone with respect and integrity in the way they would want to be treated. We were far from perfect, but we believed that the United States of America depended on us to do everything within our power to maintain security for their own piece of mind. To take that away from someone for your own cause... you would have to be one selfish SOB!
Well since he enlisted he took an oath so I guess there is no excuse for what he decided to do, and anyone that thinks he was right are free to leave OUR country, I like that good old saying, Love it or leave it ...
While I don't believe Private Manning should be executed, I do believe he should spend the vast majority of the rest of his sorry days making big ones into little ones (too bad they don't do that anymore!) at Fort Leavenworth or at the Colorado Supermax.
Ptv. Manning shuld be givin 100 medal of honor. He is a ture patroit. Why hate? plaese help this boy!
Private Manning should be executed without delay. It would be great if it could be done on all media stations (not during prime time of course) so he could finally be an example. This would make us more secure and safe from internal treason. This is not battlefield protical. I had a top secret clearance with SBI endorsement and know exactlly what that means and the responsibilities it brings.
We do not need to put him in prison to live out his life at taxpayer expense. If you put him in a prison, make it a military one. He will only last hours. Oops, he hung himself.
Give it up, he is a traitor and as such deserves to die for it. Worse case, he was a traitor in uniform. Worse than a deserter. Frag him.
So should the murdering, raping Grunt SCUM that raped and then killed that 14 year old Iraqi girl, her brothers and sisters, and her old grandparents....those HEROES, those MACHO MEN, those BRAVE US SOLDIERS!
I was never in the military but I have worked as an emergency responder and have been to Iraq and worked at the pile on 9/11 at the WTC. This country and the world are getting soft. One of my biggest regrets was not joining the military when I was eligible. The government should reinstitute mandatory service. Either some sort of social service or military service but, everyone should give back something and have to do one or the other. JFK said it best, " ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". As far as Manning goes, he should be executed or serve a life sentence in a military prison. Regardless of his so called condition which soft defense lawyers attempt to use as an excuse for treason. It was still treason. So what if he is gay and if guys picked on him, if that were even the case, you DO NOT give out information which can compromise security. Go cry in your milk but, no matter what, stand up and have integrity punk. And whether the information was sensitive or not he did not have the authority to give it out especially more than 700,000 secrets. Who are these lawyers who claim that this information wasn't damaging. How do they know that for sure. It doesn't even matter whether is was or wasn't damaging, Manning is a rat and a traitor period. You Hanoi Jane loving Ass's stop the crap and implement due punishment.
Wars are not tidy, not pretty, not for the heroic, and not for the sane. Raping, pillaging, treason, and murder all go part and parcel with war. History is repleat with such accounts. Is anybody surprised? Manning may have exposed some of the raping, pillaging, and murder of a war, but he committed treason in doing so, and so should pay the price...
No, Sortn, he didn't commit treason. He was a whistleblower. Unfortunately, whistleblower protections do not apply to the military. They should. Before such protections were instituted, this is pretty much how companies treated whistleblowers in their employ. It's strange how actions the people in pwer should not be doing are always "secret."
The United States Military isn't a 'company'.
It's the only thing between us and the loss of our freedom.
Manning isn't a 'whistleblower' (although you may be using a new form of homosexual slang I am not familiar with).
Manning released confidential information by the boatload, he didn't read the material and he didn't understand the implications of his actions.
He's a young, twenty-something whelp.
Manning did it for the attention.
Now he's going to have plenty of attention, and a long time in prison to contemplate his transgressions.
"The United States Military isn't a 'company'"
That's true. But the same principle applies. People abusing their power don't like to be exposed for it.
"It's the only thing between us and the loss of our freedom."
You might want to take another look. The government is actively dismantling freedom.
"Manning isn't a 'whistleblower'"
He looks like one to me. Of course, the supporters of retribution always deny whistleblower status.
Yes pvblivs, the government is actively dismantling our freedom; our liberal government is actively dismantling our freedoms, dismantling our way of life, and demanding that we allow it in the name of "fairness" to the rest of the world. The military isn't the government, although it does answer to it. And Manning may be a "whistleblower", but I really don't care about his private life. As for the military, it does indeed have a whistleblower policy and protections, which you would know if you had served....
P.S. Screw the rest of the world; they don't have to live here, we do.
Mike:
I notice that the dismantling of freedoms always goes faster when the "conservatives" are in charge. But niether major party is really in favor of freedom.
An official policy can be just for show. Manning spoke out and was a whistleblower for having done so. We are not walking about his private life. We are talking about him publicly blowing the whistle on (in this case) the military. What they do with Manning shows their true whistleblower policy, not the feel-good one they pretend to have.
How did Manning speak out? I haven't read anything saying that he attempted to complain about anything. Instead, he gave classified material to a foreign national who in turn released it on the internet. He didn't even try to release it to American media; he gave it to a foreigner who is a well known anarchist and his hatred of our country is plain. Everything about this smells like espionage to me, not whistleblowing. My question is: why do you seem to hate our country so much? And since you hate it, why do you stay?
Assange, the alleged "anarchist", gave the Pentagon advance notice of what was going to be released. He didn't give the information secretly to our "enemies" without letting us know what they would learn. Wake up! Espionage involves attempting to secretly obtain and dispense information to our enemies or even our allies. If you do it openly , long after giving the "proper redacting authorities" a heads up and advance time to clean up their "assets", it is an act of whistleblowing. The secret is no longer under your control, it is no longer a secret. The notion that you can classify something that is already in the public domain, is ORWELLIAN to say the least.
Is this what a true "anarchist" would have done? If your sense of "order" is based on LIES, then you are not to be believed when you call truth tellers 'anarchists".
Yes Paul and Pvblivs, it's all a conspiracy by the military- industrial complex to take away your right to defecate where you eat.
Mike:
I see. You have no case; so you resort to resort to an strawman and an appeal to ridicule. I'm not really surprised. As it stands, they will have to use an extreme kangaroo court to get a conviction.
See you in transgenderist HELL, Private Manning!
You don't know anything about this case other than what you're being told in this article, do you? Have you seen the videos released? Have you read the "military secrets" that this guy revealed? He's a whistle-blower because he values innocent human lives. He's been dubbed a scoundrel by his overseers because they don't like that now people know the dirty, horrible, disgusting, illegal things that they've been doing in secret--shooting civilians for fun, blowing up buildings and entire cities without concern for the innocent people living in them. They want to maintain a clean image for the American public, no matter how untruthful and no matter what the cost. How would you feel if your sister was walking home from the grocery store and was shot at repeatedly from a helicopter and killed for no reason. Why is it that people have such a hard time thinking of people that live in other countries as real people? And then every once in a while when an honest person pops up and says "hey this isn't right", it's people like you that have absolutely no idea what you're talking about that cheer as he's executed. There are too many people that don't research anything before forming an ardent opinion on it. If you really want to do your country a favor, be someone that examines definitely American values closely and applies them to present-day scenarios with a critical eye.
Former Senator George McGovern said that "the highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plain."
Another good quote from James Bryce: Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.
Judging by the general nature of people that don't REALLY look into things, I don't expect you to read the entirety of this post, but nonetheless, I hope you do.
And there is recourse for that kind of whistle-blowing. LEGAL recourse. Manning did not take that recourse. Instead, he broke the UCMJ, the law, and his oath of service to his nation. Instead, he endangered our soldiers by allowing that information to reach our enemies. . .something which would NOT have happened if he had followed the established whistle-blower process.
Your arguments are off-base. There was an established method to 'call our country to a higher plain'. Manning chose not to take it.
Dumb ass, when you are working with those type of information, I don't care what rank you are , if you don't safe guard it , you are in trouble.I always had clearance to classified information, I did't dare break the rules because I knew I would be charged. He knew what risk he was taking, now to use the Gay Card, Bull give the traitor what he deserves.
JOSH,
I served in the military for 10 years and worked Intelligence.....Your a $#%@^* moron.
.
rashmak said it perfectly. you are wrong josh, endangering people's lives, spilling secrets to the ENEMY those are not the actions of a patriot... there are RIGHT channels and WRONG ones... he should be MADE AN EXAMPLE of to discourage future "troubled" people from opting to do this unless they have COMPLETELY lost their damn minds...and then they should be spotted well before and thrown out...
Umm, Josh, you're an idiot.
He's a dirty, rotten filthbag who betrayed his numerous oaths.
He WILL be sent to prison....for a long time.
Anyone notice how people that sympathize with this tratiorous scumbag don't get their comments "collapsed by the community"? I gues the "community" is full of traitors as well.(they will probably collapse this lol)
Of course he is going to be court marshaled, and most likely found guilty and serve hard time.
And he still has my vote of thanks for turning a spotlight on just how venal our foreign policy is, and providing concrete reasons why there are people on this planet who just don't like us, and NOT because of our flatscreens and SHRINKING freedoms.
The Manning supporters are simply reacting emotionally, because they lack understanding and logic.
In other words, typical liberals.
Josh: When Manning received his clearance - and the attendant briefings - he was told, and told very clearly, what the consequences were of compromising any data he had. Simple compromise, that is allowing anybody not authorized access to the information was (and is) punishable by up to ten years in prison. Compromising the information (national defense information. Note that the charges do not state classified information.) to the aid of a foreign power (not an enemy of the U.S., but any foreign nation.) is punishable by prison for "any number of years, up to and including life, and in time of war, death." (Quotation from Title 18, USC, Article 794.) If he wants to play whistle blower, he may do so. However, he knows the risks, and gender confusion is no defense.
Just a quick question: How did he endanger the American people? Were they top secret weapon designs? Were they battle plans not used yet? Does it matter now that Bin Laden's dead? No. So now let's leave Afghanistan.
I don't care if he had a reason he should have followed chain of command. He put his battle buddies and everyone else IN DANGER! If he really cared about human lives he wouldn't have sacraficed the people putting their lives on the line to cover his a**!
JOSH- I have also researched the content of the actual WIKI leaks themselves, and if more people here would go and find out what information bradley manning thought was so important for the public to know about- since that information is actually available to the public such as:
-the Fallujah Massacre, in which U.S. forces killed 736 people, at least 60 percent of them women and children. It includes other war crimes committed by American troops in Qaim, Taal Al Jal, Mukaradeeb, Mahmudiya, Hamdaniyah, Samarra, Salahuddin, and Ishaqi.
-U.S. Army Ranger John Needham, who was awarded two purple hearts and three medals for heroism, wrote to military authorities in 2007 reporting war crimes that he witnessed being committed by his own command and fellow Lethal Warriors in Al Doura. His charges were supported by atrocity photos which have been released by Pulse TV and Maverick Media in the new video by Cindy Piester, “On the Dark Side in Al Doura – A Soldier in the Shadows
-thousands of men who have been subjected to torture and abuse in places like Abu Ghraib prison. It includes the 2005 Haditha Massacre, in which U.S. Marines killed 24 unarmed civilians execution-style.
“Collateral Murder” video which depicts U.S. forces in an Apache helicopter killing 12 unarmed civilians, including two Reuters journalists, and wounding two children. People trying to rescue the wounded were fired upon and killed. A U.S. tank drove over one body, cutting the man in half.
based on the nature of the informations released, is seems clear that this particular whistle blower, leaked this information because he actually believes in something that our own govt. has lost sight of long ago. Freedom of the people, to know what is really going on- LISTEN PEOPLE OUT THERE. I initially felt the same way that you do- but KEEPING YOURSELF uninformed and speaking the first feeling that the first thought that crosses your mind illicits and then believing that that feeling is enough to formulate a belief- that unconscious process of judgement is locking your mind and awareness into beliefs that may be working against the values of your higher self. Can you handle the truth? The government obviously doesnt think so. that is why you MUST seek out answers by doing your own research. Please also research free energy- and if you know anything about electronics BUILD YOUR OWN FREE ENERGY DEVICE AND BUILD A GREENHOUSE FOR YOUR FAMILY
Someone should superglue his butthole together for him. No more nothing back there for him, jagoff.
Josh, I can tell you've probably never A) been in the military and B) lived in another country. You think there's so much bureaucracy and so many violations of rights here, it's WORSE in almost any other country. The examples you cited sometimes exist, but they're way more uncommon than you claim. You live in an idealogical vacuum without any practical thought. And you're probably spoiled. I happen to love this country.
The bottom line -- your solution is MUCH WORSE than the disease.
From what I can determine, he was a whistleblower who went about things the way he had to because, had he gone through "legal channels" the corrupt officials would arrange his disappearance and the important information would not be known.
I also note that all of the emotional replies are calling him a traitor. Well, that's certainly what the corrupt officials will make him out to be. It takes a lot of courage to do the right thing, knowing that it will upset the powers-that-be.
WAYNE P: You get your facts straight. The Fallujah Massacre was perpetrated by an Afghani general who the United States first forced out of power, and then later fought to keep him from regaining favor with his government when he later sought to blame his crimes on U.S. forces. WE kept the spotlight on HIM, since America's Armed Forces stand for honor, integrity and the prosecution of war criminals. And, as far as torturing those imprisoned terrorists goes, they have killed thousands of Americans. They sneak up on old men, women, and children every day and blow them to pieces -because their Bible tells them to do it. They are the most cowardly, absolute lowest form of life on Earth; therefore, if by pretending to drown one of those bastards I could prevent the actual deaths of more innocent people, I would line them up and do it all day long.
You, sir, are a liar, a coward, and an anti-patriot; you protect our sworn enemies by using misinformation to turn public opinion against your own countrymen and allies. That tactic was, by the way, a favorite of Bin Laden (may his soul burn in Hell for eternity). You can only turn people against America by lying, because the truth only makes the world respect us.
Now I am shining the light of truth on you; you'd better crawl back under your rock before some real man steps on you.
How much money did Manning hope to make?
Pvblivs, you watch WAY too many movies. Take your meds and welcome back to reality.
Burn his ass at the stake, I will throw the match!!!
Traitor!
The US government was the traitor, keeping the truth from its own people.
I agree Nyan, people are here are more clueless than the average citizen in the USSR. A friend of mine from the USSR said the only difference between the USSR and the USA is that in the USSR people knew they were being lied to. Here people are cheering against the one person that stood up for what is right. It's sad that we've gone down the road of the Nazi's and the Soviets.
Yes If these people only really knew what the hell is goin on they may change their minds then again ignorance is bliss.
Why don't you guys pack up & move to the grand 'ol USSR then? They have room in the goolag for you, and we quite frankly won't miss you.
Then tell us, o wise Keith, just what nation, what bastion of truth and justice we should model ourselves after since we suck so hard here?
No, we don't always do things right here. That's true. But comparing us to the USSR? That's a bit extreme. I hope you don't honestly believe that.
"A friend of mine from the USSR said the only difference between the USSR and the USA is that in the USSR people knew they were being lied to."
Obviously, that as a friend from the USSR who wasn't really from the USSR. They couldn't freely travel, they couldn't freely speak, they couldn't move to new housing, they couldn't do just about all the things we take for granted.
Wow, Dev, you ARE hate trolling us. Want to come with us? I got just the book for you: 1984.
Hate trolling? More like truth trolling lol...
Yes, I agree all the "fryers" here are the ones living in a dream, and total disrespect for human life! But having been secret there for several years; he can not do things like that, and he must have some jail time!-=-But it would be nice if USA practices what it preaches about freedom and honesty, and yes, they did do very bad things, like now peeing on dead people, it reminds me about my ancestors the vikings, but we should be a tad father away from those types of treatments these days, to protect the future of our own soldiers outside of here on missions!---But the "fryers" here, can usually not think that far!
"No, we don't always do things right here". That's funny, I'm still laughing. When it comes to war, when have we ever done anything that was right???
Um, does ending the Holocaust count? Stopping the Nazis? Bringing about the collapse of the USSR? Preventing the secession of the slave states? Stopping the North Koreans from inflicting their particular brand of oppression over the entire Korean peninsula? Removing a dictator who gassed the Kurds invaded a neighboring nation that was an ally of ours, and forcibly rendered the marsh Arabs homeless as a culture? Stopping Milosevic?
Yeah, we're still well on the positive side of the balance.
Yashmak, you have'nt a clue, butIi hav'nt the time to give a history lesson.
He spoke out against the failed policies of the US Armed Forces. No matter how much you care for the military and their veterans (which I have a deep respect in), the truth needed to come to light. All of you hoping for his death sentence can go look at the First Amendment: Freedom of Speech. Enough said.
freedom of speach does not apply to classified secrets of the USA cat, sorry to burst yer bubble, he's going do hard time for life. (like he should)
First Amendment issue? Really?
Sorry. Thanks for playing, though. Try again some other time.
The Dev, that's like saying freedom of speech doesn't apply to the political prisoners thrown in the gulags of the Soviet Union. This is what we've become, we're the world tyrant and when our own people try to stop the corruption they'd made out to be the enemy.
The Cat of Nyan, freedom of speach does not and should not apply in the military where classified information is concerned. Surely you can understand that.
Classified secrets? Well then, the Nixon tapes were "secret" then, weren't they? And the Pentagon Papers? Like we needed evidence that the military has done horrible things to the Iraqi people in their tirade of "peace". Please.
So papabran if you're in the military and the military has your own family raped and murdered in front of you then you'll keep your mouth shut?
The First Ammendment, with regards to freedom of expression, is modified for servicemen/women:
Soldiers have specific rights in regard to personal expression, legal assistance, and civil rights.
FM 27-1 Chpter 10, Soldier's Rights, Responsibilities
Freedom Of Expression
The right of all citizens to express their feelings freely and openly has only those limitations necessary to protect the rights of society. Soldiers have the same basic rights. These rights must, however, be consistent with good order and discipline and national security.
Moreover, as TheDev so correctly noted, information that is deemed classified in the interest of national security is not covered by freedom of expression.
@Yashmak
I didn't know the terms. I never went to war, and I'm not planning to. But what classifies as honorable, exactly? Everybody knew Iraq was a doomed policy from Bush, the Armed Forces didn't need to cover it up.
When he took the oath and accepted a security clearence he swore he would not disclose that information. The information at that time may not have been lethal to someone but it could have been.
As for freedom of speach, imagine if some one took your Social security number and your credit card number and your phone records and put them out for all to see. Its freedom of speach right?
@Blackfalcon
He was a traumitized young man. But I guess that means he's just a tool of war, not a human being, right?
P.S. Freedom of Speech is standing up for what you believe in, not thievery.
He CHOSE to join. He CHOSE to take the oath. Traumatized young man? Please. That's a grasp-at-straws defense by a lawyer who knows the evidence against Manning is iron-clad.
He stole the documents, but I'm sure you already knew that, right Cat?
You need to read the part about treason! To put the lives of so many at risk! The first amendment has been so twisted from what our forefathers meant it is not even amusing anymore. When you join the military you sign a agreement to serve, protect this country and this countries people that including your fellow soldiers. If it was top security it should have remained top security and this little skanky piece of crap deserves what every our country throws at him! I hope he never sees daylight again as an American Citizen unless he is breaking rocks and restacking daily! I would not trust him to do that! Life senence at his age with no parole outs would be a lot more painful. My regret me and fellow Americans have to foot the bill for him to live.
there's a difference, commonsense, between stealing to help and stealing for power. Robin Hood took from the rich and gave to the poor. This soldier took from the military to expose lies.
Oh, and Jusy, he did serve. He served the people.
You, Cat of Nyan, are endorsing the killing of americans. What a guy you are.
Ah, so now it's not that he was a traumatized youth, it's that he was some sort of Truth Robin Hood!
That crystal ball you're using to determine Manning's motivation keeps changing its story.
At the end of the day, all your dancing around changes nothing. Distributing classified information is a crime. He distributed classified information. And when he is (likely) convicted of that crime. . .he will be a criminal. . . especially if 'traumatized youth' is the best the defense has to offer.
Of course you don't know the terms cat, u speak out your cat hole, LOL!
Give me a break kitty!kitty! Robin Hood was a fictional character! He helped no one but got many in harms way! By the way do you wear your KITTY CAT pjs when Mom, Dad are whoever tucks you in at night reads you bedtime stories! My guess is they have read you Peter Pan to often because you don't sound grown-up and you live in a fairy tale world of NEVER, NEVERLAND! I have family serving to protect crap like you!
what he did was not politically correct therefore a crime.
I think I jest
Does anynody understand the mening of MORALS? I'm not sure if anybody understands peace or ignorance. I'm argueing my point, not threatening you, like some *cough* Dev *cough* are. War mongering people. That's all we Americans are.
Oh, and Judy, you sound more immature than me. I'm an internet meme, like MLP is.
Do you, Nyan, understand that we are a nation of LAWS? He broke the law. He got caught. He will pay the consequences. You're trying to paint an oath-breaker as a MORAL person? Breaking an oath is a fundamentally immoral act in itself. Get real.
Cat do you understand morals. Your crying to protect a disturbed young man. So if a disturbed young man came in and raped you, would you still defend him.
Again, speaking out against war isn't just? The killing of other human beings isn't just when they are innocent? The Iraqi people were glad to get rid of us, because we treated them like crap. Human beings can't stand up for honest human beings? And Bush can get away with the killing of 3,287 US soldiers, and no one defies him?
"The Iraqi people were glad to get rid of us, because we treated them like crap."
As opposed to Saddam, who treated them like millions of princes? What alternate universe are you from? He gassed Kurd villages, depopulated the marsh Arabs, and his son ran around raping women randomly in the streets.
Speaking out against war is fine. Manning's crime isn't speaking out against war, it's distribution of classified information. We've been over this several times.
This man NEEDS to be prosecuted! My husband, PFC Mullinax, is in the Army also && is NOT serving to protect idiots like you who think that this man should get away with leaking out top secret information! Just because you say he is a "traumatized young man" does NOT mean anything! He CHOSE to join. Going through the horrors of deployment go along with the contract. Everyone knows this. So please, do us all a favor and stop trying to protect this man when clearly he needs to be prosecuted for his actions!
Classified information that was lied to us for years. And your piont about Saddam helps too. From one brutal regime to another, and on to civil war.
Cat of Nyan,
I suggest you educate yourself about what the U.S. Constitution says IS NOT FREE SPEECH. Treason is specifically addressed! Giving classified secrets to anyone (including the enemies of the U.S.) is a treasonous offense. If I can believe what was reported here it probably has already cost the lives and limbs of service members you say you respect. The enemy is NOT stupid. As a former member of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve what he gave them is very compromising to any operations that occured after the information was given out. Save your respect. Please consider and work for the safety of service members.
Wikileaks is an enemy of the US? An online whistleblower is an emeny to the US! Did you support the war? Did you think we needed to go there? I have the most deepest respects to you, Daniel, for being in the military, fighting when I'm on my lazy ass here typing. But do you think corruption needs to come to light?
Since when is the truth "threatening" cat? Yes I guess the real world outside mommie & daddies house can be intimidating...you will get used to it someday.
When did I say the truth was threatening, Dev? I see it nowhere. Oh, I see. No, I didn't mean online whistleblowers are enemies of the US. I was using sarcasm. I've been a strong activist for truth throughout the entire forum, and here you come, accusing me of something I didn't even mean.
He (and his apologists) lack the brainpower to make that determination.
I do love the liberal 'respect for the military' hypocrites!
Cat and Keith - you two are basing all of your arguments on your assumption that this soldier was operating under some noble objective as opposed to simply being an unstable nut case. Without some compelling evidence to the contrary, I believe in the latter scenario. The incredible volume of material he leaked is a pretty clear indication to me that this guy was not out to be a great humanitarian - he had many other options to be an effective whistleblower if that was his intent, without causing such great potential harm to his fellow soldiers and his country. Hard to quantify the damage this guy has caused in the long run.
kitty, you keep posting, and vhanging your defense, but you still are ignorant of reality. It does not matter if Manning was a one eyed, purple sheep banger, he broke his oath, and a whole bunch of laws. in reality, he deserves to be tried for treason ( defined as aiding and giving comfort to the enemy). I would say giving the enemy even one informant's name is sufficient.
Now, cat, be a good boy, take your meds and go to school tomorrow.
WHO was the enemy, @oldman? Wikileaks? Please. Like SOPA trying to silence the Internet, the US was covering up blatant lies that it didn't want out there, so that tey could stay the global superpower they are.
An appallingly ignorant statement. Manning is subject to the UCMJ, nothing else.
Did you notice that even Manning's attorneys weren't dumb enough to try such an ignorant defense?
Cat you said you never went to war or you never would. Have you ever been to Iraq? I think not. I served in Iraq and met many Iraqi people, who where all glad to have us there. Do we kill innocent...yep, but we have not done a fraction of what germany, iran, north korea, north vietnam, and the russians, oh and the chines have ever done. You know when you are patroling the streets you fight people who look like every day citizens. They dont dress in combat uniforms. Lots of people in this country think we are fighting a known enemy. Heres a news flash for you they are not uniform wearing enemies. These cowards fight from places they know we cannot fire apon. Well I would rather we kill the innocent people over that are hiding with them, and bring my fellow soldier, Marine, or sailor home. War is disgusting and it sucks. But this clown took the oath, just like I, and sworn to the military. If you join in the time of a war, you have not one thing to cry about or leak. If he doesnt hang for this, he got lucky. This is one of the most traitorist things ever. HE HAS NO RIGHTS in the Military. I have friends on the way out of iraq tell me a whole different story many of the iraqis wanted us to stay for fear of there lives. Its the libral communist media like msn, msnbc and what have you who look at the people who hate us like the shiits, saddams people. Like shawn penn going to the part of iraq where there was no war going on, like the north, and saying look at these pieceful people, those people of the north where being wipped out by saddam. CAT do yourself a favor, get some guts, take the oath, grab a gun stand a post, and then make an opinion. If you have never been to war you have no right to talk about it or how it works.
Yash I like your post about what war solves, or what it has done, lol. I like the bumper sticker that says basically what you said only a lot more summed up, about "your right with the exception of ending slavery, nazism, communism, fasicm. war never has solved anything"
Cat, which lies, specifically? And with links for verification.MSNBC, Cnn, and Fox do not count as verification.
At the very least, wikileaks is leable for possession of stolen property.
Iraq's WMD? We knew they had them - Hussain used them, remember? Where are they? Look to Syria. Bush and the Congress all had the same info, whether it was flawed or not, and acted on it.
I have wasted enough time with your drivel, and so I bid you good night, and hope you never have to get my back, because you are too much of a coward to be any help.
Cat of Nyan: you seem to have a problem with the time-honored theme of keeping your mouth shut. If you disagree with it, you seem to feel that it is your absolute right to blab about it. Before you go off on your high horse, consider the Rosenbergs, Ethel and Julius. Husband and wife. Both put to death for giving U.S. nuclear secrets to the Soviets in the post-world-war-II years. They thought it wrong for the U.S. to keep such secrets to itself, that the Soviets shouild have the information, too. So they gave it to them. The word for their behavior is the self-same term as for Manning: espionage. The punishments remain the same. Only Manning is not in a declared war at this time, so he'll not likely bve put to death. However, if his behavior resulted in the death of even one American GI, he too should be put to death.
Uhh, no, CPL.D, I won't. I hate war.I hate the thought of people killing people. I think you're saying that I have no right to speak about what I think, unless I'm in the military. And liberal, communist media like MSN and MSNBC? Then why are you posting on its website?! I have a cousin who served in Iraq, and he came home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and lost his job due to it. Now no one will hire him. He (Manning) spoke the truth. Is that too much to ask? Yes, apparently.
Meow!Meow! would you like to see what a purple heart looks, what a flag that draped an AMERICAN SOLIDER COFFIN LOOKS LIKE. I have both in room stored away to remember an uncle I never got to know fighting for uninformed people like you. I have second flag and purple heart that draped my cousins coffin when I was eight an he was the closest thing to a brother to me being an only child remembers! I can take you to a cemetery in my town where not 1 or 2 friends lay but around 5 close friends thanks to war. They served proudly for this government and the people they took an oath to protect. I have cousin not yet 21 in Afghanistan serving for idiots like you to spew against our government on the Internet! You stated you never served and never will good for you and us! I thank my God daily for the young men and women who serve an the some not so young because they chose to stay in an help out the younger soldiers with their wisdom from years of service. If you don't like the way this country protects us from reading the news broaders are open and walking is not crowded!My guess is your not from this country at all!
Cat of Nyan What you don't understand, or you don't simply care, is that there are real people that can be threatened. The operations that might have been released can simply be changed but the soldiers involved might be killed because of it. I was no fan of this war but I would never set out to get people killed. Some of the information released could have done just that. Explain this to the wife of the killed soldier that it was done because demanded freedom of speech
I watched the video on wikileaks and to tll you the truth it looked like they had weapons and the guy peeking around the corner looked to have an rpg. The children in the van i didnt see until wikileaks zoomed in the video and even then i coulnt make out for sure who it was. Its unfortunate and my prayers go out the children and families of the innocent that was killed, but i cant see evidence of the U.S. firing on civilians on purpose. People have got to remember that our troops are in harms way 24/7 and if any indication of hostile elements are seen they must engage to save the life of not only our troops but civilians as well. Shame on you manning for attempting to smear the U.S. military for doing what anyone of us would have done in that situation
i said it once, judy, and i'll say it again: i have the deepest respects for the armed forces. i am no flag burner. but when a country blatantly lies to its people, and the service that swore to protect it don't give it the honest truth, they become an enemy themselves. i honor your cousin and all that you lost, but when i try to talk about it, you come out and call me unpatriotic. and what if my ancestors weren't born here? what if they were trying to flee from nazi germany, learned of what was happening in the concentration camps, and had to flee or be killed. good god. If I don't agree, why can't I talk about my government? Bottom line, I hated the War in Iraq and Afghanistan, I think this soldier did the right thing, and I believe him. That's my honest opinion. Can you respect that as I respect yours? No, obviously. You know, since I'm a liberal, communist bastard and all. i apologize to you, Capitalist.
If you watch the video you can see the soldiers running with the two children. Just by the way the were running you could tell they cared. You pick up more by the actions then what you can by words. Im proud of our troops and believe they all are heroes. I served in the late 80s and early 90s and i know that a majority of our troops would give there lives to protect these civilans and give them an opportunity to live a life as we get to live. I know i would.
Some of the people posting in this thread do not know what they are talking about. I was in the Navy, and I had a security clearance. Before someone in the military gets access to classified documents, or other classified material, they must sign a document stating that they understand that unauthorized disclosure of classified material is punishable by imprisonment and/or death. That's right. Manning could be placed in front of a firing squad and offered a blindfold before the order to fire is given. A lifetime of making small rocks out of big ones sounds like letting him off easy!
Cat of Nyan......you are obviously ignorant to the ways of national security. The borders in this country are open....and you are free to leave. If you are not man enough to pick up a gun and defend this country and what it stands for......then keep your mouth shut. We might have given you this right by defending it, but when you are so off base in what you are saying.......you should quit while you are ahead. I know FOR A FACT this idiot put people in harms way because I had to help get them out of harms way and stop the collateral damage this did to national security. Treason in a time of war is punsihable by death......and that describes perfectly what Manning did. Ask the families of the World Trade Center if we are at war.....see what they say.
The Cat of of Nyan,
There is something you simply just don't understand about the United States military. We soldiers GIVE UP certain rights in order to maintain our standards. I.E. no active duty soldier is EVER allowed to protest against the president when in uniform or in a crowd that knows he is currently serving. A 22 year old lieutenant can give an order to a soldier under his command to not date, see, or associate with certain individuals, given that the order helps promote good order and discipline. The PFC is a soldier, NO LONGER a civilian. Your definition of justice does not apply to him. OUR definition of justice applies to him. Until you put on a uniform and make this sacrifice, you will NEVER understand. Accept it and move on.
So he knew what he was doing, @Old Man. Interesting. Thank you, for I did not know. And yes, Judy, I honestly mean that.
Well then I would say my Uncle died protecting them! Tried to help get them out safely. You see some of us on the Internet have not just read about war we are old enough to have lived a lot of it. None of us are from this country dating back to our ancestor es but we agreed to live together as one country, one nation, one people and one government. My problem is when people like you lam-blast our government for all the world to see. Most families fight with each other but let a stranger step-in see the bond we form. 9-11-2001 good example. When we get on a site an say its Okay to post anything our government deems top secret I have problem because the countries that read these sites look for any weakness they can find to use against us an that my friend puts people I love endanger!
Okay, okay, maybe I got out of hand a little. Yes, I got a little passionate. If this is justice for the Armed Forces, fine. I meant no disrespect for the men and women serving or have served. But my opinion is my opinion. I think it's better to know this, instead of having the government lie to us. If it puts people in danger, that's terrible, and I condemn that. Still, Wikileaks did nothing wrong in my eyes. And the military still lied, through and through, and that is unforgivable. There.
And Judy, I lost someone in 9/11 too. They know the sacrifice they make. Not everyone can make it out alive in a world so dangerous. And the most powerful nation on this planet (excluding China) can't have a weakness? Can't let the world know how it's doing?
Hey cat of nyan, one watch the video on wikileaks and two if there was enough evidence to support a mistake by our military could end up costing the lives of not only our military personel but also could end up costing lives of more innocent people. If a mistake is made in this very volatile region it needs to be handled with kids gloves so that it doesnt cause a resurgence of terrorists out for revenge, but in this case there isnt any evidence of a mistake but these radicals are going to use this video to gain support so that they can kill more americans. Thats why i agree with Oldman1218204 Manning may have cost 100's of lives by what he did. Sorry to disagree but any action that ends up costing more lives needs to be punished to full extent of the law.
You have every right to your oppinion cat (i mean that as well) thats what great about living in america e have that right. I just hope Iraq and afganistan people get that opportunity as well.
Tell you the truth if wikileak would help our troops and put arrows above the innocent peoples heads and arrows on where the children were sitting before the helicopters fired on them this mistake wouldnt have happened. so i wanna say to wikileaks......Where were you? Get your butts over there and when you see an innocent person fire three shots at the helicopter to let them know
Our country was build on diversity, want to see it crumble fight among our selves! I love this country , I still tear up at the STAR SPANGLE BANNER, when I hear TAPS I am honest in saying I fall to my knees and cry and 21 gun salute makes me shutter because I know a soul has been laid to rest defending me. If you knew more about my life the last few years you would sense both pain and pride in our country, but never SHAME!
Cat,
Why do you keep changing your story and adding characters every single time. You keep speaking "what ifs" as if your life revolves around your own theoretical mind. You only now mention your "cousin" who had PTSD, and you only now mention your "friend" who was lost in 9/11.
I know many pathological liars, and I am not saying you are one, try to keep your cool, please lol your comebacks are hilariously translucent. If you really had all these patriotic friends and still don't care about American security, please get the @!$%# out of our country.
Okay, so the friend part in 9/11 was really to parody the patriotism that Judy had ("I tear up at the Star Spangled Banner"...really? I don't cry when I listen to Sgt. Peppers), but the cousin part is true, Georgiod. It seems to me that Bush didn't know what he was going into in 2001, and I have mentioned him in other, very earlier posts some weeks past. Thanks for allowing me to explain myself and not jump to conclusions.
Cat of Nyan come to the battlefield with me and learn the many ways to skin a cat.
@ Cpl D;
"with the exception of ending slavery, nazism, communism, fasicm. war never has solved anything"
That's what the U.S. STARTED in most of the rest of the world over the last 65 years or so...Remember, Saddam Hussein was our FRIEND back in the '80's during the Iran/Iraq war...and one of our biggest "buddies" during the Afghanistan war in the late '70's/early 80's? OSAMA BIN LADEN!!! And then there's Noriega, Pinochet, Bhutto, need I go on????
I was totally against the war in Iraq from the beginning CAT, that has nothing to do with the fact that this ass put US lives at risk, broke his oath and needs the strongest punishment under the law.
There is no excuse
Do I think he was a troubled young person? Sure. Does that excuse his alleged activities? Nope. Prosecute to the fullest extent.
Tie him to a post, no blindfold, no last meal, no last cigarette, no last gay friend, and pull the trigger.
Even if you belief that releasing the information served some "greater good"...which I do not believe...its a moot point. If he leaked classified information, he violated his oath of service, and he should be punished accordingly.
If he couldn't hack it as result of his personal issues, he should have just went AWOL. The penalties would have been far less severe.
Let's hope Assange is next...and soon.
Traitor! Leavenworth it must be. There are no excuses no reasons no reprieve.
Treason = Death. Seems pretty basic to me!
Hang him from the tallest tree
"Manning's apparent disregard for security rules during stateside training and his increasingly violent outbursts after deployment were red flags that should have prevented him from having access to classified material, the defense claims."
How is this even a remotely plausible defense? If, for instance, a felony parolee was hired by a rancher, and then used a rifle the rancher had laying around his house to commit a murder (without the rancher's consent), this sort of idea 'he shouldn't have been allowed access to the rifle because he was on parole' certainly wouldn't prevent the parolee from being found guilty.
We are responsible for our own choices. Manning CHOSE to join a military that barred openly gay individuals. He knew that was the case when he joined, and CHOSE to join anyways. Then he CHOSE to disseminate classified information. I do not envy his defense lawyer(s).
He's a political prisoner. If our media was honest they'd state the fact that our government broke the law. Our government murdered civilians, and murdered our own citizens to try and suppress war coverage. Brad Manning stood up against a tyrant and exposed the corruption and evil taking place. This is what our founding fathers advised us to do and this is exactly what they did to Britain. The media is a disgrace.
We have laws to protect us from A-Holes like you
Whether our government broke the law or not is not for Bradley Manning to decide. And he certainly had no right to disseminate secret information in any case, especially to Assange, who IMO is an enemy of the state.
If he thought some wrong needed to be righted then there are other channels he could have pursued.
Maybe he's as screwed up as his lawyers claim, and unable to tell right from wrong. Maybe he truly thought he was exposing corruption and lawlessness on the part of the military. Or maybe he was just an angry gay soldier who thought "I'll show them" like some petulant child. We'll never know the truth. But if the allegations the government is making against him are true then the inescapable conclusion is that he broke the law and must be punished. Intent is irrelevant.
"If our media was honest they'd state the fact that our government broke the law."
If they'd found that was true, they'd be trumpeting it to the four winds. Remember, your talking about a media (specifically the New York Times) which, during OIF, published information on the methods used by our troops to find IED's, an article which posed a very real and immediate danger to our troops in the field. It is impossible to believe that with the kind of mindset that would lead someone to publish that sort of article, that they would not also loudly proclaim wrong-doing by our government found in the dispatches Manning illegally sent to Assange.
Our government waged war. In war civilians die as collateral damage, even though attempts are made to avoid this eventuality. It is generally not considered murder, unless the death of the civilians was intentional. That is one of the reasons the phrase "War is Hell" was invented, you know. Now, if an individual soldier violates the rules and kills civilians, that CAN be considered murder (and US soldiers have indeed been tried for such things). . .but it's still not government committed murder.
Brad Manning stood up against his country, and put the lives of his fellow soldiers in danger. He betrayed our nation's secrets. He violated the oath of loyalty he CHOSE TO TAKE. It is he, and those who would defend him, who are a disgrace.
Ever hear of Watergate?
So you're all saying you want to live in the Soviet Union? If the military murders your family then you won't say anything because? If Obama shows up at your house at night and rapes your wife you won't say anything either? You're saying the government is allowed to do whatever they want to do to you, your family, your life. You're willing to sacrifice all your freedoms to grow the size and power of the government? Why are any of you living in America? Why don't you move to a communist country and let us get our freedoms back.
Your point, Cat?
Cat do you know the difference in stealing from your brother to use against him and stealing from your uncle to post on the internet.
Honestly think about it.
Bit of a stretch, Keith. Care to tone it down a bit and come back to reality?
The story is about a private who allegedly broke numerous laws and violated his oath. Period. There is no larger issue at stake here.
We don't live in a police state, please don't try to peddle those old tired wares.
Keith, your speaking out of the wrong end. Your making excuses for a boy that took information and gave it to our enemies. Would you say the same if the information given out was your name, social security number and driver's license. How about if the information given was enough information for your family to be killed by some crazy. Oh wait, your private personal habits just got posted to the internet and your family got killed for it. Would you still say the same thing.
Of course he wouldn't Britt. But he's not operating on thought, he's operating on feeling.
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. You will note that the above US Soldier's enlistment includes defense of the Constitution against domestic enemies As has been stated elsewhere " The first casualty of war is truth". Defending the Constitution is not accomplished by hiding the crimes of US soldiers or elected officials. Bradley Manning is a hero of this Republic and a real man of enormous courage. Thanks also to Jilian Assange. Another hero.
No he is not jk. There is an established whistle-blower policy amongst the soldier's rights. Manning ignored that path, and chose to break the law instead. His actions were not those of a hero spreading the truth, they were irresponsible, endangering his fellow servicemen.
If the goal HAD been to spread the truth, soldiers are allow to discuss such things with their representatives in congress. That, at least, would have prevented the enemies he swore to protect this country against, from having information our country deemed classified.
Bull freakin @!$%#. Lets go kill the poor innocent bastards who are fighting for our. .. .what was that word again-FREEDOM. Huh, guess we don't seem to have much here being that you can't even speak the truth without military cock suckers trying to pull a death penalty on you. Sorry to you guys that signed up to protect our idiotic country but F.Y.I that brotherhood you are protecting obviously would not have any problem killing you because some fat rich bastard on wall street told him to do so. Or would that be the politicians? Same difference I guess.
What does that have to do with Manning's treason?
You weren't even born when the Watergate scandal unfolded, right?
He's treasonous vermin, and he's going to prison.
@keith1135394,
Stood up to a tyrant and exposed the corruption? Did you even watch the video? Suggest you take 20 minutes and watch the video on wikileaks and come back here and revise what you said. Cant stand people that just throw stuff out without getting their facts straight. The video showed people walking down the street and it looked like they were carrying weapons and the man peeking around the building looked to have an rpg. Please watch the video before condemming the US soldiers.
Yep all he had to do is contact his congressman they would have done a congressional inquiry which they do for every complaint. I"VE SEEN THIS DONE. He broke the law plain and simple and may have gotten some of his fellow soldiers killed. So for al you people who doubt that, go on a little fact finding mission itll only take a few minutes to look it up.
Firing squad.
This is democracy and freedom of speech huh. @!$%#in terrorists!
People who abuse Freedom of Speech will pay the price
Kudos to the Army for getting him
Agreed this PFC is a criminal and should be tried for treason what he did was a disgrace to the armed services and his family... He is a traitor playing and simple.
any thoughts as to the murders he blew the whistle on? they should have not filmed their murders.
Most military actions are recorded for training purposes. Also they review the tapes of what was done on a mission to verify that the objectives were met and the objective completed. Its like you filming your day. Only those that need to see it should.
I don't care how confused you are to put peoples lives at risk because you want people to notice you is wrong no matter how you cut it lock him up!!!!!!
I wonder if the Army is reacting like this because THEY made a mistake. This guy should have never been given access to classified doccuments. There needs to be an internal investigation into the procedures which allowed this to happen. In addition, what they are hiding needs to be investigated. I have no love for traitors, however, I believe our government is selling out the military and the citizens for its own purposes. He is just a scapegoat and a sick man who needs to be kept away from the rest of us.
spending your life in confinement and having a dishonorable discharge to me thats a bit too much i understand that he killed someone, but hes not an animal.
He knew exactly what he was doing when he was doing it. That $%!&bag needs to learn his actions have consequences. Hope the General ignores his council’s attempts to say he was "emotionally unstable" and fry him for the full sentence.
If he ever gets out he can join the OWS Movement and the Liberal A-Holes in Congress
Please define liberal as in politics!
Do you mean government paid subsidies to companies and the rich, I have just calculated the rich actually gets most out of it, by indirectly paying SS and medicare as well as medicaid and food stamps to people, and the rest in direct subsidies to companies, so now that is settled, so what do want to rant about now?--Has little to do with this soldier!
Bundhole, you realize the richest members of Congress are Democrats. The five richest - one Republican, and four Democrats. Most through marriage ( see kerry) I believe it was a Democrat that bailed out GM and Chrysler ( not even a USA owned company), and sent an extra billion to the banks; his name? Obama. And the Fed has printed and loaned the banks a couple of trillion more.
Go back to school and re learn. Social Security is funded by worker and employer contributions. Until the Democrats put the SS money into the general Funds ( if memory serves, in 1974), it was held in a separate account and was used to buy treasury notes, the paid guaranteed interest. Medicare was a part of Johnson's great society. Medicaid is a boondoggle that never should have been started.
Social Security was first raided by Nixon, to help pay for the Vietnam War, ANOTHER illegal war started by the rich to "prevent the spread of Communism"...
Didn't work out too well, did it???
i might spell things wrong but here we go
oldman young eyes-either you are younger than I am or much older and forgot. Chrysler was bailed out under the Carter Admin(democrate).......don't forget it was passed by an act of CONGRESS.
GM was bought by stock option under the Bush(replican) admin
I was wondering when Obama's name would show up.
what you are talking about SS being raided is nothing but an accounting trick.
the usa was under nothing but surpluses until 1968 or so(I am not counting WWI or WWII when we were under a deficit) after that nothing but deficit's under every pres. During the Clinton admin2nd yr we had surpluses. and then came George II whom gave every taxpayer a payment of $400 and within 2 yrs we had deficit's
does not anyone remember their history
AND FAR AND BEYOND IT IS NOT THE PRESIDENT'S FAULT FOR ANYTHING. THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T MAKE LAWS NOR GIVE MONEY TO ANYONE.
CONGRESS PASSES LAWS AND DETERMINES WHOM GETS MONEY.
WAKE UP AMERICA DON'T REELECT YOUR CONGREESPERSON
Im happy he shed some light on the dirt behind these invasions. Wish he´d done it differently though...
Just like Manning will be convicted, so should all the dirty bastards behind these military actions, regardless of rank.
Or does the wind only blow the direction desired..?
You are absolutely right Johnathan. Only certian people have the right to violate the law. Namely, the rich and the powerful. Various interests will always forward their own agendas and leave the rest of us twisting in the wind. We The People are "collateral damage". It is a sad reality that F.Scott Fitzgerald clearly stated. The rich ARE different than you and I. This is a giant CF and we all know who is on the receiving end of the "F".
I can almost grant you that Obama pardon's him for this, He owes a lot to the gay and lesbian community that I can almost predict that this guy will walk.
Bull find something else rediculious to say. This is about PFC Manning and what he did. He should have never joined the military. Where is that chicken sh#t Julian Assange I don't see him coming to Mannings rescue I guess when he was finished with Manning just discard him like trash or the idiot he is. If you find someone stupid enough to do dirty work you that you won't do yourself then do What Assange is doing just keep you mouth shut and cover your own ass. Freedom of speech my ass in the military there is UCMJ with 126 Articles violate one and pay the cost. The British military keeps secrets to, where is Julian Assanges outing about there secrets. Maybe A British soldier will send their classified material to an American journalist, no they won't do that because they handle their business in house.
Obama's administration is the most aggressive in prosecuting leakers and would be whistleblowers. Manning isn't going to get a pardon from Obama until the last day of his second term, Jan.21,2017.
Last day of his term may be Jan. 21, 2012. According to the latest poll sponsored by MSNBC, which they will not release, 33% say they will vote for Obama: 66% say they will vote for someone else. Mickey Mouse could win this election, and why not? Most of our politicians are cartoons anyway.
Beyond his bad behavior, his superiors should be put back in school to learn behavior risks. Where was his clearance for his post, or did he crack while in the military?
I can't believe how many puppets are siding with the government on this one. America is doomed. If you can't see this as a violation of the first amendment, you don't deserve it.
Exactly where in the first Ammendment is the right to steal classified documents and publish them? You may have the right to say what you want but you absolutely do not have the right to steal the material in your speech.
Only one ignorant of the military would make such a preposterous statement.
kraileth, many of us have earned it and protected it. Totally obvious you have not. Remember every right you expect is guaranteed by those who protect it. Don't lecture us as to right and wrong. Put on the boots, put em on the ground, eat sand, live in the jungle, then come and tell us what you have the right to.
Kraileth you are just braindead, and thats all the time I'am going to waste on you. Our man in the military here committed a real big mistake knowing full well it was wrong and he needs to PAY DEARLY for his mistakes. He should be hung by the neck until dead or face a seven man firing squad. But I forgot we are a civilized culture and just slap hands and say "Don't do that anymore Honey" and prescribe some anti depressent and send him on picnics with other nutcases and then everybody pats each other on the back saying "We did the right thing he was just misunderstood' Well understand this "FRY the Bastard" thankyou
When you join the military, you give up those rights for the UCMJ. What he did was breach security, violate the UCMJ and his oaths, and commit treason against the US. He put informants lives in danger and violated the trust he was given, your's and mine. He IS NOT a hero, he has committed a crime. He isn't noble, he is a traitor. The fact that he is gay is just a ploy to deflect blame; while it works in civil courts, it will not in courts martial. They will not execute him but he will spend a long time in prison. He will get his 1st amendment rights back as soon as he is discharged and then y'all can cream yourselves talking about how evil the military is to your heart's content.
oh no! we are still fighting each other! Wow how some people need to evolve! you are so right American idiots who still flight fight or flee
LOL!! If "evolving" means to tolerate people that sell out their own country after taking an oath to protect it then I will choose not to "evolve" into an idiot.