Private Bradley Manning

davek · March 9, 2011

http://www.newstatesman.com/north-america/2011/03/manning-house-held-base-iraq

It's sad reading about this feller's plight. Banged up in an army gaol since July last year and facing some pretty tough psychological *treatment* that most would describe as torture.

The feller's been left high and dry. I dont suppose our resident neocons will give a flying one, but if he's guilty of anything then surely even they must concede he has to be charged and tried rather than held in conditions like this?

Goat · March 9, 2011

It sucks, but He should consider himself lucky.

In the olden Days he would have been hung for being a traitor.

Loose lips sink ships.

davek · March 9, 2011

He needs these three in his corner

Mutzo Nutzo · March 9, 2011

You can't handle the truth!

Maybe he's sitting in his cell in-between waterboard sessions sessions, thinking.....

"feck me....perhaps I shudda kept schtum?"

Tubey · March 9, 2011

I'm not a neocon, but to be perfectly honest he's getting what he deserved. Sure, I agree that there should be a greater degree of openness, but this bloke signed on the dotted line knowing the deal and he knowingly broke it, in a very big way.

I would have pity with him if he didn't know the consequences of his actions, but he quite clearly did. The definition of "a fair warning".

McBain · March 9, 2011

Give him a damn good thrashing and throw away the key to his cell.

LONG LIVE THE PROLETARIAT!

mezzrow · March 9, 2011

(spontaneously combusts)

bluebloodinmyveins · March 9, 2011

I'm surprised he hasn't fallen down some stairs and broken his neck.
I bet if theres a slight chance he might go free, that will happen.

Dylan · March 9, 2011

davek said:
http://www.newstatesman.com/north-america/2011/03/manning-house-held-base-iraq

It's sad reading about this feller's plight. Banged up in an army gaol since July last year and facing some pretty tough psychological *treatment* that most would describe as torture.

The feller's been left high and dry. I dont suppose our resident neocons will give a flying one, but if he's guilty of anything then surely even they must concede he has to be charged and tried rather than held in conditions like this?

He should be tried and sentenced. However, this is a sticky one, as he is covered by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) not regular civil law. He could be put on bread and water rations which would further compound his misery. This is the thing about Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP). If he was really that up the creek he could request court-martial and then it goes into the Cruise/Moore/Nicholson movie realm. If he hasn't requested court-martial, he is accepting the punishment and admitting guilt.

If he did do this, then he risked a lot of lives by revealing that classified information, and he has no sympathy from me. In my time in the Navy, I held a very high clearance and I have managed to not tell anyone anything remotely classified, regardless if I thought it was important or not. Classified is classified. Not classified when I feel like it.

McBain · March 9, 2011

Do you think detaining people (military or otherwise) without no timeline to being charged/sentenced is right?

Alleged charges aside, what happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Being allowed to rot in jail with no rights whatsoever?

Dylan · March 9, 2011

The military have a really crappy system in NJP which means the CO is judge, jury and executioner. Many don't agree with it, but it is what it is. And it has been the same for a LONG, LONG time. There has to be something going on, because if his JAG was worth a crap he would have been to trial already.

TX Bill · March 10, 2011

davek said:
http://www.newstatesman.com/north-america/2011/03/manning-house-held-base-iraq

It's sad reading about this feller's plight. Banged up in an army gaol since July last year and facing some pretty tough psychological *treatment* that most would describe as torture.

The feller's been left high and dry. I dont suppose our resident neocons will give a flying one, but if he's guilty of anything then surely even they must concede he has to be charged and tried rather than held in conditions like this?

I'm a neocon...and he's getting what he deserves.

What makes me laugh is Davek is worried about poor old Bradley Manning when he doesn't give a toss that his actions have endangered the lives of others.

Typical liberal. Yes, let's spare a thought for Bradley.

Matt Damon · March 10, 2011

IN OTHER NEWS.

British forces have intercepted a shipment of rockets being sent from Iran that could double the existing range of "indirect fire" from the Taliban.

So Iran is arming the Taliban. Conclusively.

Its one of the reasons Bradley Manning is being held where he is now.

Matt Damon · March 10, 2011

Dylan said:
The military have a really crappy system in NJP which means the CO is judge, jury and executioner. Many don't agree with it, but it is what it is. And it has been the same for a LONG, LONG time. There has to be something going on, because if his JAG was worth a crap he would have been to trial already.

Military Personnel are subject to different "rules" to civilians.

If a civilian is persistently late - people's lives generally aren't at risk. If a civilian isn't where they are supposed to be, people don't generally die.

etc

Davek's attempting to put civilian rules laws / onto someone in the military.

Bradley Manning was not a conscript. He was not drafted. He VOLUNTEERED.

In the West most countries have volunteer military.

So Davek can't even use that as an excuse.

When someone signs on the bottom line, they know the score. In the UK its called "accepting the Queens Shilling".

Davek's comments are a joke. They really are.

Matt Damon · March 10, 2011

Dylan said:
He should be tried and sentenced. However, this is a sticky one, as he is covered by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) not regular civil law. He could be put on bread and water rations which would further compound his misery. This is the thing about Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP). If he was really that up the creek he could request court-martial and then it goes into the Cruise/Moore/Nicholson movie realm. If he hasn't requested court-martial, he is accepting the punishment and admitting guilt.

If he did do this, then he risked a lot of lives by revealing that classified information, and he has no sympathy from me. In my time in the Navy, I held a very high clearance and I have managed to not tell anyone anything remotely classified, regardless if I thought it was important or not. Classified is classified. Not classified when I feel like it.

Exactly this. I signed the official secrets act. I didn't feel the need to go and inform everyone what the armory door codes were.

By downloading the sheer amount of information that was done, over that many months... is a very cynical act.

If he wasn't happy, he could always of asked for a honourable discharge and taken it up with his Senator/Congressman. Then the press etc.

That's what normal people do.