Manning updates
The Washington Post reports this morning that Bradley Manning, the soldier who released mountains of classified information to Wikileaks, was diagnosed as unfit for duty in Iraq by a mental health professional at Fort Drum, but that Manning’s command disregarded that diagnosis.
The Army investigation, which is separate from an ongoing criminal inquiry, found that Manning’s immediate supervisors did not follow procedures for overseeing the secure area where the classified information was kept, greatly increasing the risk of a security breach, the official said.
Yeah, that doesn’t excuse Manning’s treason either.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has busied itself with Manning’s treatment while he’s at Quantico’s confinement facility;
On his website, [Manning’s lawyer David E.] Coombs says Manning is being kept in solitary confinement 23 hours a day, barred from having sheets or using a pillow, prohibited from keeping personal items in his cell, and forced to respond to a guard’s queries every five minutes. Manning cannot exercise while in his cell, and he must strip down to his underwear before going to bed. If guards can’t see him clearly when he’s sleeping, he is woken.
And Amnesty International is trying to convince the Brits that Manning is a Brit, too. I wonder when was the last time AI checked in on Bowe Bergdahl, the paratrooper being held by the Taliban.
Category: Antiwar crowd, Military issues
it truly amazes me how people can pine over the clearly guilty, but ignore the clearly wronged. Amnesty International is beyond annoying, because while they on occasion they pick the right subject for their interests, they spend much more time worrying about people who have done real wrong. What would they have us do. Slap someone on the wrist say that was very naughty and leave it at that? Manning has indirectly KILLED people. We may never know how many. That he didn’t see anything wrong with it makes it all the more troubling. That they seem to think he is some sort of hero is somehow worse.
Someone tell AI that Manning was born in Crescent, Ok. I doubt that makes him a Brit.
And, Doc, that’s exactly what AI would have us do, just slap his wrist, and severely lecture his worthless ass.
The clearly guilty? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Looks like you patriotic Americans may have forgotten one of the hallmarks of our country. Shame shame. Maybe he is guilty, but why the hell does he have to be held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day while he is awaiting a proper trial? There seems to be no reason for that other than to wear him down and punish him for a crime he hasn’t been convicted of yet. But hey, if the government thinks he is guilty and wants to punish him, they’ll do it by whatever means necessary.
#3 AiJ:
If a non-violent offender is held in solitary confinement, it is done as protection for that inmate, not as a punishment.
Anon in Jax,
Please explain to me what they are “wearing him down” for? What exact purpose?
All of these organizations keep stating these vague reasons for “torturing” him but it is all speculation for their own agendas.
They have the computer records; they already have his sworn statements. There is really nothing else they can gain or benefit, so why keep him in solitary but for his own protection.
I’m all for him receiving a fair trial and waiting for the facts to be presented but these accusations of torture as just as far off the mark as those yelling for his execution.
Here’s your lesson in law for the day, Jax. The government is required to consider Manning innocent until proven guilty by the Constitution. The Constitution doesn’t regulate public opinion. The only way any of us are required to treat him as if he’s innocent is if we were on the jury.
See, the Constitution protects us from the government, not from each other.
Jax, I’m allowed my opinion. If, you could provide me with evidence that he is indeed innocent I might consider it. But the F**ker bragged about it.
As for solitary, there are more that a few people that would rip his precious ass a new one. I’m pretty sure he might not make it to trial if he were released in GenPop. Aside from that, shouldn’t the confinement match the magnitude of the crime? Keep in mind he committed at least TWO capitol offenses, and its arguable he committed 3. In addition to numerous felonies (Manslaughter comes to mind). So tell me, where would you put him? He falls under military law, not civilian, and the rules are very different, but even if he weren’t, I believe he would still receive this treatment. And you know what, I don’t feel a damn bit of sympathy.
“The clearly guilty? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
So your point is that Doc Bailey should not be allowed to serve on Manning’s jury?
Fair enough.
The point on Due Process is duly noted. Manning has more to fear from Iraqi- and Afghani-connected Americans, legal immigrants, and legal aliens here for work or school. WikiLeaks failed to provide due diligence and named names. Those folks who worked with us are dead. Revenge is a normal, natural thing, and Due Process is allowing Manning to die before they use him for buskazi.
Manning has even more to fear from the network of folks who assisted him, either in the way of the means to carry out those crimes he stands accused of, or by providing a conduit from Manning to WikiLeaks. Some of those folks have lots more to lose, and martyrdom sucks – which is why they won’t tackle Russia or China.
Those reasons to protect him have nothing to do with guilt or innocence, but with the perception of guilt and the need to either take revenge, or silence him.
As for Manning’s chain of command and the Security Officer: folks, you bet your bars, stripes, and leaves when you permitted him inside the fun-palace. What we’re seeing now is those POS trying to safeguard their retirement, the character of their discharge, and after-service benefits. The knives are out.