Bradley Manning and the Real Trial of the Century

[William769]

On Saturday, women from the activist group Code Pink strung the gates of Fort Meade, Md., with Nobel Peace Prize emblems for Bradley Manning. The demonstration was one of many scheduled throughout the coming week to call attention to Manning’s court-martial trial, which began Monday at Fort Meade, about 30 miles north of Washington, D.C.


A gay former Army intelligence specialist, Manning served under the repressive "don't ask, don't tell" policy, rescinded in 2011. Manning received several medals for distinguished service while stationed in Iraq.


Manning, 25, has been in prison for more than 1,100 days — since he was arrested in Baghdad May 26, 2010. He has spent three birthdays in prison. He was held in indefinite detention and solitary confinement for much of that time under extreme conditions that included not being allowed to lie down or close his eyes except during certain nighttime hours; not being allowed a pillow, sheet, or blanket; being forced to be naked and searched every morning; and not being allowed out of his windowless cell.


Because of his extreme treatment and the crimes of which he is accused, Manning has been deemed a prisoner of conscience by human rights groups worldwide. Amnesty International has called his treatment "torture" and has called for his release. He was nominated for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.

http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2013/06/04/op-ed-bradley-manning-and-real-trial-century

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[giftedgirl77]

2. how is this Obama's fault

First & foremost yes this info needed to get reported. However, there is a chain of command for this & if he couldn't go to his or they weren't responsive then his next course of action is to report to JAG, IG, or Congress. He has also decided to have his case heard by judge alone rather than by a jury, which in this case is probably a good idea in this situation.

Now with all these reporters screaming this is Obama's fault & why doesn't he pardon him. There is this thing called undo command influence, this works from the company commander all the way up to the commander & chief. What it means is that when a action is occurring a senior commander can't call down to a junior commander & direct how they want an action to be handled. It must be a completely hands off experience. Now after the fact is a different story. At that point they can only take action if it will benefit the Soldier, they can't increase the punishment.

Just thought I'd provide some insight into the inner workings of the military justice system.

[William769]

3. "insight into the inner workings of the military justice system", is the problem.

It's President Obama's fault because it happened on his watch (wrong place right time).

And for the record let me make myself perfectly clear President Obama knew exactly what was going on, if he didn't he shouldn't be President due to gross negligence on his part (if he truly did not know any of this).

In this whole fucking mess Bradley Manning is the only one that put the American people first.

[giftedgirl77]

4. It happened on his watch is your explaination

Once again Undo Command Influence does not allow a Senior Commander to interject themselves into any type of disciplinay proceedings prior to them being concluded. Therefore, with the President being our Commander and Chief he is condsidered the Top of our Chain of Command and cannot under any circumstances intervene and direct how he expects these proceedings to go one way or the other.

As far as what Manning did, he leaked the information to the media. Not everyone in the military is all hoorah lets go kill some babies. There are avenues set in place to handle matters such as these especially for issues of intelligence. We teach Soldiers constantly the Rules of Engagement, Law of War, and Code of Conduct. I have taught thousands of Soldiers the difference between legal and illiegal orders and the avenues to take to handle these issues. Whether they occur on the battlefield, in an office, or where ever. I also work for the Command to ensure that they do not go to jail for violating a Soldiers constitutional rights & that the Soldiers are protected as well.

Bradley Manning put himself in this situation he could have just as easliy reported this to JAG, IG, or Congress. We have required investigational and reporting procedures and operate completely outside the lines of the chain of commands.

Like I said before this shit is wrong and heads should roll for it, but the crap that is being thrown around is not understood and being misreported. Many of you who are screaming it's Obama's fault or whatever else don't understand dick about what you are talking about and sound just as illinformed as the teathuglicans when they talk about the constituation or taking away their damn guns.

[MrScorpio]

6. Those of us who've spent some time in uniform are trying to inform folks on this thing

I'm sorry, but a lot of so-called supporters are not listening.

In a nutshell, the military will not allow Manning to put it on trial with his defense, especially after he admittedly violated proper procedure and the chain of command to expose classified information to an entity that was not authorized to have it.

I doubt if the question of "war crimes" revealed on those tapes will come into question at all.

What WILL be on trail are the actions of Manning alone.

[giftedgirl77]

7. I concur

That is exactly what many of us have been trying to explain but many people just turn a deaf ear. There are many things I don't agree with & my husband & I are 2 very liberal individuals who both serve. But there are certain protocols that must be followed.

[blkmusclmachine]

5. .