The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

One year in jail, Bradley Manning is a hero

Blowing the whistle on war crimes is no crime.

By Peter Tatchell Published 18 May 2011 12:23

On 26 May, Private Bradley Manning will have been held in US military detention without trial for one year. He faces a battery of charges, including "aiding the enemy" – a crime punishable by execution under US law.

What was Manning's crime? As well as allegedly releasing classified diplomatic cables that exposed the hypocrisy of top US officials, it is alleged that he blew the whistle on war crimes and cover-ups by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan. If this is true, the man is a hero. He is a defender of democracy and human rights. His actions are based on the principle that citizens have a right to know what the government is doing in their name.

Manning should not be in prison. The charges against him should be dropped. Instead, the US should put on trial those who killed innocent civilians and those who protected them.

Even many Americans agree that Bradley Manning is a true patriot, not a traitor. He reveres the founding ideals of the US – an open, honest government accountable to the people, which pursues its policies by lawful means that respect human rights. At great personal risk, he sought to expose grave crimes that were perpetrated and then hidden by the US government and military.

These are the characteristics of a man of conscience, motivated by altruism. Any misjudgements he made in his alleged release of certain documents are far outweighed by the positive good overall. Thanks to Manning, we, the people, know the truth.

"Cruel, inhuman and degrading"

Critics say that WikiLeaks was sometimes indiscriminate and even reckless in its release of certain documents. This may be true in a small number of cases. Regardless, these releases were done by WikiLeaks, not by Manning. He allegedly passed the information in good faith. He did not publish the documents. WikiLeaks did. Manning cannot be blamed for any shortcomings in the way WikiLeaks released the information.

For nine months, 23-year-old Manning was imprisoned in harsh, inhuman conditions at the Quantico marine corps base in Virginia.

He was subjected to long periods of solitary confinement and many extreme deprivations, which amounted to pre-conviction punishment. This mistreatment was condemned by more than 250 of America's most eminent legal scholars.

The abuse of Manning constituted illegal "cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment", contrary to the UN Convention Against Torture and to the Eighth Amendment to the US constitution. It is arguable that President Obama should be indicted by the International Criminal Court. He bears direct personal and legal responsibility for the mistreatment of Manning. He knew about it, publicly endorsed it and did nothing to stop it.

After worldwide protests, Manning was recently transferred to a standard medium-security military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where his treatment has significantly improved.

He is being held on the, as yet, unproven allegation that he leaked classified US military and diplomatic documents that were subsequently released by WikiLeaks. These documents exposed US war crimes, as well as US foreign policy dishonesty and duplicity.

Covering up slaughter

Manning is a humanist and a man with a conscience. When he discovered human rights violations by the US armed forces and two-facedness by the US government, he was shocked and distressed. He became disillusioned with his country's foreign and military policy, believing it was betraying its professed democratic and humanitarian mission.

The abuse that first triggered Manning's disillusionment came when he was posted to Iraq in October 2009 as an intelligence analyst. He was appalled to discover US military collusion with the repression of dissent in Iraq; in particular "watching 15 detainees taken by the Iraqi Federal Police . . . for printing 'anti-Iraqi' literature".

The offending literature exposed corruption in the US-backed government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. When he complained that US forces should not be assisting in suppressing free speech and peaceful protest, he was told to keep quiet and that the US armed forces in Iraq should be doing more to silence opponents of the Maliki regime.

He was further outraged to discover top-secret video footage of a US Apache helicopter attack that gunned down 11 Iraqi civilians in 2007, including two Reuters journalists and men who had gone to the aid of the wounded. Two children were also gravely injured when the US helicopter opened fire on their van. The video records US soldiers laughing and joking at the killings, and also insulting the victims.

The video of the massacre can be seen here.

This slaughter had previously been the subject of a cover-up by the US armed forces, which claimed dishonestly that the helicopter had been engaged in combat operations against armed enemy forces.

It is only (allegedly) thanks to Bradley Manning that we now know the truth about this killing of innocent civilians – and about the killings of hundreds of other civilians in unreported and undocumented incidents.

Manning is a US citizen but also a British citizen through his Welsh mother. Since he has been in detention, he has received no British consular support. Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg, have failed to help him. They have never spoken publicly against his maltreatment nor, as far as we know, made any private appeals to the US government and military to halt the abuse that Manning suffered at Quantico.

So much for the coalition's professed commitment to human rights and civil liberties.

Peter Tatchell is a human rights campaigner.

TAKE ACTION – What you can do:

1. Write to Bradley Manning. Send him your support: PFC Bradley Manning 89289. Fort Leavenworth Military Detention Centre, 830 Sabalu Road, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, KS 66027, USA.

2. Sign the petition in support of Bradley Manning.

3. Ask your MP and MEPs to urge the British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to ensure a British consular visit to Bradley Manning, and to press the US government to drop all charges and release him. You can email your MP and MEPs direct through this website.

4. Phone or write to the US embassy in London – 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE (tel: 020 7499 9000).

5. Write to President Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC20500, USA.

More from Peter Tatchell

View the discussion thread.

37 comments

Sat, 2011-05-28 13:11 — Captain Sensible (not verified)

@Swankaw
The Indian cesspool society dares look at the black speck in the Yank eye, this is the reason why these people live like insects in poverty.

Thu, 2011-05-19 21:09 — Sara (not verified)

@ Alex & Vance-
I agree with you...what Manning did was knowingly endanger the lives of servicemen and women, in addition to potentially jeopardizing ongoing missions, which is reprehensible.

I guarantee that Manning was aware that resources were in place within the military lifelines to inform personnel up the chain of command of any UCMJ violations that had been committed by his counterparts.

Thu, 2011-05-19 04:21 — John (not verified)

Why is there always one person who posts that "Bradley Manning knowingly broke the law and must be punished." What a wet blanket. Nobody cares that he broke the law. That was never the issue at heart. Those who admire Manning for what he did would certainly be willing to forgive him. Those who despise him don't care about the law either. How is holding someone in solitary confinement for almost a year not cruel and unusual punishment? That being said, how is it that the US military can get away with this "not quite torture" treatment before Manning is even convicted? People who choose to only comment on how Manning broke the law without also addressing his unlawfull treatment make a grave error in judgment. Maybe someday a few of them will understand when their human rights are also violated in such an egregious manner. Obama has lost a lot of respect in my eyes because of this. I spent 3 years in the Army and 15 months in Iraq. Manning's abuse makes me sorry I ever had anything to do with them.

Wed, 2011-05-18 15:48 — Tom (not verified)

It is disgraceful the way Manning's being treated. However, the sad truth is that aside from his attorney, nobody else is going to help him.

Cameron and other Western leaders will never publically contradict Obama on this. There won't be any National Free Manning Campaign, telethons or other ways to raise money for his defense. Will Michael Moore help Manning out like he offered to help Assange? No.

The reality is Manning is on his own.

Thu, 2011-05-19 06:22 — Vance (not verified)

Many of you are confused and very obviously not veterans. When you join the military you are doing it by your own choice. When you accept a position of trust you are responsible for your conduct. This part is just simply clear cut. He knew that what he did was illegal and probably thought is some creative way that he would not get caught. He did get caught and now he must take ownership of his actions.
You all can try to justify what he did and call him a hero, but the bottom line is he is a traitor to the country during time of war. He chose his path and now must accept the consequences for his actions. Just because something appears to be moral does not make it automatically legal. If a man raped your mother or sister and you killed him, you would go to prison. Due process and the legal system is designed to punish that man for his crime. You can cry all you want that he deserved to die but it will not get you acquitted of murder. The release of secret data is also a process. The people that pursued the freedom of information act used the system to make government accountable for their actions. A court of law should determine if the data that Manning leaked should be released, Manning did not have a right to make that call.
Putting a traitor in a cell and letting him sit alone and think about what he or she did is not cruel and unusual. It is called incarceration. The military jails do not issue PS3s or Xbox. Three meals and a bed is all he is entitled to until after his trial. Because he is in the military he does not have the rights that a civilian does and the UCMJ is different than due process and the rights that we all enjoy. They can ship him to Guantanamo and keep him there for years and an enemy combatant if they wanted to.
I am a former Marine and am currently working in the cyber security field. I wear a grey hat and feel that freedom of information is important to keep the government is check. I also applaud WikiLeaks for having the nuts to publish the data but let’s be realistic for a second and acknowledge that some things must be classified and not available until they will no longer be a threat to national security. I know these cables did not put anyone in danger but they were secret documents that were illegally released. Unless all the protesting and crying is able to change the constitution, this young man will go to prison for a very long time as he deserves because of the traitor that he is. He is far from a hero.

Thu, 2011-05-19 22:02 — Peter Tatchell2

Bradley won't be alone and sacrificed if we rally to his support. One way you can help him is to tweet, facebook and email this article to all your friends and do some of the above suggested Take Action points. Let's build a global solidarity movement. Bradley needs our action. We can do it.

Thu, 2011-05-19 08:12 — Paul (not verified)

Neither the Universal Code of Military Justice nor even the US Constitution can override the UN Conventions on War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity, which have constitutional standing, since the US is a treaty signatory. Providing evidence of such crimes to the public cannot be made criminal acts, & the punishment before trial of Manning is also prohibited by UCMJ & US Constituion. The reason he has been illegally detained & not tried is the govt/military have no case. I am humiliated to be a citizen of a state so ready to sacrifice its professed principles of law & justice to protect its agents from exposure as war criminals.

Thu, 2011-05-19 08:43 — Anonymous (not verified)

There's substantial evidence that the men those Reuters fellas were with were actually armed. I only say "I don't know" because I wasn't there, but the photos were released, the investigation's details were released. Just not on Wikileaks because they didn't bother to publish... "The rest of the story."

Thu, 2011-05-19 22:17 — Scooby (not verified)

@Sara

Who's lives did he endanger exactly?

Who's lives has the US Military and US government put in danger - last count 66,000 innocent civilians

If people are naive enough to think reporting up a chain of command that his still not investigated obvious war crimes then Bradley Manning is right... we are doomed

Thu, 2011-05-19 22:34 — This Is Wrong (not verified)

Land of the free, home of the slaves.

Wed, 2011-05-25 22:42 — Shadrach11 (not verified)

Anyone remember Neuremberg? Many Nazis said that they were only following orders. It was determined that following orders to commit crimes against humanity were not LEGAL orders. Didn't Manning try to object up his chain of command? And he was ordered to keep his mouth shut. If, IF he indeed did what his accusers say he did... he did the right thing.

The "Imperial War for Oil" has never been a legal (declared by congress) war. The last LEGAL war that we had was WW2. President R. Chenny and his puppet GW Bush used our military to wage terror... I mean war against a nation based on lies.

Every member of congress that allowed president Chenney and his puppet to take us into ilegal wars should be tried for treason. Every so-called public servant who allows and then funds a commander-in-chief who puts our men-in-uniform in Harm's Way has done more to endanger our service men & women than what Brad Manning is aledged to have done.

Yes indeed, president Chenney and his puppet and now president Obamma in continuation with the support of so many in congress do indeed trample our constitution under foot. Its amazing how the true enemies of liberty will try to criminalize a whistle-blower.

Thu, 2011-05-19 09:26 — Phil E. Drifter (not verified)

No, BEING A F*CKING DUMBASS is a crime!

Wed, 2011-05-18 17:40 — Emma (not verified)

Tom I agree that Mannings been tortured but he is not alone. There is the BradleyManningDefenseFund, Firedoglake does an excellent job and Michael Moore does a lot as you will see at this link:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/campaign-free-bradle...
Have you written to him yet?

Thu, 2011-05-19 11:28 — zsremrxc

Bradley Manning is a true patriot, not a traitor...This applies to much of the working population,if we had a few more Bradley Manning then the world would be a better place.

Note:Bradley has friends in the highest and lowest places.

Fri, 2011-05-20 03:45 — MrM (not verified)

Wow. Just wow. It's sad that so many here think that this guy should suffer for exposing a (war?) crime. National security? Wipe your ass with it! That weakest of arguments is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover up the embarrassment that it is watching soldiers who are supposed to be the good guys sink into pure evil by shooting and killing unarmed civilians and journalists. Why exactly isn't this a war crime? Because the soldiers committing it are Americans? Makes me sick!

Fri, 2011-05-20 05:39 — Vance (not verified)

@Scooby
I am not going to disagree with anything you said, thanks for presenting a well thought out informative post. Many of the other comments about my post where childish and without any regard to realism and therefore do not deserve any response.

I am a patriot and a veteran. I was deployed to Beirut, Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia and Honduras. I witnessed and even am guilty of what a conscientious objector or a pacifist would consider a war crime. I will argue that everything I did was justified under rules of engagement or commands from my superiors. That does not make me war criminal regardless of the comments that this statement will produce. I am a firm believer in freedom of information and feel that our government should be more transparent. I will agree that not everything that is said or done needs to be classified but will insist that some things have to be for the protection of others. I stand firmly behind our constitution and get angry when I see some liberals mutilate the principles that are the foundation of what makes us a great country.

My point is that everyone has an opinion on this subject and has their own interpretation of what is right or wrong. Constitutional issues are open to interpretation but a clear cut rule or a law is not. An unconstitutional law is not overturned on a message board or by angry citizens. The process that I referred to again, a court of law makes those determinations. Just because you feel that the US government is not prosecuting John and Jane Doe fast enough for the crimes that some people claim does not take away the fact that another crime was committed. I don’t feel that the theft of this classified government information put anyone’s life in danger but I do strongly feel that Manning knew very well that what he was doing was illegal. Manning took an oath when he joined the Army on his own free will and when he was put in the position to maintain confidential information he deliberately disregarded the law and procedure. I am sorry that many of you feel that thousands of others broke the law and therefore Manning should be released. But let’s be realistic for a moment and concede that no matter how much you swear, yell and hold protests, Manning is accused of a crime and now has to potentially suffer the consequences.

To many of you that feel that our country or government sucks because Manning will be convicted of a crime, then leave. Go live in a country that would have drug him outside and cut his throat. He is accused of a crime that could be considered treason. If he is guilty the punishment should fit the crime. He will get a fair trial regardless of your negative position of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Fri, 2011-05-20 06:29 — IDOSAYN1 (not verified)

Has the Judicial Watch been engaged in this matter? Would that help. Bradley Manning is a Patriot! We need more Bradley Mannings in our military! We have a corrupt and disgusting President that should have been impeached! While Obama is bankrupting this country and has ruined our security forevermore he is still allowed to serve as President. President Obama and his cronies have to go! Bradley Manning is a Patriot and by legal rights should not be in jail but protected as a "Whistleblower" of corruption and wrongful acts by the US Government is what this amounts to. We have a Corrupt President Obama calling the shots! People, what is wrong with us for not having an Arab Spring over Bradley Manning. That youngman does not belong in jail. Maybe we need him as President because he has the best interest of this country at heart!

Sat, 2011-06-25 09:28 — Patrick (not verified)

@Des Demona
I don't think I asked for your opinion.

Fri, 2011-09-09 11:50 — Marlon (not verified)

I still don`t get it, Bradley Manning took an oath upon his military induction to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The taking of an oath says it all and now he is still in prison. where is justice for this soldier who did what a soldier should do. Defend the innocent and weak Come on America this soldier does not belong in prison.

Thu, 2011-05-26 07:54 — J (not verified)

@ vance

yep you remind me of the brain washed marines i served with. I wonder, did you even get a top secret security clearance? dont awnser that. You think that just because you took a outh to protect the country, that makes it ok to kill innocent people as long as it was a direct order from a higher up that obvously is not even near the battle field? whether or not you believe in a higher power it in no way is right to kill innocent or do any wrong doing to innocence in uniform or not. you talking reminds me of nazi's. I cant say this man is right or wrong in passing off the information. but what i do know is that he is by all means a hero.Risking his skin to show the wrong doing of his country is by all means the way the founding fathers would have wanted it. If the founding fathers could come back just for a bit into the future and see just this article. you would bet your @$$ that they would change the constitution alot more. but even then i doubt that would matter this a country that is turning its back on what made it great to begin with, Its Constitution and the rights of its people. SFC 89D

P.S. you should look up the first ten amendments and look up what united states is doing to destroy it.

Fri, 2011-06-24 10:14 — Patrick (not verified)

You people are fucking nutcases!

This asshole gave military secrets to a non-U.S. citizen who eventually published them to the world.

You can live in your fucked up world where you think people are nice all around the world, but that goes to show you naivete.

Like Vance said, what if your family member was raped and you went and killed the person who raped your family members. Are they justified? No, they are not.

Keep your international bullshit and stick up your asses because that is a bunch of crap also.

He gave secrets that he wasn't authorized to release.

If found guilty, I vote for death.

Fri, 2011-09-09 12:04 — Marlon (not verified)

Patrick have you ever serve in the militairy???? I don`t think so because your remarks are so stupid.

the Oath = to Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States Against All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic. At that time the US GOV/ Army was a domestic enemie. You and the bobo`s in DC Pentagon still don`t get it.

Fri, 2011-06-24 10:28 — Des Demona (not verified)

@Patrick

Judging from the above post I'm not sure if you should be slinging the 'nutcase' word about!

Wed, 2011-05-18 19:07 — Joe (not verified)

Manning is by no means on his own! Tell that to the 30+ people who were arrested for peacefully protesting outside Quantico a few months ago. Or the thousands of people in the Bradley Manning Support Network. Or the millions of people who admire his courage. Or the billions who now know some more truth about what's really going on in the world.

The reality is Obama and all the other inflatable balloons who oppose human rights are on their own.

Wed, 2011-05-18 19:14 — poliphobis

Land of the free - what a joke.

Tue, 2011-05-24 11:45 — Ned_Flaherty (not verified)

Here’s what EVERYBODY so far doesn’t know:

1. Whether Manning will plead guilty or innocent
2. What Manning did (if anything)
3. What the evidence proves (if anything)
4. What the damages are (if any)
5. Why he did what he did (if he did anything at all)
6. Whether the year of inhumane detainment without a trial, and nearly a year without charges, throws the case out on a technicality (as often happens)

It’s important for everyone to stop declaring guilt, innocence, etc. without the 6 facts above.

Let’s just see exactly what unfolds at the trial.

Thu, 2011-05-19 14:46 — Pee Dee 71 (not verified)

Land of the free .. yeah right!!

"No people are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely think they are free"

Fri, 2011-05-20 13:38 — Drakula

In my book I vote Manning a hero the jerks who should be in a military jail are the 535 congressmen who are blocking peace in the Middle East and doing the bidding of the Zionist thugs, probably taking outright bribes.
This really stinks of corruption!!!

To Hell with Obama, he thinks that by killing Osama Bin Laden that will be the end of terrorism.
GET REAL!!!!

If the American tax paying citizens want to end the threat of terrorism in their country then they need to block all finance to Israel!!!!

Financing Israel for the past 60 years has been so lopsided and provocative it is no wonder the Palestinians are blowing their top!!!

Should all finance and diplomatic communication to Israel cease, then the threat of terrorism would be over by lunch time!!!!!!

But that would take another US revolution!!!!!!!!

Wed, 2011-06-01 06:07 — Vance (not verified)

@ GT and J
Wow that was an interesting assumption and interpretation of what I said. I would like to break it all down and respond but I can cut to the chase and just say, "No, you are way outside of reality". I was a Marine and did question authority at times. I did offer a solution though; I did not just choose to disregard policy or operating procedure. There is a process and like an adult with a mature sense of duty I chose to stay within the parameters that were drawn when I joined the armed forces. I also try to stay within the speed limit and if by chance I exceed the limit and get a ticket, I don’t cry about it and blame everyone else for my choice. You are justifying Manning’s crime by proxy. You were in the Marines? Crap in and crap out….think about it.
Your position works well on a liberal campus and in the tree fort behind your daddy's house but when you grow up a bit you will find that if you do not learn to conform to your employers rules, you will become unemployed and back on mommy's tit or in jail depending on how immature your disregard for rules, laws or policies are. Did you call me a retard? Did that make you feel important or like a leader?

Mon, 2011-05-30 23:37 — GT (not verified)

@Vance

So you're one of those 'obey the law' idiots who default response would have been to side with the British in the Revolutionary war - kissing the whip, licking Massah's boots. A 'Good German' in the 1930s and 1940s... a Party adorer in the CCCP... a supporter of Kim Jong-Il in North Korea... a slave-catcher in the Old South.

In other words, put your mind in ANY repressive State, and you're on the side of the oppressor... because you're a FOLLOWER; nothing more than a stupid piece of livestock, who is prepared to participate in atrocities directed by people who despise you (yes, your leadership knows you're just a useful tool - look up Kissinger's opinion of the military).

Sometimes the law is flat-out wrong; Prohibition (of all forms), denial of liberty (e.g., outlawing homosexuality or atheism), home invasions.

How do you feel about the killing of a retired Marine (Guerena) the otehr day by ';aw' enforcement? No crime, weapon's safety was on. you can watch the video.

If you're not outraged by it you're just a serf; if you ARE outraged by it/ think for two seconds why an Iraqi or Somali wouldn't be if it was one of their countrymen and YOU were the guy behind the M4.

Retard.

Wed, 2011-05-18 22:36 — Alex (not verified)

While I support WikiLeaks' right to publish the cables that were leaked to it, I have to disagree about manning being a "hero".

What he did may have been brave, and it did uncover corruption within our government and military, and for that we should be grateful for the now public avaliablity of this information.

However, as a soldier, he was completely aware of the UCMJ and the penalties for violating the various rules imposed by it.

He willingly violated Article 104 by indirectly providing the enemy access to government documents, many of which were Top-Secret.

He also undoubtedly knew, especially working in intelligence with Top-Secret access that the penatly for violating Article 104 is "death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct".

Personally, I would hate to see him executed for what amounts to citizen journalism, but he gave up his civilian rights when he joined the military, and he gave up his civilian rights when he violated military law.

The most I can hope for is that he gets prison time, not death for his brave, albeit, stupid actions.

Whatever the case, the one year he has spent in jail so far will seem like a cakewalk compared to what he faces after his trial. I promise, he will be found guilty.

Wed, 2011-05-18 22:40 — Alex (not verified)

Oh, and in response to "Manning cannot be blamed for any shortcomings in the way WikiLeaks released the information."

Please read Article 104 for yourself. Wikileaks publishing what manning leaked counts as "indirectly giving intelligence to the enemy".

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/ucmj/blart-104.htm

Thu, 2011-05-19 18:28 — Scooby (not verified)

@Alex and Vance,

I am interested to hear your comments as Bradley will be subjected to a legal process within the military system. I agree with everyone else Bradley should not be in jail at all and I greatly admire what he did. If chat logs are correct Bradley said he was willing to go to jail or die so the public knew the truth. I believe internationally people are behind Bradley as what has come to light far outweighs military rules.

I do wonder where the rights of a soldier kick in under international tribunal law - if anyone knows please post. If Bradley did leak the documents he has broken his military contract with the US. In light of the information in numerous documents particularly in the war logs - 1000's of US soldiers reported war crimes - yet no investigations/prosecutions were carried out or disciplinary actions taken. This is fact - having been investigated by Al Jazeera/The Guardian/Dispatches on various articles/programs.

The UK government are investigating those relating to UK troops since these leaks. In the US no such actions have started (one does have to question why - especially after the UN has written to Obama asking for what they believe to be war crimes to be investigated.

The UK Government is calling for investigations into the blinding, sexual molestation and further torture of a detainee that has been released to UK detention from Gitmo. The UK government have stated in leaked cables it is a serious issue with regard to the legal process in the UK to prosecute this person lawfully. If they are guilty then the US system has seriously jepordized a terrorist being sent to jail. See cables on Daily Telegraph site.

The same is true of a Spanish case also documented in the cables. Spain was basically silenced by the US.

If Bradley is tried each and every war crime has to be brought to bear that has been exposed in the war logs. A court has to weigh up whether such a considerable act was justified under International Law i.e. did the US Military/Government act illegally on these cases given that numerous times these were reported up the chain of command. Was it internationally legal for Donald Rumsfeld to approve a Frago 242 order? Was the war on Iraq legal - The de-classified documents released in the Chilcot enquiry show the UK mislead the public. WMD were emphasized (rather than regime change) due to legal footings in the UK.

Bottom line is the US/UK governments broke international law and were never held to account. Their get out clause for Iraq was that International Law did apply to Iraq as Iraq was not part of the international community pre-war (this gets highlighted also in the Chilcot inquiry).

Wed, 2011-05-18 12:40 — swatantra

Whistleblowing is never a crime when it exposes the excesses that the US went to and the cover up their shameful deeds. Its a disgrace the way he is being treated. Detention without trial, just like those incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay. This man is a hero for the courageous action he took, not for any personal gain, but to expose the misconduct of the American Forces. Its men like Bradley Manning that hold up a mirror to Americans to allow them to see themselves and what is being done in their name.

Thu, 2011-05-19 19:04 — Colm (not verified)

Paul, above, nails it.

"a state so ready to sacrifice its professed principles of law & justice to protect its agents from exposure as war criminals."

And Bradley Manning is a hero.

Tue, 2011-05-24 22:40 — Will (not verified)

I'm sure Manning's actions broke some military rules, but can the military impose rules on its personnel which oblige them to ignore or be complicit in war crimes? Bradley Manning didn't think so and nor do I