Bradley Manning faces 52 years in jail

UPDATE 1/25: No Direct Connection found between Bradley Manning and Wikileaks. The US military has not been able to find a direct link where Manning gave Wikileaks or Assange the classified material he downloaded. This means the US will probably be unable to indict Assange on conspiracy charges.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/24/bradley-manning-wikileaks-_n_813445.html

UPDATE 12/28: UN Torture Official Investigating Bradley Manning's conditions of imprisonment!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/23/un-treatment-leaks-bradley-manning

I found this a rather interesting topic after looking over the WikiLeaks cables page.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/30/wikileaks-cables-bradley-manning

This is the Army Intelligence Analyst accused of releasing 250,000 diplomatic cables. As it says he's facing up to 52 years. One of the article points I found interesting is the possible motivations behind his act pointing to his discontentment in the Army, feeling mistreated and overlooked. I am baffled as to why this Article doesn't mention his rank, that seems like a rather important aspect of his situation. Although it seems like this guy was too sensitive for the military he certainly has done something positive, as he feels that he was doing for a change.

Discuss... Is 52 years too harsh in your opinion or not harsh enough? Do you agree with what he did, would do the same thing?

 

52?! holy crap

 

I wouldn't call him a "Patriot" or a "Traitor" just a slightly selfish misguided fool.
These documents were classified so he broke the law, no getting away from that fact.
He would have known the consequences of his actions if caught.
He is welcome to his opinions, but he had no right to leak all of these documents, of which he would have no control over the consequences of releasing them.
I guess people do what their consciousnesses dictate, and everybody else has to deal with it in one way or another.
52 years, though? Bit harsh. 10 will do.

 

this is a somewhat tough one...

 

If we cherry pick the information, I can see your point.
But the dude downloaded thousands of pieces of classified information with no concern, it seems, what he was downloading.
He did something he shouldn't have.

He knew they were innocent with hindsight and video analysis.
I think it was labeled as a murder, which it wasn't.
He blew the whistle (if you like) on a military blunder, which sadly happens too often.
Anybody would think those people were specifically targeted because they were reporters.
They were in the wrong place at the wrong time surrounded by people with weapons.
A war zone, basically.

You can interpret this in anyway you wish.
Do I have to agree with you?

 

stupid fucking gubberment

 

manning is a patroit, but in my humble opinon he defintley has to go to jail. Sure he could of had a crisis of conscience but this is the military that he signed up for to protect under any circumstances. They cant let someone stealing classifed documents and realaseing them to the public slide, that would set a presadence they could never allow for security reasons. think about that, even tho the documents show fucked up shit going on that dosent give him the right to break the oath hes made to the army and his country. They dont say "protect the US interst's unless u think how we do things is wrong and as his one Supervisor put quite humoursly "get sand up ur vagina." (thats fucked up im sorry this kids faceing 50 yrs in jail, ill stop with the jokes) What would we do if someone leaked info like this to the Soviets during the Cold War? They be thrown in jail forever. This isnt the same situation but by realseing it pubically u in a sense do the same thing, are enemys can read those documents to and will use them against us. u have to protect the army no matter what after u join, sadly even if what u think theyre doing is wrong, or u shouldnt be in the army. I dont condone anything the US does or will do, most of it is quite disgusting and over the years ive become more and more dissatsifed with my goverment. This is why i would never join the army. With that said he had to know what was gonna happen by doing this. He has my utmost respect and sympathy but he did the crime u gotta do the time. I dont want him to go to jail but he will belive me. He is a true patroit, and has made a big sacrifce to show us the public what are goverment is really doing. For that he deserves are praise and prayers!

 

plus its kinda shady the amount of the documents he downloaded and leaked. Most of them show no laws being broken. Kinda makes it seem like he did it just to look cool to Julian, if not then why wouldnt he just realse the documents that show wrong doing. Also he didnt leave the army after he realized it was all fucked up. Again hes a brave soul but maybe a little misguided. Still gets my prayers and praise! this is a tought one to think about.

 

Maybe he leaked those cables for the same reason all those military guys are commiting suicide over.

 

It seems to me that this dude did not act in any altruistic way. We'll leave that for the courts to sort out, though. He definitely is not a patriot if the information he leaked can be used to harm innocent people, no matter on what side of the spectrum they may be, or the troops on the ground.

The question should also be, why the fuck did one man have access to so much classified information? Other heads should roll.

 

Perhaps their minds have been intellectually deconstructed to the point where they are unable to recognize the crimes until a third party interprets the data for them.

 

Oh that's right I forgot... Bush was such a hero he ought to receive an award- posthumously ASAP.

 

Not a wise thing to write. You could be next.

 

When you join any branch of the armed forces you swear to protect the constitution of the USA. Its about time someone stepped up and did so.

LET HIM GO!