Prosecution Rest In Manning's Wikileaks Trial

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) -- The prosecution has rested its case in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning.

The U.S. Army private is charged with aiding the enemy for sending classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. The government rested Tuesday after presenting evidence from 80 witnesses in the trial at Fort Meade, near Baltimore. The trial began June 3.

Prosecutors presented evidence the former intelligence analyst used military computers in Iraq to download reams of documents and battlefield video from a classified network. Their evidence also suggested al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden saw some of the material WikiLeaks published.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MANNING_WIKILEAKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-07-02-16-16-32

[struggle4progress]

1. US government rests its case in Bradley Manning WikiLeaks trial

Admission that army has mislaid standard contract signed by private boosts defence hopes of having some charges dismissed
Ed Pilkington at Fort Meade
Tuesday 2 July 2013 17.08 EDT

... Paradoxically, one of the most significant pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution to show that Manning had knowledge of the danger of his actions was a classified report that was among the trove he passed to WikiLeaks. The 32-page document was released by WikiLeaks in March 2010 and gave the conclusions of a major investigation by US counter-intelligence into WikiLeaks itself.

The government argues that having leaked the report, Manning must have been familiar with its content. The report states that WikiLeaks was a threat to the US army.

"The intentional or unintentional leaking and posting of US army sensitive or classified information to Wikileaks.org could result in increased threats to DoD personnel, equipment, facilities, or installations," the report said. "Such information could be of value to foreign intelligence and security services (FISS), foreign military forces, foreign insurgents, and foreign terrorist groups for collecting information or for planning attacks against US force, both within the United States and abroad" ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/02/bradley-manning-wikileaks-trial-government-rests

[struggle4progress]

3. After evidence from 80 witnesses, prosecution rests in court-martial of Bradley Manning

Article by: DAVID DISHNEAU , Associated Press
Updated: July 2, 2013 - 4:30 PM

... Prosecutors presented evidence that Manning, a former intelligence analyst, used military computers in Iraq to download reams of documents and battlefield video from a classified network, transferred some of the material to his personal computer and sent it to WikiLeaks.

The evidence showed Manning's training repeatedly instructed him not to give classified information to unauthorized people.

As they wrapped up their case, prosecutors offered that al-Qaida leaders reveled in WikiLeaks' publication of classified U.S. documents, urging members to study them before devising ways to attack the United States.

"By the grace of God the enemy's interests are today spread all over the place," Adam Gadahn, a spokesman for the terrorist group, said in a 2011 al-Qaida propaganda video. The video specifically referred to material available on the WikiLeaks website ...

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/213950701.html

[struggle4progress]

2. Witness in Manning case testified in secret

DAVID DISHNEAU
PAULINE JELINEK
Associated Press
Published: July 2, 2013 5:30PM

... Defense counterintelligence official Danny Lewis testified Tuesday in a closed session just before the prosecution rested its case. Prosecutors offered the evidence to support theft charges against the former intelligence analyst.

The judge refused to certify Lewis as an expert on the value of information to foreign intelligence services. But she allowed him to testify about the value of certain documents under certain conditions, which were classified and not revealed to the public.

Lewis' testimony was given in closed court to protect classified information ...

http://www.thegatewaynews.com/ap%20general%20news/2013/07/02/witness-in-manning-case-testified-in-secret

[grahamhgreen]

4. This seems rather important