52 years

[unhappycamper]

Army intel analyst charged over leak of Iraq shootings video
By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 -- 2:45 pm

An American soldier suspected of leaking video footage of a US Apache helicopter strike in Baghdad that killed two employees of the Reuters news agency has been charged, the military said on Tuesday.

Private First Class Bradley E. Manning, held in a military jail in Kuwait since last month in connection with the July 2007 attack, faces two charges of misconduct, said a statement released by the US army in Baghdad.

The first charge, is for violating army regulations by "transferring classified data onto his personal computer and adding unauthorised software to a classified computer system," the statement said.

WikiLeaks, a whistleblowing website, released in April the video that showed the Reuters employees being gunned down by the US army helicopter three years ago.

~snip~

U.S. Army/Ltc. Eric Bloom: No, I don't think we're talking about the death penalty. We have calculated the maximum possible number of years based on these charges to be 52 years.



unhappycamper comment: Wow. Just plain Wow.

[Chulanowa]

1. Political Prisoners: Not just for Argentina anymore!

[howard112211]

2. It seems to me the release of the video and the aftermath marks a new lowpoint for the US.

There were times where such a video would have actually provoked some sort of response by government official. Some form of statement, even a brief one, at least noting embarrassment. Today: nothing. Instead the person who passed the video to the press is pounded with full force, and the machine just rolls on.

[EFerrari]

4. This incarnation would have executed Dan Ellsberg. n/t

[chrisa]

35. I'm surprised they didn't try to execute this guy.

You know, set an example for the rest of them. Wouldn't want those other potential loose mouths jabbering out the war crimes. Bad for war profitability.

[EFerrari]

3. If the Pentagon weren't corrupt as hell, wikileaks would be unnecessary.

I hope he gets a good attorney.

[DemReadingDU]

10. I worry that Julian Assange could find an untimely death

With so much fraud, corruption, and cover-ups going on today, Wikileaks is an important organization to get out the truth. Assange surely must have bodyguards to protect him.

[EFerrari]

12. Somewhere at the Pentagon, they think of this as counter insurgency

and to a certain extent, that's probably right.

When the government decides it is above the law, the people find ways to take matters in their own hands. Wikileaks is doing that.

[Soylent Brice]

15. more likely he'll get "suicided"..

[howard112211]

5. I wonder if he can be defended under the Freedom of Information Act.

[LawnKorn]

7. The discovery process pre-trial could be interesting

I would foresee the Army declaring everything, and I mean every little piece of information, as 'Classified' and stone wall the defense access to evidence. The Army will attempt to convict by decree, and circumvent the legalities of a Courts Martial.

[crikkett]

26. I wonder if he'll be pardoned by the President n/t

[gratuitous]

6. Be all that you can be

Is this in the brochures? I don't see it in the nice ads running 24-7 on my teevee. "Expose war crimes, spend the rest of your life in jail." It's comforting to know that the military will probably not seek the death penalty for Pvt. Manning; although they tend to carry out that sentence without the formality of a trial.

[LawnKorn]

8. K&R

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. My guess is they'll make this go away... or at least try to.

Even the army isn't stupid enough to throw stones from this particular glass house.



The kid *rules*.

[bobburgster]

11. He needs to be strong.

The government will definitely want to have him plead guilty for a reduced sentence. He needs to make sure he does not plead too early. He'll get a really good deal if he maintains he wants to go to trial until the very last minute.

[EFerrari]

13. Maybe we could mount a weekly letter writing campaign

the way we did with Don Seigelman. At least he'd know he has support.

[bobburgster]

18. Hmmm, how do we go about it?

In my book someone who leaks info. on atrocities is helping our military (or any other institution..private or public) not hurting them. He should be protected by the whistle blower laws.

[EFerrari]

19. Well, we could show this whistle blower some support

by writing letters of support to him and by writing letters on his behalf to others and by reminding/asking people to do that in a weekly thread.

There are people who will disagree with the project and that's their prerogative. But it needn't derail us. I'm going to see if I can round up an address for him. :hi:

[bobburgster]

31. Sounds good

let me know if you find it.

[EFerrari]

40. I'll post the first thread this afternoon. Meanwhiile, there's a link in #30.

[Luminous Animal]

32. Please do. I am on board. This is awful.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

24. I think that would be a great idea.

Who to send the ltters to, though? Once he gets anattorney we could use them as a conduit.

[EFerrari]

29. We can find out his address at the detention center

wherever it is. I'd be willing to start the thread on a Tuesday or a Thursday and we'll need a few dedicated kickers. :hi:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

38. I will step up and KICK --

:hi:

[Altoid_Cyclist]

14. The worst part is that I was told here yesterday that he's getting what he deserves.

When you see what happened to Joe Darby (Abu Ghraib whistleblower) and the way that his life was nearly destroyed for doing the right thing, it really makes you wonder.

At least he didn't face prison time, but you can be in an emotional prison when you're constantly in fear for your life from fellow American soldiers and ex-service members.

WTF has happened to this country?

Just in case you haven't heard Joe Darby's story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/07/60minutes/main2238188.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

[Soylent Brice]

16. fucking sickening.

[spanone]

17. he should be awarded medals imho

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. But..but..that video EMBARRASSED our government and the Pentagon!! K&R

[readmoreoften]

21. Yes, this will send a chilling effect to others who care to show evidence of civilian murders.

Stay strong, Bradley.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. Lt. Calley had to serve a whopping 3 years of house arrest.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

23. And Dick and the Boys continue ---

to walk free.

Some "justice" there. O. :(

[Bluebear]

25. Yet military homicides of civilians go largely unpunsished

[happy_liberal]

27. What are they so upset about anyway? They said they were following rules of engagement...

...they said that they did nothing wrong...so why didn't they release the video themselves?

[Smarmie Doofus]

37. For fear that "someone else might reach a different conclusion."

To paraphrase Sam Ervin at the Watergate hearings.

[Goldstein1984]

28. I'll be watching for a legal defense fund

The kid's a hero for exposing war crimes. Of course the war criminals are going to put the one who exposed them on trial.

[EFerrari]

30. SUPPORT SITE FOR BRADLEY MANNING:

http://www.bradleymanning.org/category/activism/

[Dystopian]

33. Thank you for posting the link....

Will follow up on this...
He needs all the support he can get...from all of us.


peace~

[Smarmie Doofus]

34. Thanks for the link and...... KICK. nt

[old mark]

36. I haven't said this for decades, but Fuck The Army.....nt

[G_j]

39. presidential pardon?

A presidential pardon would definitely be in order!

[L0oniX]

41. This is the result of the lessons they learned with the Vietnam war.

They learned that if they let videos or pictures of their actions (war crimes) become public that the public will eventually protest to the point of forcing the end of that war ...not to mention showing the dead Americans coming home.