I have a knot in my stomach: Judge to reveal Manning verdict at 1:00 this afternoon

[cali]

A military judge will announce a verdict on Tuesday afternoon in the high-profile court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst whose release of some 700,000 secret documents to WikiLeaks opened a window into American military and diplomatic activities.

The judge, Col. Denise Lind, will read the verdict from the bench at 1 p.m. at Fort Meade, Md., the Army said in a statement.

Private Manning has already confessed to being WikiLeaks’ source for the files, which included videos of airstrikes in which civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands of front-line incident reports from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, dossiers on men being held without trial at the Guantánamo Bay prison, and about 250,000 diplomatic cables.

But while Private Manning has pleaded guilty to a lesser version of the charges he is facing, which could expose him to up to 20 years in prison, the government decided to press forward with a trial on a more serious version of the charges, including “aiding the enemy” and violations of the Espionage Act, which could result in a life sentence.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/31/us/bradley-manning-verdict.html

[cthulu2016]

1. I assume that knot is not caused by suspense

I don't see a surprise verdict here.

[RC]

5. What suspense?

It's pretty much a forgone conclusion. Set example by him and all that.

Or maybe, to seduce Snowden into coming back, they set Manning free to show how empathic and fair we are.

[earthside]

2. Is there any doubt?

You don't think this judge knows exactly what she has to do if she is to remain a 'respected' and 'honorable' member of the governing class?

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. She didn't write the verdict. n/t.

[pipoman]

3. A martyr?

He knew the penalty could be great and did it anyway..

[railsback]

10. He didn't think he would get caught

Hardly a sacrifice.

[Renew Deal]

4. He's guilty

Hope that helps you relax

[cali]

6. It does not. I don't think he deserves a life sentence

and I hope he doesn't get one.

[CanonRay]

9. He peeked in the window of the governing elite

and he will pay for that dearly. It is and was always a foregone conclusion. They don't take kindly to peons snooping on them, telling their secrets.

[HardTimes99]

8. The commander in chief already declared Manning guilty, so the verdict of

this kangaroo court and show trial is hardly in doubt.

I am reminded of a speech from the 19th century:

. . . it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved (for I admire the truthfulness and candor of the greater portion of the witnesses who have testified in this case), had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends, either father, mother, brother, sister, wife, or children, or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/johnbrown.html

[railsback]

11. I say 25 years

minus time served.