If Bradley Manning had murdered Iraqi civilians as a soldier, he’d be a hero.

[HomerRamone]

"If Bradley Manning had murdered Iraqi civilians as a soldier, he’d be a hero. Instead, he revealed proof that his superiors killed Iraqi civilians. It’s all about understanding your role in the hierarchy that keeps our society together…which we should all want for some reason."

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/ted-rall/50936/cartoon-for-august-2nd-2013-know-your-level

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Yep, and he probably wouldn't have had any jail time either.

[typeviic]

2. Most people do not understand......

You see, this is called American Exceptionalism(tm). Translated; Might makes right. Do as we say, not as we do.
Besides, they are Arabs. And Arabs do not count as human beings. Our military and gap-tooth lemming neocons have been conditioned with jingoistic propaganda to think like the Israeli IDF.

[NewThinkingChance40]

3. When I was deployed

we were never ordered to kill civilians. This is not the accepted rule, but the exception. The info that Bradley Manning leaked during the conflict put my battle buddies and myself in unnecessary danger. We had mortars dropped near our position many times, and people I knew very well were killed by roadside bombs. If you are upset with anyone, it should be the politicians who started the war, not those who served. I take this kind of thing personally because i know that they people we lost, my friends, were lost in a political war, not to protect the people we were fighting for. Bradley Manning is not a hero, he released information without thinking of the consequences of the lives that would be lost due to the retaliation. Make no mistake, I am not saying it was right for the traitors who did kill innocent civilians to do it, they should be punished if they haven't already been, it was not right for those of us who were doing our job the right way to be put in unneeded danger because some kid wanted attention. Things like this are disrespectful to those who died trying to protect the people of not only America, but also those who died trying to PROTECT the citizens of Iraq from those who want to kill. As soldiers, we are not doing a political job, we are following orders and most of us want only to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Get mad at the politicians, do not disrespect the soldiers who do the right thing.

[tumtum]

5. Thank you from one combat vet to another.

Glad you made it home brother.

[NewThinkingChance40]

7. Right back at ya!

[SarcasTex]

4. Like sargent Bales?

Sargent Robert Bales is currently on trial for the murder of 17 Afghan civilians. Are you trying to imply that this only happened because they were Afghani's as opposed to Iraqi's .

[brooklynite]

8. So, he's -not- a hero?

As the OP suggests?

[MineralMan]

6. No, he wouldn't. But he might well be on trial for that crime.

Your source is incorrect.

[Pelican]

9. *yawn*

Ted Rall... desperate for attention as usual...

I'm surprised he didn't throw n@#$% in there for good measure to get some extra.