Cleaning the Smears Off PFC Manning

[G_j]

http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2013/07/23/cleaning-the-smears-off-pfc-manning/

Cleaning the Smears Off PFC Manning
Published on July 23rd, 2013
Written by: Lynn Feinerman


None other than a former chief prosecutor at Guantánamo, Col. Morris Davis, has cut us a stunning and revealing swath of reality during the military court martial of PFC Bradley Manning, after the prosecution and the mainstream media painted PFC Manning’s acts in hyperbole, pseudo-psychological gossip, and hysterical cries of “aiding the enemy.”

Yes, Col. Morris Davis, a former chief prosecutor at Guantánamo, testified strongly for Manning’s defense team. He also appeared on Democracy Now! to express his hope that the military judge presiding at the court martial will drop the more hyperbolic charges against PFC Manning.

Col. Davis testified that released Guantánamo Detainee Assessments included in the files sent to Wikileaks were not a threat to national security, and that they revealed much less than other documents already published by the Pentagon. Hello! As Manning stated in his chatlogs, he had taken great care not to release highly classified files to Wikileaks…

Col. Davis told Democracy Now! that he felt it was important to prove that Manning hadn’t endangered the military, its troops, or anyone else with the leaked material.

But Davis revealed something much more interesting and important when he recounted the testimonies of PFC Manning’s superior officers, sergeant, and captains: every single person who testified told the court that, contrary to being alienated, inept, or a weakling of any kind, PFC Manning was the “go-to person” if anyone needed information. They emphasized that they all depended on Manning.


..more..

[sabrina 1]

1. Finally, some truth about Manning's time in the military. Another travesty among so many over

the past dozen years. When you think that when Bush lied this country into war, Manning was a teenager, and when 9/11 happened, he was just 12 years old. I doubt that 12 year old had any idea of what the criminals in charge of everything at that time, would do to him and to so many other soldiers and civilians.

No matter what they say or do to him, until they start going after the real criminals, he remains a hero.

[chimpymustgo]

2. That 12 year old grew up to be a hero. How better can you serve your country?

[G_j]

9. A perspective often missed

as a young idealistic person, who was only 12 on 9/11, would think he could do what's right and make the world a better place by exposing war crimes.

[RobertEarl]

3. That's not what was on DU

As Manning stated in his chatlogs, he had taken great care not to release highly classified files to Wikileaks…

It was said a hundred times that Manning just dumped everything. You mean those people who claimed 'dumped everything' are f'n stupid?

[JDPriestly]

7. The stuff he released that I read wasn't worth being called secret at all.

Diplomatic gossip and things that the rest of the world knows. It was stuff that was embarrassing to the government but not damaging to our national interest.

I read on DU that Manning apologized for having hurt our country. Does anyone know whether the men who shot the photographer in Iraq and the truck with the children in it apologized?

It's the unnecessary cruelty of our military and intelligence officers that hurts the country the worst.

And I am not painting all military and intelligence with the same brush. I know that we have many really, decent, good people in our military and intelligence who want to serve their country. But there are some really cruel, thoughtless types in those branches of government too. Manning did less harm that the cruel, thoughtless members of the government.

[Norrin Radd]

4. kr

[struggle4progress]

5. I suppose you can regard "he had pretty serious emotional problems" as a smear but it seems to be

an integral part of the defense strategy

[JDPriestly]

6. Smears are the order of the day for our government. It's very sad.

Not much pride in smearing people. That's what Joseph McCarthy did. People eventually caught on and got tired of it.

[truedelphi]

8. bookmarking to read when I am more awake.

K & R and thank you.

[Hydra]

10. K&R for later reading

Despite all the smears, the ghoulish delight in his pain, and the continuing 2 min hate that was directed at Bradley, there is a shining, irrefutable fact that has come to light.

His leak killed absolutely no one.

Instead, it provided solid evidence of many of the things we suspected were going on, but couldn't prove.

His reward? Possible life in military prison. Cheney's? He may still be calling shots in our gov't behind the scenes.

Something VERY wrong with that.