Manning Will Be Sentenced Tomorrow

[G_j]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/us/politics/manning-will-be-sentenced-on-wednesday.html?_r=0

Manning Will Be Sentenced on Wednesday
By EMMARIE HUETTEMAN
Published: August 20, 2013


WASHINGTON — Pfc. Bradley Manning will be sentenced Wednesday morning for providing more than 700,000 secret government documents to WikiLeaks, the largest leak of confidential materials in American history, the judge announced Tuesday, just hours after beginning deliberations.

Private Manning, 25, faces up to 90 years in prison, although he will be credited for the three and a half years he has already spent in custody. There is no minimum sentence. The judge, Col. Denise R. Lind, convicted him in July of most of the charges, including six counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917.

The sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m., and the hearing is expected to be brief. Colonel Lind will announce Private Manning’s full sentence before adjourning the court-martial, a legal expert said. She will not break down the sentence by charge or explain her reasoning, and Private Manning will not make a statement, the expert said.

Private Manning’s sentence will automatically be sent to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, unless he unexpectedly decides to waive that right.

On Monday, Private Manning named one of his lawyers, David E. Coombs, to work with him on the clemency process, through which he could seek a reduction of his sentence. Most likely, he must serve a third of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, the legal expert said.

.. More..

[Luminous Animal]

1. Here is a free "I am so not Bradley Manning" avatar for Manning critics....

[G_j]

2. you've probably seen this,

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[Luminous Animal]

3. Its a good one but a depressing one.

[G_j]

5. I have an awful feeling

in the pit of my stomach.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

6. I expect the sentence will feel like a kick in the gut

I believe I read that the prosecution is asking for 70 years. They'll probably get a significant percentage of that. I do appreciate what Bradley Manning did on behalf of all of us, even while suspecting he didn't fully understand the scope of what he was doing at the time.

[Union Scribe]

7. ^ Me too.

And there's always something happening to keep that feeling strong.

[Luminous Animal]

9. I know. Reported today that photos and video will NOT be allowed when Bradley leaves the courtroom.

I don't know if you are on twitter but Alexa O'Brien is the one to follow @carwinb https://twitter.com/carwinb

Also Nathan Fuller @nathanLfuller https://twitter.com/nathanLfuller

[G_j]

11. I'm not, but thank you.

I feel like there should be a national
day of mourning.

[Autumn]

15. Have you seen this? This will turn your stomach.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023502432

[CrispyQ]

4. If it weren't all so damned tragic, that would be a DUzy. nt

[SidDithers]

10. When does your "Free Bradley Manning!!" avatar go up?...nt

Sid

[msongs]

8. so, what is the sentence for killing thousands of people using drones? nt

[Cleita]

14. A nice pension and SS protection for life. n/t

[Catherina]

12. The US government asked that he be given 60 years

The Liberation of the Bastille can't get here soon enough.

[Cleita]

13. ....

[Catherina]

16. Yeah, I know

Big, bright candles. Thanks

[Cleita]

17. Stupid smilies. I didn't intend bright other than a sad vigil.

Sorry!

[Catherina]

18. That's how I took it

That smiley was perfect. Tomorrow is going to be very upsetting. This injustice is going to galvanize things.

[Luminous Animal]

19. It's going to be a hard day tomorrow...

It's always a great temptation to succumb to the cult of celebrity, of course, to live vicariously through the snippets we happen to read here and there about some famous person, to see them as "heroes" who live out the courage or accomplishments or glamor that we can only dream of, and so on. And that's fine for a flip-through of People magazine in the check-out line. But this is serious business. The actions of these whistleblowers involve taking on the power of corrupt and murderous state structures that can and will destroy individual lives and entire nations -- structures that are wildly out of control and are devouring the very substance of human society. Actions that put a spoke of truth in the wheels of this monstrous machine are of incalculable importance. The 'character' of those who put in the spokes is of vastly minor importance.

Second point: I invite any critic of Bradley Manning's mitigation plea to stand in his shoes for two seconds and show us how 'tough' they would be. Manning is facing a lifetime of penal servitude in a system that has already tortured him, battered him, humiliated him, abused him. He is facing the prospect of spending decades -- decades -- in a system run by people who demonstrably despise him. He will be housed with people -- and more importantly, guarded by people -- who hate 'traitors' and 'queers' and 'weirdos' and 'sissies' with a violent, virulent hatred. This is what he faces: years and years and years of it. What are you facing? If I were Bradley Manning and facing a life like that, I'm sure I’d proclaim my 'repentance' too. I'd apologize, I'd weep, I'd throw myself on the mercy of the court, if it meant I had the chance to cut some time from my sentence in hell. Does anyone really believe, even for a moment, that a blazing statement of political principle would have somehow moved the judge – the same judge who has made a relentless series of rulings cramping Manning’s defense at every turn, and ensuring that the trial was a ludicrous, sinister sham which never addressed – and was designed not to address – the substance of Manning’s action and the crimes that he revealed? What good, then, would be an empty effusion whose only purpose would be to make all of us sitting safely behind our keyboards feel all wiggly for a moment or two?

In his statement, Manning didn't name any names, sell anyone out, implicate anyone else. He tried to mitigate his own further torture -- but he didn't betray anyone. A plea for mercy, an apology -- however sincere or feigned -- is an entirely different thing from betrayal. I'm sure that at almost any point in his long, torturous captivity, Manning could have turned 'state's evidence' against Julian Assange and cut the sweetest of deals, perhaps even get a pardon or total immunity. He didn't do that. He took the entire burden on himself, went through the entire ordeal by himself -- and now he is standing there, by himself, waiting to feel the full draconian force of military law. No one else is there but him. No one else is at risk but him.

As far as I'm concerned, he can say whatever he has to say in that situation to try to mitigate the horror that is about to descend upon him. If the apologies and regrets and explanations that he is offering the court "disappoint" you, then that's just too bad. Again I say: go stand in his shoes, face what he's facing, and see what you'd do. Manning brought these truths to light; he has endured torture and captivity without betraying another living soul. If that's not 'heroic' enough for some people, if he is now to be abandoned because he's "let us down" -- like a pop star who's put out a bad record after a string of hits -- then their “dissent” must be shallow indeed.

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2342-dissent-disappointment-and-draconian-rule-bradley-mannings-plea-and-the-fight-to-be-human.html

[G_j]

20. Well said

Chris Floyd had done an excellent piece.