WikiLeaks says Bradley Manning jail term is 'strategic victory'

[ProSense]

WikiLeaks says Bradley Manning jail term is 'strategic victory'

(Reuters) - WikiLeaks on Wednesday said a 35-year jail term handed down to U.S. soldier Bradley Manning for leaking classified files to the pro-transparency organization was a "strategic victory" as it meant he was eligible for parole in less than nine years.

"Significant strategic victory in Bradley Manning case," WikiLeaks said on its official Twitter feed. "Bradley Manning now eligible for release in less than 9 years, 4.4 in one calculation."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/21/us-usa-wikileaks-manning-reaction-idUSBRE97K0RB20130821

Wikileaks Just Released A Massive 'Insurance' File That No One Can Open - BusinessInsider
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023479334

What exactly did Wikileaks release, and why?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023480268

[phleshdef]

1. Yea well, victory for them, he gets to be their patsy.

I agree that Manning deserves prison time for what he did because he went beyond exposing illegal activities. But at the same time, I see him as an emotionally troubled individual that Wikileaks took advantage of. Assange and his ilk are scum, hiding behind the noble notions of transparency in order to make a name for themselves. And they don't care who they take advantage of to do it.

[RobertEarl]

3. Are you a patsy?

You sound like a patsy for the criminal Bush organization.

You do know Manning put a monkeywrench if the Bush war making, right?

No telling how many lives Manning saved from Bush's death machine, and here you are going after the man who stopped the machine. Sounds like being a Bush patsy to me. Just my opinion deduced from your words here.

[phleshdef]

5. Doing a good thing doesn't erase doing a bad thing.

I don't know why some of you folks are so dense about this, but I suspect its intentional.

Manning released countless documents that had nothing to do with war crimes or illegal activities. Had he ONLY released information pertaining to wrong doing, then I'd be right there protesting for his freedom. But that's not what happened. Thus he deserves jail time.

[RobertEarl]

11. Sure you would

Protest for his freedom? Hell, I don't even see you protesting for Bush's indictment. Instead you attack a person who saved many lives from Bush's war machine. Look in the mirror.

[phleshdef]

14. LOL, you don't see me doing anything. You don't know me.

Once you are done foaming spittle all over your shirt, maybe you can come up with an actual rebuttal that addresses the fact that Manning leaked thousands of classified documents that had no relevancy to war crimes or illegal activities.

I could save a baby from a burning building, but if I intentionally shove several people into the fire on my way to the baby, I'm a criminal. I know its not exactly an accurate comparison, but it works for my purposes here. Exposing a crime while committing other crimes still makes you a criminal. There is no way you can get around that. None.

[Lee-Lee]

13. I gotta say

This is probably the view closest to my own.

I could be behind him a lot more if he had looked through and only released items he saw that released crimes.

But wholesale dumping of everything he could get his hands on, without reviewing it for relevancy, is a step past what I can defend.

[riqster]

29. That's been my position for a while now.

Been flamed repeatedly for it, too.

[leftynyc]

39. And you sound like

a patsy for Assange. Read all about his exploits here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/21/1232757/-KABOOM-Australian-Wikileaks-Party-Implodes-Amid-Mass-Resignations

How dare you accuse someone here of being a patsy for bush....this place has gotten completely out of control.

[Johonny]

7. I agree

They get to feel self righteous while he gets to face prison time. Had they been really concerned for him they would have given him good legal advice up front as to what legally he could release and what material was doomed to be considered non-whistler blowing material by any reasonable judge.

I agree they do not appear to care.


I don't understand why some people equate Bush Co getting off the hook for crimes equal to other criminals going to jail. you'd think they'd want them all to serve the time they deserve. But in some peoples minds data dumping isn't a crime if some small part of it helps prove some point even if the vast amount of the data is not relevant.

[kelliekat44]

50. OK, I missed it. What exactly "illegal" did Manning expose? Serious question because all links to

wikileaks document seem to be disabled.

[one_voice]

61. This pretty much sums up my view...

I get that it was a good thing that the illegal stuff was exposed, but what else was mixed in there. That is a concern of mine.

If Manning had gone through the information and exposed Bush crimes and things that we *should* know and destroyed what could possibly hurt us as a country or individuals should it land in the wrong hands that's one thing.

But to give it Wikileaks/Assange?!? What the fuck? As if he has our best interests at heart. I completely agree with your take on Wikileaks/Assange.

And I agree both he and Snowden were manipulated and used.

As for Manning doing jail time, he's already done I think it's 3 years, I'm ok with a pardon. I hope Obama pardons him.

[MADem]

2. Well, Julian should stay in his embassy cubicle until Manning feels the sun on his face again, IMO.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Manning didn't mince words, he faced the music, he apologized, and he took his lumps.

[RobertEarl]

4. He sacrificed for you and all of us

No telling how many innocent lives Manning saved from the Bush war machine. Bush did the crime and he serves no time. And what does MADem do? He goes after the people who worked and sacrificed to stop the killing. No wonder the democratic party sucks when we have so many in our tent who protect the Bush war machine. Eh?

[ProSense]

6. You have a lot of nerve lecturing anyone

after praising teabaggers: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023502719

[RobertEarl]

9. Praise tea baggers?

HAHA

No. Unlike you I am saying that the government is oppressing freedom. And that Obama better fucking fix this shit, quick. He can start by having Manning released.

[ProSense]

10. No, you were praising teabaggers

unlike me.

[phleshdef]

8. LOL, yea, that Bradley Manning, a modern day Jesus...

[RobertEarl]

12. What are you smoking?

When are you going after Bush? Or do you just attack the defenseless?

[phleshdef]

16. I'm not "going after" anyone, but I spent 2003-2009 calling for Bush's impeachment.

The subject of this thread isn't Bush, its Manning. If you want to have a discussion about Bush, go start your own thread.

[snooper2]

18. you are getting a little better at this...

Not quite pro, semi-pro I would say!

I award you with the knowledge to create a ----


Squeezeburger Pie!

[MADem]

28. No he didn't. Nice speech, though.

Proud of yourself?

He admits that what he did was wrong and that his actions hurt the United States.

He has a better understanding of his responsibilities than his so-called supporters. For this reason, I think, if he keeps a good attitude and applies himself to self-improvement, he'll be outta jail in ten years.

[pnwmom]

48. Manning did, but Assange operates out of sheer ego. n/t

[leftynyc]

41. That's what a hero does

He doesn't run away. And that's why I have complete sympathy for Manning and exactly zero for Snowden.

[one_voice]

63. He was actually the...

bravest of the three, Snowden, Assange, and Manning.

Gotta give him kudos for that. The other ran and hid like cowards.

I'll refrain from commenting Greenwald. Who is making a killing on these guys backs....

[MADem]

64. Concur--and he, of all of 'em, had the biggest personal issues.

I think he's conducted himself in a very honorable way. I hope he can keep it together, keep busy getting that college education, and qualify for parole in a reasonable period of time.

[Rex]

15. Okay just lost all respect for Wiki

Yeah you guys go and trade off DECADES with this kid...it is all just a fucking game for some.

[Luminous Animal]

32. The reference is to the defense and Manning not to any kind of victory for Wikileaks.

Here is the full statement.

Statement by Julian Assange on today’s sentencing of Bradley Manning
21 August 2013, 17:21 UTC

Today the well-known whistleblower Bradley Manning has been ordered by a military court in Maryland to spend a minimum of 5.2 years in prison with a 32 year maximum (including time already spent in detention), for revealing information about US government behaviour to the public.

This hard-won minimum term represents a significant tactical victory for Bradley Manning’s defense, campaign team and supporters. At the start of these proceedings, the United States government had charged Bradley Manning with a capital offence and other charges carrying over 135 years of incarceration. His defense team is now appealing to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals in relation to this sentence and also for due process violations during the trial.

While the defense should be proud of their tactical victory, it should be remembered that Mr Manning’s trial and conviction is an affront to basic concepts of Western justice. On Mr Manning’s arrest in May 2010, he was immediately subjected to punitive incarceration by the US government, which was found to be "cruel, inhumane and degrading" by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, and even found to be unlawful by US military courts.

The period Mr Manning has already spent in prison will be subtracted from the sentence, and dispensations for good behaviour, parole and other factors mean that it is likely he will now spend less than ten years in confinement. Mr Manning’s defense team are now seeking to reduce this sentence further on appeal. US military law stipulates that the sentence can only be reduced. It is important that support for Bradley Manning continues during this time.

The only just outcome in Mr Manning’s case is his unconditional release, compensation for the unlawful treatment he has undergone, and a serious commitment to investigating the wrongdoing his alleged disclosures have brought to light.

Mr Manning’s treatment has been intended to send a signal to people of conscience in the US government who might seek to bring wrongdoing to light. This strategy has spectacularly backfired, as recent months have proven. Instead, the Obama administration is demonstrating that there is no place in its system for people of conscience and principle. As a result, there will be a thousand more Bradley Mannings.

[Rex]

57. Thank you!

That looks so different than what was posted.

[Le Taz Hot]

59. I know.

Shocking isn't it, that the OP would misrepresent an article?

[Rex]

60. You don't think there is a reason for it do you?

Yep, hot today...gonna be hotter tomorrow...

[Le Taz Hot]

62. Nah, 'cause that would mean there's an agenda

and that's just crazy talk.

Helluva thunder storm the other night.

[Rex]

65. Yep, more raining coming in too.

nt.

[struggle4progress]

17. "It's not ABOUT Manning! It's about ME, Julian Assange!"

[Luminous Animal]

24. What the hell are you talking about?

The strategic victory is for Manning and his defense team.

Statement by Julian Assange on today’s sentencing of Bradley Manning
21 August 2013, 17:21 UTC

Today the well-known whistleblower Bradley Manning has been ordered by a military court in Maryland to spend a minimum of 5.2 years in prison with a 32 year maximum (including time already spent in detention), for revealing information about US government behaviour to the public.

This hard-won minimum term represents a significant tactical victory for Bradley Manning’s defense, campaign team and supporters. At the start of these proceedings, the United States government had charged Bradley Manning with a capital offence and other charges carrying over 135 years of incarceration. His defense team is now appealing to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals in relation to this sentence and also for due process violations during the trial.

While the defense should be proud of their tactical victory, it should be remembered that Mr Manning’s trial and conviction is an affront to basic concepts of Western justice. On Mr Manning’s arrest in May 2010, he was immediately subjected to punitive incarceration by the US government, which was found to be "cruel, inhumane and degrading" by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, and even found to be unlawful by US military courts.

The period Mr Manning has already spent in prison will be subtracted from the sentence, and dispensations for good behaviour, parole and other factors mean that it is likely he will now spend less than ten years in confinement. Mr Manning’s defense team are now seeking to reduce this sentence further on appeal. US military law stipulates that the sentence can only be reduced. It is important that support for Bradley Manning continues during this time.

The only just outcome in Mr Manning’s case is his unconditional release, compensation for the unlawful treatment he has undergone, and a serious commitment to investigating the wrongdoing his alleged disclosures have brought to light.

Mr Manning’s treatment has been intended to send a signal to people of conscience in the US government who might seek to bring wrongdoing to light. This strategy has spectacularly backfired, as recent months have proven. Instead, the Obama administration is demonstrating that there is no place in its system for people of conscience and principle. As a result, there will be a thousand more Bradley Mannings.

[MADem]

47. That's it, precisely. He's a little piglet for attention--it's noxiously obvious.

Even on the day Manning gets sentenced, Mister Swedish Condom just HAS to bigfoot all over the coverage of Manning's reaction to his own damned sentence.

He's pathetic. He's like one of those needy broadway stars that Martin Short mocks so well...only without the associated humor.

[bunnies]

19. uh oh.

[RobertEarl]

20. Notice the posters here sliming Manning

As far as I can tell none of them ever went after Bush like they are going after the people who stopped the Bush war machine.

[ProSense]

22. Most of the posters

"As far as I can tell none of them ever went after Bush like they are going after the people who stopped the Bush war machine."

...have been here longer than you, and you posted an OP praising teabaggers: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023502719

[MADem]

30. Who's sliming Manning? Jesus, you love to make shit up and insert unrelated crap into threads.

Manning admitted his guilt, he stood up, took the hit, and he's gonna do the time. I think most people admire the fact that he is taking responsibility for his actions.

You come waltzing in here whining about Bush (start your own thread if you want to change the subject) and insulting people posting in the thread.

You need to get correct--you are being uncivil and disruptive and that's why people are calling you out.

[ProSense]

67. LOL! n/t

[Luminous Animal]

21. Full statement by Julian Assange

Statement by Julian Assange on today’s sentencing of Bradley Manning
21 August 2013, 17:21 UTC

Today the well-known whistleblower Bradley Manning has been ordered by a military court in Maryland to spend a minimum of 5.2 years in prison with a 32 year maximum (including time already spent in detention), for revealing information about US government behaviour to the public.

This hard-won minimum term represents a significant tactical victory for Bradley Manning’s defense, campaign team and supporters. At the start of these proceedings, the United States government had charged Bradley Manning with a capital offence and other charges carrying over 135 years of incarceration. His defense team is now appealing to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals in relation to this sentence and also for due process violations during the trial.

While the defense should be proud of their tactical victory, it should be remembered that Mr Manning’s trial and conviction is an affront to basic concepts of Western justice. On Mr Manning’s arrest in May 2010, he was immediately subjected to punitive incarceration by the US government, which was found to be "cruel, inhumane and degrading" by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, and even found to be unlawful by US military courts.

The period Mr Manning has already spent in prison will be subtracted from the sentence, and dispensations for good behaviour, parole and other factors mean that it is likely he will now spend less than ten years in confinement. Mr Manning’s defense team are now seeking to reduce this sentence further on appeal. US military law stipulates that the sentence can only be reduced. It is important that support for Bradley Manning continues during this time.

The only just outcome in Mr Manning’s case is his unconditional release, compensation for the unlawful treatment he has undergone, and a serious commitment to investigating the wrongdoing his alleged disclosures have brought to light.

Mr Manning’s treatment has been intended to send a signal to people of conscience in the US government who might seek to bring wrongdoing to light. This strategy has spectacularly backfired, as recent months have proven. Instead, the Obama administration is demonstrating that there is no place in its system for people of conscience and principle. As a result, there will be a thousand more Bradley Mannings.

[ProSense]

23. "This hard-won minimum term represents a significant tactical victory for Bradley Manning’s defense"

Thanks for posting.

[msanthrope]

25. It's all about Julian.....and 35 years is a long, hard sentence. nt

[ProSense]

26. Saved from releasing the "insurance" files. n/t

[msanthrope]

27. James Blond is okay with 35 years? One can only hope that comes back to bite

him on the ass in Sweden. How convenient.

[MADem]

31. I hope he's in the Embassy for at least as long as Manning is in the pokey.

Twice as long would be fair.

He loves to goad people with emotional issues into making stupid decisions that ruin their lives--time for him to feel a little heat.

[msanthrope]

33. I'll take a Swedish prison sentence of comparable length. As Prosence pointed out, now

he doesn't have to release his "insurance file." I wonder if he will contribute to Manning's appeal.

[Luminous Animal]

36. You can donate via the Wikileaks site here:

https://shop.wikileaks.org/donate

[msanthrope]

38. Can you show me how much Wikileaks money went to Manning Legal Defense Fund?

And by that I mean the legal account set up just for his legal expenses, not the one that pays for parades and other nonsense.

[Luminous Animal]

44. The Defense Fund is here (which Wikileaks links to)

https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=38591

[msanthrope]

45. Right--show me how much money Wikileaks gave to Manning's IOLTA Legal Defense Fund--the

defense fund that was used solely for his legal fees, overseen by his attorney, and NOT used for parades, demonstrations, and other 'expenses.'

[Luminous Animal]

51. The last I heard, the Wau Holland Foundation, allowed Wikileaks to donate $15,000.

Total for the IOLTA legal trust account trust account is $59,129 controlled by Coombs.

An additional $305,000 went to Coombs via the Manning defense fund.

[msanthrope]

53. 15 k from wikileaks, and Courage to Resist spent 75% of donations on 'expenses' not legal fees???

What bullshit is that?????

Are you telling me that of 1.2 million dollars raised, Courage to Resist spent 75% on something other than Manning's legal defense? On what???? How do you spend 80k on advertising? Advertising what?????

What a Ponzi scheme.....this needs to be a separate OP....

[Luminous Animal]

54. You haven't a clue what they do. Yes. Advertising. Prior to Courage to Resists campaigns on

Manning's behalf, few had even heard of him. And that is $82K over 3 years.

The are 100% transparent on where they allocate their money and update monthly and those who want to donate SOLELY to defense can do so.

[msanthrope]

55. How does an organization collecting for his 'defense' spent 75% of the money on things that are not

his actual defense?????

And wikileaks kicked in 15k over three years????? 15 k????? While Julian spent two years on a country estate???

Holy shite....I feel like I'm talking to victims of a Ponzi scheme who don't even know that they just got taken.

[Luminous Animal]

58. Believe it or not, being able to support Manning's defense also includes raising awareness of his

Predicament.

And where Assange lived while under house arrest has to do with this is a bizarre attempt to piss in the soup.

[msanthrope]

66. It takes 75% of 1.2 million to do that? This sounds to me like a huge Ponzi scheme.....

I wonder how many Wikileaks donors thought Wikileaks was going to support Bradley Manning, with more than 15 k.

[Luminous Animal]

35. No he's not fucking okay with 35 years.

Statement by Julian Assange on today’s sentencing of Bradley Manning
21 August 2013, 17:21 UTC

Today the well-known whistleblower Bradley Manning has been ordered by a military court in Maryland to spend a minimum of 5.2 years in prison with a 32 year maximum (including time already spent in detention), for revealing information about US government behaviour to the public.

This hard-won minimum term represents a significant tactical victory for Bradley Manning’s defense, campaign team and supporters. At the start of these proceedings, the United States government had charged Bradley Manning with a capital offence and other charges carrying over 135 years of incarceration. His defense team is now appealing to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals in relation to this sentence and also for due process violations during the trial.

While the defense should be proud of their tactical victory, it should be remembered that Mr Manning’s trial and conviction is an affront to basic concepts of Western justice. On Mr Manning’s arrest in May 2010, he was immediately subjected to punitive incarceration by the US government, which was found to be "cruel, inhumane and degrading" by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, and even found to be unlawful by US military courts.

The period Mr Manning has already spent in prison will be subtracted from the sentence, and dispensations for good behaviour, parole and other factors mean that it is likely he will now spend less than ten years in confinement. Mr Manning’s defense team are now seeking to reduce this sentence further on appeal. US military law stipulates that the sentence can only be reduced. It is important that support for Bradley Manning continues during this time.

The only just outcome in Mr Manning’s case is his unconditional release, compensation for the unlawful treatment he has undergone, and a serious commitment to investigating the wrongdoing his alleged disclosures have brought to light.

Mr Manning’s treatment has been intended to send a signal to people of conscience in the US government who might seek to bring wrongdoing to light. This strategy has spectacularly backfired, as recent months have proven. Instead, the Obama administration is demonstrating that there is no place in its system for people of conscience and principle. As a result, there will be a thousand more Bradley Mannings.

[MADem]

42. Why are you carping at me about what that idiot thinks?

I want Assange to do two days in the Embassy for every one Manning does in a military correctional facility.

I think Assange is an asshole who uses emotionally troubled people for his own purposes. I think he took advantage of Manning when Manning was especially vulnerable.

Manning understands that what he did was wrong. He's said so. I think it's interesting how so many of his so called fans can't take him at his word.

[Luminous Animal]

34. Wikileaks is praising the work of the defense. The comment wasn't about Wikileaks...

Read the full statement:

Statement by Julian Assange on today’s sentencing of Bradley Manning
21 August 2013, 17:21 UTC

Today the well-known whistleblower Bradley Manning has been ordered by a military court in Maryland to spend a minimum of 5.2 years in prison with a 32 year maximum (including time already spent in detention), for revealing information about US government behaviour to the public.

This hard-won minimum term represents a significant tactical victory for Bradley Manning’s defense, campaign team and supporters. At the start of these proceedings, the United States government had charged Bradley Manning with a capital offence and other charges carrying over 135 years of incarceration. His defense team is now appealing to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals in relation to this sentence and also for due process violations during the trial.

While the defense should be proud of their tactical victory, it should be remembered that Mr Manning’s trial and conviction is an affront to basic concepts of Western justice. On Mr Manning’s arrest in May 2010, he was immediately subjected to punitive incarceration by the US government, which was found to be "cruel, inhumane and degrading" by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, and even found to be unlawful by US military courts.

The period Mr Manning has already spent in prison will be subtracted from the sentence, and dispensations for good behaviour, parole and other factors mean that it is likely he will now spend less than ten years in confinement. Mr Manning’s defense team are now seeking to reduce this sentence further on appeal. US military law stipulates that the sentence can only be reduced. It is important that support for Bradley Manning continues during this time.

The only just outcome in Mr Manning’s case is his unconditional release, compensation for the unlawful treatment he has undergone, and a serious commitment to investigating the wrongdoing his alleged disclosures have brought to light.

Mr Manning’s treatment has been intended to send a signal to people of conscience in the US government who might seek to bring wrongdoing to light. This strategy has spectacularly backfired, as recent months have proven. Instead, the Obama administration is demonstrating that there is no place in its system for people of conscience and principle. As a result, there will be a thousand more Bradley Mannings.

[msanthrope]

37. Wikileaks is full of shit. Manning isn't getting out with minimum time because he

won't get parole without a sign off from the feds--and he's not getting that.

[Luminous Animal]

40. I trust Col. Morris Davis's (Gitmo chief prosecuter)

opinion more than yours

Col. Morris Davis ‏@ColMorrisDavis https://twitter.com/ColMorrisDavis/status/370223513400913920

@JPBarlow Military has detailed regs on confinement credits & parole eligibility. My best est is he'll do about 8-9 yrs, out by age 33-34.

[msanthrope]

43. That's not minimum time, my dear Luminous. And I bet if you asked Col. Morris would Manning's

failure to testify in front of a current VA jury count negatively towards his parole, he might revise upwards.

[Luminous Animal]

46. You claimed that he won't get parole. Col. Davis disagrees.

Dear. Col. Davis has been writing extensively about Manning's case. I am sure he is aware of all the angles that would impact the length of the sentence.

[msanthrope]

49. He won't if the feds still want his testimony. Refusal to help the authorities is a strike

against you when it comes to parole. You really think an Army board is going to look at refusal to testify against co-conspirators as a 'good thing?'

You aren't answering my financial questions upthread....why not?

[Luminous Animal]

52. Awful demanding, ain't ya?

[msanthrope]

56. You should see me on behalf of my clients. Here, I have a TOS that binds me. nt

[JI7]

68. Assange is a sleazy attention whore