Bradley Manning lawyer: soldier's treatment a blemish on nation's history
David Coombs criticises the WikiLeaks suspect's detention at Quantico military prison in rare speech outside courtroom
Ed Pilkington in Washington
Tuesday 4 December 2012 09.39 EST
... Coombs made his criticism in his first and what will probably his only speech in a civilian setting since he became Manning's lawyer two years ago. He explained to the audience that he has consciously avoided all public engagements and interviews with the press partly on Manning's instructions and partly because the soldier "deserved an attorney entirely focused on the courtroom" ...
Asked about Manning's current state of mind, Coombs said: "He is very excited about having his case move forward. He is very encouraged at this point by the way things are going, and confident they will ultimately turn out OK for him" ...
He went on: "I hope that some day soon Brad can go to college and give back in public service. But he doesn't have to worry about making a difference – he has made a difference" ...
"People are often suspicious that the military judge may be subject to pressure and the the system is built to obtain a certain outcome, but ... I can tell you the court martial system is by far the fairest" ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/04/bradley-manning-wikileaks-lawyer-treatment