Thursday, March 03, 2011

Bradley Manning to be Sentenced to Death?


















As if they hadn't tortured him enough, now the war criminals at the Pentagon are trying to kill Bradley Manning.

Bradley Manning, the US soldier who has spent 10 months in solitary confinement on suspicion of having transmitted a huge trove of state secrets to WikiLeaks, now faces a possible death penalty

For the crime of "aiding" an enemy with no name.

The charge involves "giving intelligence to the enemy", which is defined as "organised opposing forces in time of war but also other hostile body that our forces may be opposing such as a rebellious mob or a band of renegades". Such an enemy could be civilian or military in nature.

Or you and I. Or any part of any "rebellious mob" that believes that the truth will set us free.

The records allegedly downloaded by Manning revealed clear instances of war crimes committed by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, widespread torture committed by the Iraqi authorities with the full knowledge of the U.S. military, previously unknown estimates of the number of Iraqi civilians killed at U.S. military checkpoints, and the massive Iraqi civilian death toll caused by the American invasion.

Pfc. Manning saw this misery and rampant illegality with his own two eyes, and then, online, he discovered more of the same -- much, much more -- and he did something about it, knowing full well the penalty. "I wouldn't mind going to prison for the rest of my life, or being executed so much, if it wasn't for the possibility of having pictures of me plastered all over the world press," he confided to the informant who betrayed him. Manning knew the stakes and the risks when he leaked these documents, but still he loyally performed his duty, both to the United States Army and to his country.

He just did his duty. The Pentagon boss Robert Gates says he did no harm. But still they torture him.

“It’s hard to imagine why prison officials would treat someone who they worry is mentally disturbed by isolating him to the point that, as medical experts have documented, is likely to make him crazy,” said Daphne Eviatar, who investigates and reports on U.S. national security policies and practices for Human Rights First.

For the crime of telling the truth. And embarrassing the rich and the powerful.

You know, Mohamed Bouazizi, the young Tunisian fruit seller who set himself on fire to protest against injustice, is credited with starting the wave of protests that is shaking the world.

But I believe Bradley Manning also inspired a lot of young people, by shining a light into dark and corrupt places . And showing them a world they had never seen before.

Because the truth WILL set us free.

The Obama administration is acting like a totalitarian regime.

If the Pentagon war criminals want a rebellious mob they will get one.

For now we are ALL Bradley Manning...
















Recommend this post at Progressive Bloggers.

No comments: