I am not sure about this.

[beachmom]

http://www.necn.com/pages/landing?blockID=434373

John Kerry reacts to Bradley Manning's prison conditions



I have had a bad feeling about this situation for a while, and tend to NOT give the benefit of the doubt to the government.

More info:

http://slatest.slate.com/id/2287468/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/06/bradley-manning-jailers-ritual-humiliation

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2011/03/the-brutalization-of-bradley-manning.html

[karynnj]

1. I am not sure either

The stories of his treatment have been horrific from some sources. Here, the explanation that Kerry says he was given is far more benign than the stories earlier this week - but they do show that he has questioned it.

When Kerry was in North Hampton, Manning's treatment was brought up - and Kerry's answer was essentially if he were being tortured, he would lead against it - http://dailycollegian.com/2011/02/21/kerry-addresses-economy-foreign-policy-in-noho/ (Whether referring to that or something else, this article speaks of Kerry and, more aggressively, Kucinich raising questions.

This answer here is far more equivocal - and though there is a mention of concern, he is giving some credence to the reason given. (One big question is whether this is just at night as said - or if it is being done during the day to embarrass or break him - if so, there is no justification.

I can understand that Kerry, like most people in the government, do not consider him the hero that many do, but I hope that he will try to get more answers here.

[karynnj]

2. I read more of the accounts - and have one question - what about paper

doctor's office smocks. You can't hang yourself with paper and it does provide some modesty, which is why they are used in doctor's offices. I have no idea how expensive they are, but it seems it has to be pretty inexpensive.

[beachmom]

3. I admit that I am disappointed with what Kerry said.

Who cares if he is in the government? Wasn't he against the government when he protested the Vietnam War? I feel like when it comes to Wikileaks, there is a disconnect between Washington DC and the rest of the country (at least when we are talking liberals). Obviously, the guy broke the law and will have to stand trial, but I don't understand why he is being held like a Gitmo prisoner.

Excellent point about paper -- I am sure there are other options.

[beachmom]

4. It looks like Kerry & Obama are defending inhumane treatment,

and pretending that "asking" about it is enough. I trust the State Dept. spokesman. This is a shameful, shameful thing that John Kerry just blew off.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/159182/wikileaks-news-views-blog-friday-day-104

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/11/state_department_spokesman_calls_treatment_of_bradley_manning_ridiculous_and_counte

Unbelievable.

What Obama said today:

With respect -- with respect to Private Manning, you know, I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are. I can't go into details about some of their concerns, but some of this has to do with Private Manning's safety as well.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/03/on-japans-nuclear-reactor-and-the-treatment-of-private-bradley-manning-todays-qs-for-o-3112011.html

Almost the same exact answer as Kerry. I find both pathetic -- like, we'll defer to the Pentagon, the same Pentagon that presided over torture during the Bush Admin. Geez.

[karynnj]

5. I suggest that there is a huge difference

Kerry's response was (explaining what he was told), then saying BUT, people are looking very very closely at this - and he and others weighed in and the policy is being examined.

That means - Kerry did ask (a step more than any other Senator) and it is clear that he had some misgivings. There is a difference with Obama saying he asked - and was told everything was ok. He, unlike Kerry, can demand a change. With Kerry, if the promised review was just fiction, all he can do is speak out - as Kucinich was doing without speaking to the administration first.

[beachmom]

6. If Kerry were really going to investigate the matter, then O.K.

But clearly, he is going to do nothing. His position was to ask the Pentagon, and then to take them at their word. Agreed that Obama has more power to change the situation (so he is the lamest of the two), but Kerry is not showing any political bravery here. Maybe he's mad about the Wikileaks cables since he is in them. But I do not think the treatment of Manning reflects well on the U.S. and would have appreciated a strong pushback from the Senator. For whatever reason, he is not doing that. Either he agrees that the treatment is *fine* or he is not saying what he really thinks on account of some other reason.

[beachmom]

7. OMG.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/13/state-departments-p-j-crowley-stepping-down/#more-150108

P.J. Crowley abruptly resigned Sunday as State Department spokesman over controversial comments he made about the Bradley Manning case.

Sources close to the matter said the resignation, first reported by CNN, came under pressure from the White House, where officials were furious about his suggestion that the Obama administration is mistreating Manning, the Army private who is being held in solitary confinement in Quantico, Virginia, under suspicion that he leaked highly classified State Department cables to the website WikiLeaks.

And MORE:

"Everybody likes P.J. This was more a situation where it wasn't the right fit," said the official, noting there were times when Crowley wasn't on the same page as Clinton, let alone the White House.

Read the whole article. This was a good man speaking the truth, and this is what happened to him for doing that.