Los Angeles Times: Bradley Manning’s Imprisonment is “Inhumane, Indefensible”

[Better Believe It]

Soldier's inhumane imprisonment
For five months, Pfc. Bradley Manning is confined to his cell for 23 hours a day, with no sheets and without exercise, while he awaits trial on charges of providing documents to WikiLeaks.
Editorial
January 10, 2011

Pfc. Bradley Manning, the 23-year-old Army intelligence analyst suspected of providing documents to WikiLeaks, can’t reasonably complain that the military has him in custody. But the conditions under which he is being held at the Marine detention center at Quantico, Va., are so harsh as to suggest he is being punished for conduct of which he hasn’t been convicted. <...>

Nevertheless, Manning is in “maximum custody.” Also, under a “Protection of Injury” order, he is confined to his cell for 23 hours a day, even though his lawyer says a psychologist has determined he isn’t a threat to himself. His lawyer also says that Manning is denied sheets and is unable to exercise in his cell, and that he is not allowed to sleep between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. If he attempts to sleep during those hours, he is made to sit up or stand by his guards. <...>

Some speculate that by treating Manning harshly, officials hope to induce him to implicate WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (though Assange would be subject to civilian, not military, justice). But a desire to secure his cooperation isn't a justification for protracted imprisonment under the conditions imposed on Manning.

Some see Manning as a whistle-blower who deserves leniency for exposing official duplicity; others believe that, like anyone who engages in civil disobedience, Manning, if guilty, should accept punishment for his actions. But regardless of one’s view of his alleged conduct, the conditions under which he is being held are indefensible.

Read the full editorial at:

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/10/opinion/la-ed-manning-20110110

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[CrispyQ]

2. K&R

"...regardless of one’s view of his alleged conduct, the conditions under which he is being held are indefensible."

[JDPriestly]

3. Even assuming that Manninng is the source of the Wikileaks,

he might have a defense. As Ray McGovern points out, Manning might have a Nuremburg defense for one.

If these reports are true, this is heinous conduct by our government.

It occurred to me this morning that the people in our government seems to have forgotten that they are just ordinary people like you and me, no better, no better at all, and that they have no authority beyond the will of the folks who elect them. What makes them so special that they can treat a guy like Manning they way they are?

They are employees of the people of the United States. They should treat their employers with more respect than that.

[Better Believe It]

5. They believe they are special and we are "ordinary" at best.

They are rich, they are powerful and we're not.

[Lint Head]

4. Haven't you heard? Torture is OK.

[ljm2002]

6. Good to see this in a major newspaper...

...thanks for posting.

K&R

[EFerrari]

7. That's sort of surprising.

:kick: