Military Officials Admit Bradley Manning Put on Suicide Watch to Punish Him

[Donnachaidh]

http://my.firedoglake.com/trevorfitzgibbon/2011/01/25/military-officials-admit-bradley-manning-put-on-suicide-watch-to-punish-him/

Military officials admitted today that Quantico Brig Commander James Averhart improperly classified Bradley Manning as a “suicide risk” in order to impose harsh conditions on him as punishment for failure to follow orders. Averhart’s order overruled the opinion of three brig psychiatrists who said Manning was not at risk.

The statement comes one day after David House, Manning’s only regular visitor, was detained for two hours by military police and prevented from seeing Manning until visiting hours were over.

“With today’s admission, the government acknowledges they have been abusing Bradley Manning’s medical classification to consciously subject him to relentless isolation and deprivation,” says House. “President Obama and Robert Gates should heed the call of the United Nations, Amnesty International and Psychologists for Social Responsibility and put an end to Bradley’s cruel and inhumane treatment.”

At yesterday’s White House Press Briefing, Jake Tapper of ABC News asked Robert Gibbs if the administration was satisfied that Manning was being kept in conditions that are appropriate for his accused crime, and that his visitors are treated as any visitors to any prison are treated. Gibbs replied that he “would direct you to the authorities that are holding .”

Manning’s attorney, David Coombs, filed an Article 138 complaint alleging Averhart has consistently abused his discretion over a soldier in his command, at which point the Army Solicitor General commenced an investigation.

Averhart subsequently removed the suicide risk classification, but continues to impose a Prevention of Injury (POI) order on Manning which allows the government to hold him in conditions akin to solitary confinement while consistently denying they are doing so.

More at the link --

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. So what is the penalty to Averhart?

[ThomCat]

8. None, of course.

People with power rarely ever face any punishment of any kind for abusing their power.

The more power they have, the less chance they have of seeing any punishment, and the more normal it really is for them to abuse that power and have it overlooked.

After all, the higher they are, the fewer people there are who can say or do anything to them without fear of repercussions and the more people there are who will be protecting them.

[DCKit]

2. If this isn't covered by The Constitution, it is by The Military Code of Justice.

And, regarding the jailers, following illegal orders is no excuse.

Just how big is that brig? Sounds like it should be a full house.

[DirkGently]

3. So much for, "This is standard procedure / Jane Hamsher is imagining it."

[glinda]

4. Kick

[Wilms]

5. k&r n/t

[me b zola]

6. K&R

[Taverner]

7. And even on DU, there are ghouls who want him punished more

ref: The Good German