According to US Army officials, the Army is assembling a special board to “evaluate” Pfc. Bradley Manning and determine whether he is fit to stand trial. The evaluation is the first step toward a military court-martial for Manning on charges of culpability in the WikiLeaks revelations.
Manning has been held at the Quantico brig in Virginia since July, and could face decades in prison over the leaks. Manning’s current mental state is in serious question, however, given the harsh treatment he has received in detention.
Indeed a group called Psychologists for Social Responsibility has formally protested the conditions in which Manning has been held. Those familiar with his detention report that his condition has deteriorated significantly.
The US is also said to be planning to offer Manning a plea deal if he agrees to testify that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange directly urged him to release the classified documents. Though officials insist they intend to prosecute Assange one way or another, there appears to be little legal basis for doing so without Manning’s cooperation.
I wonder if the Pentagon will allow Pvt. Manning the right to challenge the very fact that he was in accordance with the Laws of War informing the President of the United States of America, in the only way possible of War Crimes committed by US troops on civilians in breach of both Hague and Geneva.
I doubt it, what is worse is that it seems the President of the United States and the Pentagon are in a Conspiracy to attempt to cover up those War Crimes committed on the Watch of a Previous Administration that committed the greatest WarCrime on the Books, That of a War of Aggression.
Free the man, give him the medal of freedom of speech and medal of honor . This man and many moor like him deserve to be admired and honored by the free world.
What a travtisty of our so-called justice system. I'd like to be on the evaluation system, but first the present patsies on the board, Bush, cheney, et al, would have to be currently incarcerated and held in the same conditions as the Pfc for a least one year.
I don't expect much from military justice. But it is disgusting how the mainstream media applauds at this.
It is interesting that the military maintains there is nothing unusual or harsh about his treatment (being, of course, for his own good)- so why would there be any question about his ability to stand trial? If there's nothing out of the ordinary about his prison treatment, he should be the same cogent, intelligent, thoughtful young man he was when he was detained, correct? Now, unless there is indeed something out of the ordinary regarding his time in prison to date, why is this even being considered?
I'll tell you why- to frame him as a sort of 'crazy lone gunman' and thus have grounds to threaten him with 'protective custody' (again, of course, for his own good) unless he's deemed to have a remarkable resilience and recovery; I assume this might follow a coerced statement that Julian Assange is a co-conspirator. No statement = we never see Manning again, except as an inmate of a psych ward where he will be sent to for punishment (of course, for his own good).
blackmail. how hideous and revolting the US government has become. Obama and the noeocons are acting exactly as did the Nazis. Manning will die a martyr.