In a move which even the prosecution called “unprecedented,” the Pfc Bradley Manning case is going to hold a secret practice trial. Dubbed a “dry run” by some familiar with the process, it will be a closed-door run-through of some of the witnesses during which the judge can practice avoiding public disclosures of information relating to the case.
The goal is to keep “classified evidence,” which appears to be virtually the only kind there is in a case where the Pentagon won’t even publicly release official court rulings, from being inadvertently disclosed. Exactly how much of the real trial will be kept a secret will be decided in the practice run, which will be itself secret.
Efforts to keep the evidence a secret have already been ridiculous in some cases, including allowing testimony from people using pseudonyms and wearing disguises. Reportedly they are now considering allowing the prosecution to use “written summaries” of the secret evidence they have in lieu of the actual evidence.
Manning was originally arrested three years ago while stationed in Iraq and has been subjected to abuse while in custody. Efforts to arrange a military trial for him have gone at a snail’s pace, with the judge ruling it was “reasonable” that Manning’s right to a speedy trial under military law, explicitly made out to be 120 days, was simply ignored.
"Efforts to keep the evidence a secret have already been ridiculous in some cases, including allowing testimony from people using pseudonyms and wearing disguises. "
To aid consistency and keep a uniform message, I suggest kangaroo masks…………………..
Of course trying to keep the evidence "secret" is a total joke. One can read it on Wiki-leaks.
Bradley Manning's treatment as a detainee and his miitary judicial process, including this test trial will be the prototype for anybody arrested under the NDAA, and that could apply not only to national security whistleblowers, but anybody who crosses that impermissibly vague and untested line of "aiding the enemy". We are all implicated and at risk.
The only people he aided are the ordinary US citizens. He helped them see, should they wish to look, the mediocrity behind the facade that our supreme leaders present to the world. Therefore the US citizens are the enemy of the US government.
It is perfectly natural that show trials require rehearsals. Manning must be convicted and punished severely in order to deter other unauthorized leakers and whistleblowers. Injustice must not only be done but must be seen to be done in his case.
Will they keep holding the trial until the get the desired result?
Cardassian Justice System. Anyone who is familiar with "Star Trek" lore, the Cardassians were an alien race whose justice system is as follows:
Guilt is never in question, trials are for public consumption ot make them think there is such a a thing as justice, and during said trial, you will be found guilty and summarily executed a day later.
Get ready Bradley Manning…………It will all be over in 48 hours once your "trial" begins………………
As soon as we mop up thoze Afghan dead enders……………………
This is a justice system? Prosecutors are not after truth and justice. They are after covering their sorry asses.
A practice trial and then a retrial would constitute double jeopardy, and is therefore unconstitutional. No worries there!
Just like a Broadway production, rehearsals are important, so that everyone knows the correct lines to utter on opening night. You would not want anyone saying the wrong lines or saying something that was not in the script.
Well, it will certainly take a snails pace to ever get there, but someday, on appeal, these ridiculous rulings will be overturned. But sadly, not before the government has it's pound of flesh.