Prosecution demands for a much longer sentence to send a message to other whistleblowers has failed, and the military judge has sentenced Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison for his leaks.
While an enormous sentence considering the prosecution failed to prove any actual harm from the leaks, Manning will have credit for over three and a half years already on the books from his protracted pre-trial detention, and would be eligible for parole in less than nine years.
The comparatively light sentence comes as a surprise, as Judge Denise Lind had repeatedly shown a willingness to give the military prosecutors everything they wanted, and they were demanding a minimum of 60 years.
The defense is planning a press conference for later today, and while this sentence is somewhat worse than the 25 years they were hoping for, the parole eligibility means that Manning may not have to spend his entire life in military custody, where he’s already suffered considerable abuse. That, if nothing else, is a silver lining.
Too bad we don't have a prez who would pardon him, but this isn't currently A Good Twilight Zone episode "cast of rational characters." Bizarro World still turns.
Really. obomba probably was pi**ed that the sentence wasn't much longer.
Presidents will only pardon people like Rich.
So I'll likely be alive when he gets out. If the Randolph Bourne Institute or another foundation will set up a trust for Manning's benefit, for his personal use after he's released with no other strings attached, not for legal expenses or fines or anything similar, I'm in for $500 now or $1000 upon his release.
Good for you. I'll contribute to such a fund.
http://www.bradleymanning.org/ will have updates. Please see Scott Horton's interviews with Nathan Fuller who is one of the people working closely with Manning. I want to believe we will all live along enough to see this great patriot free.
It just shows how sick we've become if we view 35 years as a 'light sentence'. Of course, remember, if he'd been raping young girls in Iraq, he'd have gotten 6 months tops.
Can vote for a new Pres in '16. There were names on the last ballot that would've pardoned him. Did you vote for them? And there will certainly be names on the ballot in '16 that would pardon him. Not a bad litmus test in that you should not even consider voting for anyone who wouldn't pardon him. Which of course means no Democrats or Republicans.
I heard today an NPR news reader describe the video of the massacre Manning was responsible for exposing as an "accident." I don't think that any thinking being who watched and listened to the video could possibly come away thinking that what happened was anywhere close to being an "accident." The guy who pulled the trigger – and everyone involved in that killing spree should spend the 35 years right there alongside Manning. But I've heard nothing regarding a trial for those people.
I heard the same report on NPR.
No day paaes without a puff piece on "the troops," their suffering, their "valor" or their help for the people that they are in fact slaughtering.
There is NEVER a story about those they killed (1.5 million in Iraq alone)or the suffering of those families or the millions displaced.
It is high time for a campaign against NPR, for good reason called National Pentagon Radio. They reach an enomous audience.
No more contributions is one way to start.
What do others think?
jw
Only 35 years for first degree pre-meditated murder of multiple people?
The collateral murderers deserve the death penalty!
Finally we can get to the appeal courts the ones that the Department of defense don't have Jurisdiction over!
saw this in a comment at the nyt seems to sum things up perfectly
" Emmanuel Goldstein
I couldn't help but notice the juxtaposition of today's two headline articles: Hosni Mubarak about to be released from custody after little more than 2 years, Bradley Manning sentenced to 35 years in prison. The man who headed a repressive, murderous dictatorship for 30 years is set free, while the whistleblower who inspired the very uprising against him is harshly punished. The timing is remarkable, the irony absolutely stunning."
It all boils down to how much money you have in the (Swiss) bank and how much bling you have on your shoulder boards – or who your Daddy is.