Judge sums up essence of Bradley Manning case in one sentence:

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"The guarding of military and diplomatic secrets at the expense of informed representative government provides no real security for our Republic."

Death to Whistle-Blowers?
By FLOYD ABRAMS and YOCHAI BENKLER

"LAST month Pfc. Bradley Manning pleaded guilty to several offenses related to leaking hundreds of thousands of documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, a plea that could land him in jail for 20 years. But Private Manning still faces trial on the most serious charges, including the potential capital offense of “aiding the enemy” — though the prosecution is not seeking the death penalty in this case, “only” a life sentence.

If successful, the prosecution will establish a chilling precedent: national security leaks may subject the leakers to a capital prosecution or at least life imprisonment. Anyone who holds freedom of the press dear should shudder at the threat that the prosecution’s theory presents to journalists, their sources and the public that relies on them.

You don’t have to think that WikiLeaks is the future of media, or Private Manning a paragon of heroic whistle-blowing, to understand the threat. Indeed, the two of us deeply disagree with each other about how to assess Private Manning’s conduct and WikiLeaks’s behavior."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/opinion/the-impact-of-the-bradley-manning-case.html?ref=opinion

[PDittie]

1. For the record, that was Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black

and not Bradley Manning's judge. And Black was referring to the Pentagon Papers case in 1971. But I still agree with your (and his) point.

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2. Thanks nt

[bvar22]

3. I will go much farther.

When our politicians start using secrecy to cover up War Crimes
or War Profiteering, or for Political Purposes,
or to hide incompetence or embarrassment,
no only does it provide no real security for our Republic,
[font size=3]it makes "informed consent" IMPOSSIBLE,[/font]
and greatly DAMAGES our democracy.

In THIS scenario, whistleblowers like Manning and Assange become Guardians of our Democracy, and National Heroes.

Bradley Manning, THIS American Citizen salutes you,
your courage,
and your Patriotism!

[Bandit]

4. But if you are Republican and out a Covert CIA Agent you get applause and a thumbs up.

No wonder Democrats are afraid of their shadows. They know they will get the shaft and Republicans will get the Gold for the very same thing..