Bradley Manning: 25 years in prison? Or 60?

[struggle4progress]

AP 5:54 p.m. EDT August 19, 2013

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — ... The soldier's defense attorney didn't recommend a specific punishment, but suggested any prison term shouldn't exceed 25 years because the classification of some of the documents Manning leaked expires in 25 years.

Coombs said Manning, who was 21 when he enlisted in 2007, had limited life and military experience ...

Manning faces up to 90 years in prison, but Capt. Joe Morrow only asked the judge to sentence him to 60 years. Morrow did not say during closing arguments of the court-martial why prosecutors were not seeking the maximum punishment ...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/19/bradley-manning-wikileaks/2674457/

[MADem]

1. The defense did a pretty good job of making the case for 25, I think.

Personally, I think a sentence of 25 with time off for good behavior, and maybe an early parole, would work. I think sixty years is a bit harsh, and the reason I say this is because I am taking the mitigating factors of his mental health, his lack of impulse control, his upbringing, the fetal alcohol issues and other medical problems that they apparently missed when he inprocessed, but most importantly, his willingness to plead guilty to most of the charges from the start AND his very straightforward, no-excuses, expressions of regret and remorse.

When it came to taking responsibility for his actions, he did that. He flat out said I am guilty and I am sorry I hurt the country. No excuse making, no weasel words.

If I were the judge I'd give him twenty five and if he plays his card right he's out in 12 to seventeen. It's enough of a sentence to send a message, but it doesn't turn him into a lifer.

[struggle4progress]

7. I'd hate to see him spent 60 years locked up: in some ways, he seems a bright and earnest kid,

not a craven monetary sell-out, but the victim of his own idealism and naïveté

His naked plea earlier in the year, with a possible 20 year sentence, suggests to me his lawyer thinks he's unlikely to get less than 20

I'll be surprised if it's below 10 years

[MADem]

11. I wouldn't be surprised at 25, but I'd like to see 20 with a possibility of parole after

eight to twelve.

He could spend the time in prison getting that college education he wanted. I'd also like to see him confined to a military correctional facility rather than a civilian one--he will be safer in a military environment; it's not "gang-y" and the inmates are more disciplined and pragmatic. They're also more intelligent, overall, and there are far fewer incidents of violence in a military setting.

If he's a good boy during his incarceration, he would be eligible in five or six years for trustee status and be allowed to live in a barracks-style environment, rather than in a jail cell, and hold a job during the day to give him money for incidentals.

[delrem]

2. This "defense attorney" would never be a friend of mine.

That's for certain.

[MADem]

12. Why? nt

[LuvLoogie]

3. absolute minimum required

[KittyWampus]

4. Hoping he gets minimum so he'll still have a life to live after getting out.

[Luminous Animal]

5. 25 or 60 is a crying shame. And we won't forget him while he rots in jail for doing a

public service.

[rug]

6. He'll get between 30 and 40 years. He should get time served.

[bravenak]

8. He should get less than 20.

Much less.

[moondust]

9. Snowden may have made it worse.

Leaking classified material is no longer a (recent) somewhat isolated case of one individual going rogue. The judge may decide to make a public example out of Manning in an attempt to discourage any future "heroes."

[struggle4progress]

16. It would be inappropriate for the judge to take Snowden into account: Manning can only properly

be tried on the basis of the evidence and arguments in his case, not on events exterior subsequent and unrelated to his own criminal acts

The military will find adequate reasons of its own to make something on an example of Manning: operational discipline in the handling of restricted documents is something that personnel need to take seriously as a reflexive matter, rather than as a mere suggestion that may be freely disregarded on whim; and the principle of civilian control of the military implies that military personnel are not free to over-ride the civilian authorities' classifications of documents

[Fearless]

10. How many years will Bush get?

You know... The actual war criminal.

[go west young man]

13. He should get a medal of honor.

[MotherPetrie]

14. Meanwhile the Obama administration is defending the Bush administration war criminals.

Beyond sickening.

[Summer Hathaway]

15. I believe Manning to be guilty as charged.

I also believe that his youth, his emotional issues surrounding his sexual identity - and the fact that he was probably easily manipulated by those who sought to exploit his youth and emotions for their own gain - should be taken into consideration in the sentencing phase.

In other words, I am hoping for a lenient sentence.

[blackspade]

17. He should be let go with time served.

He's done more time than murderers and war criminals and been tortured to boot.