Bradley Manning’s Convictions By Amy Goodman & Denis Moynihan
"“What a dangerous edifice War is, how easily it may fall to pieces and bury us in its ruins,” wrote Carl von Clausewitz, the 19th-century Prussian general and military theorist, in his seminal text “On War,” close to 200 years ago.
These lines came from the chapter “Information in War,” a topic that resonates today, from Fort Meade, Md., where Pfc. Bradley Manning has just been convicted of espionage in a military court, to the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lived for more than a year, having been granted political asylum to avoid political persecution by the United States, to Russia, where National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum.
Manning’s conviction sparked momentary interest among members of the elite media in the U.S., who spent scant time at the two-month court- martial, located just miles north of Washington, D.C. Manning’s supporters expressed relief that he was found not guilty of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, which would likely have carried a sentence of life in prison. He was convicted on 20 of 22 charges, and could face up to 136 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is underway.
“Bradley Manning’s alleged disclosures have exposed war crimes, sparked revolutions and induced democratic reforms,” Assange said from the embassy. “He is the quintessential whistle-blower.”
Interestingly, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote about the leaks to Sen. Carl Levin in 2010, saying, “The review to date has not revealed any sensitive intelligence sources and methods compromised by this disclosure.”...."
Well written piece by an excellent journalist
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2013/8/1/bradley_mannings_convictions
Also worth watching and/or reading...
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/7/31/bradley_manning_has_become_a_martyr