WikiLeaks: Bradley Manning's motives are no defence, judge rules

[4Q2u2]

63. Not the Military

Those are not military members and are not subject to the UCMJ. Civilians are under a whole different set of rules. Civil Criminal and are the responsibility of the State Dept.
One of the examples I saw here stated that Manning took the video of the Chopper firing from the JAG folder. Meaning it was already under investigation from the Military.
As MSANTHROPE has spoken so well on, the time line that these action had taken place was also vitally critical. The surge was underway and a new Status of Forces agreement was in negotiations. We had a new strategic partners withing Iraq. Releasing details about payments, support, and Diplomatic Strategies put people in harms way and weakened the American people's cause.
Just because you view a video or memo and take just it's face value and deem it harmless, you cannot discount that a military expert will be able to see those same info leaks and use them to develop new tactical responses or new offensive operations. This puts Manning's fellow Service members in danger and that is what cost lives. Quixotic or not, he knew what he was doing was wrong, why else the fake email accounts. Notifying the IG or Congress is not that hard, and when they come in, every bodies butt hole is slung shut tight. They do not mess around, especially a Congressional Investigative Delegation. Almost all Service members will, even the Democrats in the Military (yes there are more us than you think and they know) see this as a direct violation of the UCMJ that put fellow Soldiers at risk (no one will stand for that) and Damaged the American People's War Strategy. That part of our world is pretty black and white.