Petagon spokesman on Manning

[ProSense]

ABC

<...>

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell has said Manning’s cell is like that of “every single other pretrial detainee at the brig. It just so happens that the configuration of the brig is that every individual is confined to his or her own cell. He's being provided well-balanced, nutritious meals three times a day. He receives visitors and mail, and can write letters. He routinely meets with doctors, as well as his attorney. He's allowed to make telephone calls. And he is being treated just like every other detainee in the brig. So assertions by liberal bloggers, or network reporters or others that he is being mistreated, or somehow treated differently than others, in isolation, are just not accurate.”

[tabatha]

1. Is he allowed to exercise?

That is critical.

[Bluerthanblue]

22. according to his attny. he is taken out of his cell for an hour each

day so that he can "walk" around. If he doesn't want to walk, he is returned to his cell.

This link is to his lawyer's explanation of a typical day and goes into quite abit of detail-

http://www.armycourtmartialdefense.info/2010/12/typical-day-for-pfc-bradley-manning.html

[Cali_Democrat]

2. The same Pentagon that staged the rescue of Jessica Lynch?

The same Pentagon that lied about the circumstances behind Pat Tillman's death?

That Pentagon?

[tekisui]

3. If the Pentagon says he is being treated fairly, that is good enough for me!

:rofl:

[sarge43]

4. The same

The one that tried to blame the USS Iowa tragedy on a gay spat. That one.

[Autumn]

5. That's the one! You know, AKA, the department of truth.

That Pentagon.

[ClarkUSA]

6. No, not the same, unless Bush is still CIC and Cheney is still pulling his strings.

I believe President Obama's people at the Pentagon more than totally unsubstantiated bullshit.

[here_is_to_hope]

7. Too bad you are slipping into

the minority....

[ClarkUSA]

8. Prove it.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[obamafourmore]

10. Nice dream you have there

[great white snark]

17. Any links to back up your claim?

Thanks.

[Autumn]

9. Did Obama replace people at the Pentagon?

Serious question. I had not paid attention to that.

[ClarkUSA]

13. truthout.org (December 30, 2008): "Obama Dismisses Bush Pentagon Appointees"

Despite keeping Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Pentagon, President-elect Obama's transition team informed 90 Bush appointees their services will not be needed after Inauguration Day.

Scott Gration, a senior official on Obama's transition team, called and emailed several of President Bush's Pentagon appointees about 10 days ago to inform them they were being dismissed.

http://www.truth-out.org/123108K

[Autumn]

14. Thank you I had not seen that. n/t

[obamafourmore]

12. I'll take Obama's word over the professional left's unproved propaganda

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[Duende azul]

34. So Guantanamo is closed now?

[Duende azul]

33. Are you trying to say

the Obama admin is no different than Bush`s?

Who are Obama's people at the Pentagon? The one running the show is the same one as Bush`s.

So please explain.

[Mybrokenchains]

18. yeah that one....fuck that petagon...

[jenmito]

21. Check post #13. It's NOT that one. Obama fired those people. n/t

[moondust]

19. Exactly what I have suspected all along.

Detainee #3659.

:shrug:

[Ramulux]

20. Bullshit

Lying sack of shit.

[Bluerthanblue]

23. what part is bullshit?

the conditions that he describes are in line with the description Mr.Manning's attorney gives for a typical day.

Are you aware of that?

where are you getting your facts and information?

[Shiver]

26. Where is everyone getting their information?

I'm so confused about this whole thing. Where did the report of being stripped naked every night originate?

[Bluerthanblue]

29. here is a link to his attorney's

...blog.

There is quite abit of information here. Not exactly unbiased, but Atty. Coombs seems pretty credible and smart.

http://www.armycourtmartialdefense.info/2010/12/typical-day-for-pfc-bradley-manning.html

[Shiver]

30. I'm still confused...

Why all the fuss then? When I heard people talking about torture, I was expecting waterboarding or being forced to listen to Celine Dion... The most I've gotten on that was that he was being stripped naked at night to prevent him using his own clothes to harm himself... then I heard it wasn't naked, but stripped to his boxers. And now he has a sleep suit, I guess...

I'm just really confused about what's going on with this whole thing, and who's telling the truth, and where everyone is getting their information. Who did the initial torture reports come from, and how do we know they can be trusted or aren't without bias?

[Bluerthanblue]

24. don't you have an answer?

what are you calling bullshit?

[Hippo_Tron]

25. While I'm sure all of that is true

I still think the Pentagon's policies towards detainees, such as not allowing them to exercise in their cell and only sleep when they are told, are harsh and unnecessary.

[Ikonoklast]

27. The brig isn't a resort. It sucks, hard.

This isn't directed at you, but that's a good question for others here.



How come only concern for Manning?

What about every other military person in prison, or awaiting adjudication, being held under similar or the exact same situation?


No one gives a crap about their well-being?

[Hippo_Tron]

28. You will get no disagreement from me there

Manning is getting attention because some people think he's a hero and deserves a medal and not a prison sentence. I'm not one of those people. Still, I think the way the military treats their prisoners is unnecessarily harsh, even though I fully admit that it took Manning's case to bring that to my attention. Nobody should be locked in a cell 23 hours a day and then subsequently be restricted in how they move about their cell. It's unnecessary and it's cruel. Yes I realize the brig isn't supposed to be a hotel, but being locked up like that is punishment enough for any crime, IMO.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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[slay]

32. Um.. I'd like to have that verified by Dennis Kucinich if they have nothing to hide - as would he!

For Immediate Release:

Is this Quantico or Abu Ghraib? Kucinich Renews Demand to Visit with Pfc. Manning

Releases Reponses from Secretaries of Defense and Army

Washington D.C. (March 4, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is today releasing letters from the Secretaries of the Defense and the Army that respond to repeated requests to visit with Private First Class (Pfc.) Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking confidential materials to Wikileaks. Kucinich is releasing the letters after new allegations emerged of Manning being stripped naked and left in his cell for seven hours.

“After initial allegations of mistreatment, I requested a visit with Private Manning to see for myself the conditions of his treatment. Despite the fact that Manning has not been found guilty of any crime, his lawyer reports that he is in isolation 23 out 24 hours every day, conditions which may violate his 8th Amendment protection from ‘cruel and unusual’ punishment. This treatment is in stark contrast to a presumption of innocence and raises questions of whether Pfc. Manning can be fit for trial.” said Kucinich.

“My request to visit with Pfc. Manning must not be delayed further. Today we have new reports that Manning was stripped naked and left in his cell for seven hours. While refusing to explain the justification for the treatment, a marine spokesman confirmed the actions but claimed they were ‘not punitive.’

“Is this Quantico or Abu Ghraib? Officials have confirmed the ‘non-punitive’ stripping of an American soldier who has not been found guilty of any crime. This ‘non-punitive’ action would be considered a violation of the Army Field Manual if used in an interrogation overseas. The justification for and purpose of this action certainly raises questions of ‘cruel and unusual punishment,’ and could constitute a potential violation of international law,” said Kucinich.

The Army Field Manual, 2-22.3 (FM 34-52): Human Intelligence Collector Operations, Page 5-21, section 5-75 clearly states that: ‘If used in conjunction with intelligence interrogations, prohibited actions include, but are not limited to- Forcing the detainee to be naked, perform sexual acts or pose in a sexual manner.’

“Who ordered him stripped?” asked Kucinich.

In addition to requesting to visit with Private Manning, Kucinich has also asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to explain reports that the Army ignored evidence of mental health problems suffered by Manning before he was sent oversees to Iraq.


*note to mods - official release from the office of Dennis Kucinich and not subject to the 4 paragraph copyright rule.

Read more: http://www.bradleymanning.org/16282/congressman-dennis-kucinich-renews-demand-to-visit-with-pfc-manning/