The White House seems to have a short memory re: Bradley Manning

[Scuba]

I just received this response regarding the White House web site petition to free Bradley Manning...


The military justice system is charged with enforcing the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Accordingly, the White House declines to comment on the specific case raised in this petition.



Um, I recall very well the President stating "he broke the law" regarding Manning, so that ship has sailed. The President, in case the interns who work at the White House aren't aware, is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Maybe they can try again.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x599771

[msanthrope]

1. The government believes he broke the law. That's why he was charged.

I mean, it would be a shame if Mr. Manning was in jail and the prosecutor thought he hadn't broken any laws.

As long as the President refrains from commenting on culpability, I don't see the problem.

[Scuba]

2. If only he had refrained. But when the CIC says "he broke the law", what officer...

... sitting on a court martial is going to go with "innocent"?

[mwrguy]

3. It's a done deal. Guilty.

No matter what evidence comes to light.

[msanthrope]

5. Oh, it won't take long to establish that Manning is guilty, but I think that's because the nature of

evidence if fairly cut and dry. Either the computer records exist, or they don't.

[Scuba]

8. Not at all that simple. Helping to cover up a crime is a crime, so if Manning...

... had no reasonable alternative to going "public" (e.g., his superiors had ordered him to not report the crimes) he would have been guilty of covering up a war crime.


Fact is, those who covered up the war crimes in question are the ones who should be on trial.

[msanthrope]

12. Well, then, you seem to be making the case that he did, in fact, break the law,

You just think he had a good reason for doing so.

You can't have it both ways. Did he break the law? Yes or no?

[Scuba]

16. That's for a court to decide. Not the President. n/t

[msanthrope]

4. Why should he refrain from repeating what the government put in a public document?

The government alleges that he broke the law. But the government, and the President both refrained from commenting on his guilt.

I am glad the President thinks he broke the law--otherwise that would mean Manning was in jail for no reason.

[Scuba]

7. But he didn't refrain. So you're OK with him declaring someone guilty? Without a trial? ....

... The correct thing for the CIC to have said was "he has been charged with a crime" or "he has been charged with breaking the law".


It was terribly wrong of him to say "he broke the law". As a Constitution scholar, he should know this.

In the military, it's called "command influence". No lower ranking officer is going to over rule his Commander, especially when the commander in question is the Commander in Chief.

[msanthrope]

9. He didn't declare him guilty. He said he broke the law, which is what the government believes.

And to read the posts here on DU, it's pretty apparent that Manning did break the law. He's supposedly some kind of hero for doing so.

[Scuba]

10. Yes, he declared him guilty. "He broke the law" is declaring him guilty. n/t

[msanthrope]

13. Actually, no. There's a thing called culpability. Manning may have broken the law,

but his guilt is a matter for trial.

[Scuba]

11. By the way, Manning is a hero. He put himself at great personal risk to exposed war crimes.

[msanthrope]

14. So, you are saying he did break the law, but he had a good reason for doing so?

That's not the defense I would go with.

[Scuba]

15. No, the President said "he broke the law". That was wrong....

... regardless of Manning's guilt or innocence.

[Recovered Repug]

6. Any that was not convienced by the evidence. nt

[piratefish08]

19. he commented on it long ago - tough to put that genie back in a bottle.

[Downwinder]

17. If they had theevidence he would have gone to trial, it has been a year and a half.

[Scuba]

18. They don't want any more light shining on the crimes Manning exposed. n/t

[hobbit709]

20. They seem to have a short memory about a lot of things.