Manning placed on suicide watch -- against his doctor's advice.

[EFerrari]

Manning, a 23-year-old Army private suspected of passing thousands of classified documents to the online site WikiLeaks, was placed on suicide watch for two days this week - against the recommendation of the jail's forensic psychiatrist, attorney David E. Coombs said.

During this time, Manning was forced to stay in his cell around the clock, stripped to his underwear, the lawyer said. His prescription eyeglasses were taken from him, except for the hour of television he is allowed to watch or when he was reading, Coombs added.

The circumstances of Manning's confinement have drawn public attention. The United Nations special rapporteur on torture has said he submitted to the State Department a formal inquiry about Manning's treatment.

snip

Coombs responded that the forensic psychiatrist has consistently recommended - with the exception of one week in December - that there was "no medical reason" for Manning to be even on a prevention-of-injury watch, let alone a suicide watch. He said he pressed for a reason behind the status change this week, but was given none.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012101443.html

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[Catherina]

2. Shameful, vengeful, vindictive cruelty. Rec'd n/t

[EFerrari]

58. Here's a youtube clip from the protest at Quantico on the 17th:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4eNzokgRIw&feature=youtu.be

Good turn out! Protesters bring a care package to the gates and talk briefly with the guards.

[Catherina]

62. That brought tears to my eyes. That's the America I love

The one represented by that Military MP is the one I hate.

That was really inspiring. Thank you

[Cid_B]

77. Reminds me of a song...

[Newest Reality]

3. How we treat someone tells us where we are!

And we are not, as a whole, in a good place at all; not even close.

[wtmusic]

4. Creating the implication of guilt. nt

[bobbolink]

5. I would surmise that this is not uncommon for *anyone* held in like manner.

It is just that because he is well-known, we are hearing about it.

Abuses in prisons and "mental hospitals" are legion.

[EFerrari]

13. Yep.

[HereSince1628]

6. The buck stops somewhere...

US civilian authority purports to be in charge.
There should be no reason that US civilian authority is afraid of the US military.
That civilian authority demurs to the military suggests this nation has bigger problems than security leaks.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. What can we do to help that poor kid.

Oliver North was never treated this bad and he sold arms to the enemy!

[HereSince1628]

9. Oli North made profits for the game players.

Manning not so much.

We obviously must protest and put our own names on the list of those who support Manning.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. How do we let him know that he has supporters?

[HereSince1628]

14. Sign the petition and send money

http://www.bradleymanning.org/

[EFerrari]

10. Here is the FDL petition, I don't know if it's closed yet:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/bradleymanning?source=autoreply&subsource=twitter

This is his lawyer's blog:

http://www.armycourtmartialdefense.info/2011/01/article-138-complaint.html

Maybe the best thing we can do is get the word out. :(

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Thank you!

[maryf]

22. stuff also here

http://bradleymanning.org

The support network for him.

[EFerrari]

23. Thanks, maryf.

[maryf]

65. my pleasure

and here's another kick! The guy is paying for being a truth exposing hero, and actually exposing another truth inadvertently, the horrible truth about our justice system...23, far too young...

[Catherina]

63. Thank you! n/t

[maryf]

66. Of course. nt

[bobbolink]

16. What will you do to help all the other UNNAMED people who are being treated in the same manner?

Why single him out, just because he is now famous?

He is being treated as are other prisoners and inmates of "mental hospitals".

Maybe it is time we begin to care what is done in our name in THIS country?

[EFerrari]

20. Could you find some information on a good org to follow

for prisoner abuse? That would be more productive than simply derailing the thread. Thanks.

[bobbolink]

24. Any good journalist would draw this parallel.

If you consider this "derailing", then maybe its time to check the priorities.

What happens to one happens to all, and this is a classic "teachable moment".

[EFerrari]

29. Browbeating people for supporting Manning is not teaching.

Maybe you should start a thread on your topic. Thanks.

[bobbolink]

35. Browbeating? Interesting hyperbole.

I repeat.... any good journalist writing about this would draw the parallels, and LIBERALS used to do the same thing.

There was a day when LIBERALS took JUSTICE seriously.

[Union Scribe]

41. No, that's what you're doing.

I've noticed it's kinda your thing.

[bobbolink]

43. When the rest of you are able to take up the larger picture and fight for the rights and well-being

for ALL. then the few of us won't have to chose between being silenced or being criticised.

Your choice.

Edited to say... may I point out that you are engaging in doing what you are accusing me of doing? You are continuing a personal attack, rather than dealing with the issue at hand.

What would be a reasonable response is to say something like, "I didn't think of that, but that must be going on a lot. I will find more info on this and start a thread on it."

At which point I would have thanked you, and asked for the URl of your new thread, and all would have been harmonious... and JUST.

Justice. What a concept.

[EFerrari]

44. You have been invited to post information regarding prisoner abuse

here and also invited to begin your own thread to develop your topic. Those are two options you have to participate in the discussion positively.

[bobbolink]

46. I will repeat... any responsible journalist would have brought up the parallels.

Never mind, you are right.

Nobody should ever enlarge on any issue you bring up. It should always remain within the parameters you set.

I see the light now.

[EFerrari]

49. Good journalists have done just that:

Dr. Atul Gawande: Solitary Confinement is Torture

The physical and psychological effects experienced by people held for extended periods in solitary confinement is a topic Dr. Atul Gawande has written extensively about. Yesterday, four prisoners in the supermax Ohio State Penitentiary launched a hunger strike to protest being held for more than 17 years years in solitary confinement. The alleged WikiLeaks whistleblower, U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning, has also been held in solitary confinement for much of the past seven months. "People experience solitary confinement as even more damaging than physical torture," says Dr. Gawande.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/1/5/dr_atul_gawande_solitary_confinement_is

There's no need to choose between supporting Manning and supporting other prisoners.

[bobbolink]

50. So, then you could have posted that instead of being confrontiive with me, right?

Nobody made it a choice..... I brought up the same points that your sources did, so then I did a good thing, and that could have been a positive adjunct to the discussion, rather than a personal jab.

Supporting ALL the prisones should have been seen as a necessity and a given. That it was turned into a personal vendetta is quite telling.

As I said, I get it..... it is not allowed to enlarge on the perameters of your posts. I will remember that.

[EFerrari]

53. Topics have a focus, bobolink, in order to be coherent.

You are free to address the one in this OP or, to refocus the one you'd prefer in a new thread.

[bobbolink]

55. I posted something very useful to you. There must be a reason you are continuing this.

Care to share your motivation?

edited to say: Actually, I really don't care. You need the last word, so have at it.

Threads get "Broadened" all the time... it is within the rules, if you are wondering about that.

[EFerrari]

57. Broadening a topic is not the same as berating people for the wrong focus.

Thanks, though, and thanks for the kicks.

[bobbolink]

59. In the mind of the beholder.

And, yes, you added to the kicks. That was obvious.

[bobbolink]

60. Could you please explain how this is "berating" and "browbeating"?

"What will you do to help all the other UNNAMED people who are being treated in the same manner?"

So, a call for action is now "berating"?

If I had actually berated anyone, it would be an infraction of the rules, and you would have alerted.

Again, please explain how that is "berating" or "browbeating".

[Union Scribe]

45. Yep, no one is as liberal and passionate as you. We're all posers.

Nevermind that no one on this thread said anything close to what you're implying. Nevermind that people tried to agree with you and you still browbeat them.

[bobbolink]

47. I talked about the other prisoners who suffer the same trreatment, and the need to bring that to

light.

You make it a personal attack, and claim motivations to me that are false. Good job.

[EFerrari]

48. It's okay. In fact, attention to Brad Manning's situation is bringing attention

to the larger problem of the widespread use of solitary.

For example, Greenwald has been the one, more than anyone else, who is responsible for shining a light on Manning. As a consequence, the expert sources he's used have gotten opportunities to talk about the use of solitary in venues like Amy's show and Thom's show.

So the attention Brad is getting is generalizing without anyone being forced into a false choice between supporting Brad and being a good liberal. :)

[maryf]

75. Here's another example of this point:

Thanks again:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=256576&mesg_id=256576

[Enthusiast]

68. Plus one nt

[maryf]

71. +1000nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. Because they're trying to make an example of him and that

will dry up Assange's sources. I think the most important method we have available to make our leaders more accountable to us, is to let them know that there is no way to hide their bad decisions.

If they allowed the system to regulate and prosecute their own corrupt campaign donors we would all be better off.

[bobbolink]

26. I'm not understanding how that excuses doing this to all the other faceless prisoners.

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. Because each one of us has to pick our battles.

We're not Bill Gates. We don't have countless dollars to send to every cause. This boy is important because they hope to dissuade other people from following his example by breaking him. Therefore, if we can help him, we win on a bigger front of the battlefield.

[bobbolink]

28. And that is winning the battle and losing the war.

Continue to ignore the MASSIVE numbers of people who are suffering and hurting, and then complain that you don't get the votes you want and need.

[The Backlash Cometh]

31. Well, bobbolink, I realize that through the internet these things are not known

unless someone tells you, so I'm here to tell you that I'm not Jesus Christ. I'm not even Bill Gates. When you can come up with a way to organize a group of people which can tend to the MASSIVE numbers of people who are suffering and hurting, you write me and let me know.

It takes massive amounts of organization and networking. The other side is way ahead of the game specifically because everything they do is based on monetary rewards. It's all self-interested. How do you get the same results and commitments when everyone's primary purpose is to feed and cloth themselves and their family, before they can begin to help someone else?

You let me know, because I'm too old for the kind of generalizations you drop like this is some question asked in a beauty pageantry.

[bobbolink]

34. It is clearly a matter of priorities. Those massive organizations can be formed to protest the war

to fight for gay rights, to battle the immigration crap, to keep agitating about the lack of prosecution for the * regime, and on and on. It is all a matter of what is important to you. You say it needs to be brought to light, yet you are obviously angry because I did just that, and demand that *I* be Jesus Christ.

You also point out, rightly, that the other side is organized and organzing, and I have said that repeatedly on DU. Yet, you excuse "our side" because we are too bizzzy. I am seeing lots of bizzy, out of work and hurting people who are organzing tea bagger shit right around my area, yet "progressives" here can't be bothered. Again, it is a matter of priorities.

What you bring up is important to discuss, and is the REAL issue, but you shut off any possiblity of discussion by comparing me to a beauty pageant. Good luck with getting the votes you want when you dismiss people in that way.

The problem still remains that THOUSANDS of people are suffering the same as this famous one. They deserve the same efforts.

Especially if you truly want the votes and the organization. Seems like one really good starting place.

[The Backlash Cometh]

36. I think what you're seeing is a failure of leadership.

Take Alan Grayson, for instance. I can hardly listen to him because I know where the problems are in his backyard. I also know why he won't lift a finger to fight to clean it up. So when he gets up on the pedestal to talk about national issues, all I can think of is, he's just a talker.

Certainly, we need those. But, we also need people who know how to be effective on a local level, earn your following and bring the fight to a national scale. That can't be done without stirring up the hornet's nest in your own backyard. That's called leadership.

[bobbolink]

52. I didn't know that about Grayson... it would be interesting to hear more ... in another

thread about him.

A big reason why there is so little local leadership is because there is a lack of support. We all know that whistleblowers get hung out to dry, and usually alone. Something to consider.

[The Backlash Cometh]

54. I know that whistleblowers get hung out to dry.

That's why I think we should show our support for this boy in jail. It's happening in real time.

[bobbolink]

56. As is the suffering of others... waaay before this came about.

Have a very nice day......

[maryf]

70. Russell "Maroon" Shoatz, case in point...

http://uhurunews.com/video/play?resource_name=free-russell-maroon-shoatz-uhuru-news-interviews-russell-maroon-shoatz-iii

Hope all here take time to watch this video, important points about solitary confinement about one man who's been in "the hole" for 21 years.

[maryf]

69. Good post, Bobbie. nt

[LanternWaste]

37. I don't think that support for the one...

I don't think that support for the one denies support for the other. But I imagine some people may believe that... :shrug:

[bobbolink]

39. It does unless the connection is effectively made.

[Gregorian]

8. This is America

One big corporation. Don't mess with our corporate secrets, or we'll rough you up.

Manning is truly a hero.

[Chimichurri]

15. For Shame.

[jwirr]

17. Is this true or just a prelude to elimination?

[EFerrari]

18. I think they want him to testify against Assange somehow.

This may be a way to persuade him to do that.

[Jefferson23]

19. Another new low for the good ole USA. n/t

[EFerrari]

25. Here's a short AP blurb on the situation:

WikiLeaks GI’s complaint targets his Marine jailer

Posted: 12:23 pm Fri, January 21, 2011
By Associated Press

HAGERSTOWN — The lawyer for a soldier suspected of passing classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks is alleging wrongdoing by his jailer.

David Coombs of Fall River, Mass., said Friday he has filed a complaint with the commander of the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va., where Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is being held, alleging a regulatory violation.

Coombs says Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Averhart abused his discretion by placing Manning on 24-hour suicide watch from Tuesday evening to Thursday afternoon over the recommendation of brig and defense psychiatrists.

Manning has been confined at least 23 hours day for nearly six months. His lawyer wants Manning’s maximum-security status changed to medium-security.

http://mddailyrecord.com/2011/01/21/wikileaks-gis-complaint-targets-his-marine-jailer/

(No more at this link.)

[EFerrari]

30. Here's the WaHo article in today's paper:

Lawyer for Bradley Manning, Army figure in WikiLeaks case, alleges prison mistreatment

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 21, 2011; 6:00 AM

The lawyer for alleged government secrets leaker Bradley Manning is accusing military authorities of using punitive measures against Manning at the Marine Corps jail in Quantico, Va.

Manning, a 23-year-old Army private suspected of passing thousands of classified documents to the online site WikiLeaks, was placed on suicide watch for two days this week - against the recommendation of the jail's forensic psychiatrist, attorney David E. Coombs said.

During this time, Manning was forced to stay in his cell around the clock, stripped to his underwear, the lawyer said. His prescription eyeglasses were taken from him, except for the hour of television he is allowed to watch or when he was reading, Coombs added.

The circumstances of Manning's confinement have drawn public attention. The United Nations special rapporteur on torture has said he submitted to the State Department a formal inquiry about Manning's treatment.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012101443.html?sid=ST2010120106448

[notesdev]

32. The irony

is every corrupt act against Manning proves that Manning was correct and acting in the service of his country and in the service of justice when he did what he is being persecuted for doing.

[Catherina]

38. [phone]. Thank you. n/t

[EFerrari]

40. Ironic and sad. n/t

[Union Scribe]

42. Yes, this. Excellent point.

[grahamhgreen]

33. Change you can not believe in.

[PBS Poll-435]

51. CCL

:eyes:

[pacalo]

61. "Suicide Watch" = 24-Hour Harassment

[EFerrari]

64. Yep. n/t

[midnight]

67. K&R

[maryf]

72. Hi, this video about another in the hole

Really helps illustrate the need to fight solitary confinement, hope you can watch it all. Stop this torture!

http://uhurunews.com/video/play?resource_name=free-russell-maroon-shoatz-uhuru-news-interviews-russell-maroon-shoatz-iii

on edit, this is a duplicate video of one I posted above, but feel it's important to be seen...

[Karmadillo]

73. Somebody email Obama! Quick! He needs to know! He'll fight for Manning!

nt

[bobbolink]

74. I want to laughh, but this is too serious, and your point is too true to be even remotely funny.

"Who ARE we?" Michael Moore

[Swamp Rat]

76. Thank you!

:kick: