President Obama Channels Richard Nixon With New Charges Against Bradley Manning

[Better Believe It]

David House: Obama Channels Nixon With New Charges Against Bradley Manning
By: Jane Hamsher
March 2, 2011

The government announced that they are charging Bradley Manning with “aiding the enemy.”

David House is a friend and supporter of Bradley Manning who has been repeatedly harassed and detained by the government. He has written for FDL and was targeted in the HBGary/Palantir presentation for Bank of America to defame supporters of Wikileaks. House issued this statement on the new charges against Manning:

"Through WikiLeaks we have been given direct evidence that the White House openly lies to congress and the American people in order to achieve political ends. Richard Nixon, in an attempt to stifle government transparency, once called Ellsberg “the most dangerous man in America” and accused him of “providing aid and comfort to the enemy.” Today we see the Obama administration continuing the legacy Nixon started by declaring whistleblowers as enemies of the state. It is a sad and dangerous day for transparency advocates everywhere."

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/03/02/david-house-obama-channels-nixon-with-new-charges-against-bradley-manning/


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Is WikiLeaks the Enemy?
By: Jane Hamsher
March 2, 2011

Eight months after Bradley Manning was originally charged, the government suddenly claims that he “knowingly gave intelligence information” to “the enemy alleged to have received the intelligence information.”

The government is alleging Manning “knowingly gave intelligence information” and that WikiLeaks “received” it. Does that make”WikiLeaks” the “enemy” in question?

So let me get this straight. The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, says that the “leaked cables created no substantive damage — only embarrassment.” So they’re going to charge Manning with “aiding the enemy” because they claim he knew WikiLeaks would publish them on the internet, the “enemy” can see the internet, and the cables “bring discredit upon the armed forces.”

They want to lock a 23 year-old up for the rest of his life, using a charge designed for terrorists and spies, because he embarrassed them in front of the bad guys?

Read the full article at:

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/03/02/bradley-mannings-attorney-responds-to-new-charges-against-him-is-wikileaks-the-enemy/


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Bradley Manning’s New Charges: “Bringing Discredit upon the Armed Forces”
By: emptywheel
March 3, 2011

Aside from learning that we–the recipients of a bunch of information Bradley Manning is alleged to have leaked–are the enemy, what did we learn from the new charges the government filed against Bradley Manning yesterday? Most of the charges say the information Manning allegedly leaked were of a nature that they would bring discredit upon the armed forces. Heh.

Charge I; Article 104: Between November 1, 2009 and May 27, 2010, giving intelligence to the enemy, through indirect means.

“Enemy” includes (not only) organized opposing forces in time of war, (but also any other hostile body that our forces may be opposing) (such as a rebellious mob or a band of renegades) (and includes civilians as well as members of military organizations). (“Enemy” is not restricted to the enemy government or its armed forces. All the citizens of one belligerent are enemies of the government and the citizens of the other.)

As I’ll discuss in a follow-up, I think they may be refusing to say who they consider the enemy in one more effort to tie Manning to Julian Assange. But since they don’t specify who the enemy is, we can just assume it is us.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/03/03/bradley-mannings-new-charges-bringing-discredit-upon-the-armed-forces/

[FiveGoodMen]

1. You can always count on Obama

[Poboy]

4. ...to underwhelm and dissapoint.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Exactly.

[Peregrine Took]

7. Ditto. n/t

[we can do it]

9. +1

gmta

[Canuckistanian]

11. Yes. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. I guess "the enemy" is now the people who want to know what their government is doing.

[gratuitous]

14. Oh, you think you're entitled to know?

Look, just keep paying the bills, shut yer yap, and wave yer flag. Honestly! You people seem to think you need to know everything, and that just gives aid and comfort to our enemies. And if we think you need to know who our enemies are, we'll tell you that when the time is right. In the meantime, just don't worry about this; it probably won't come back to hurt you or anyone you know or care about. Most likely.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. You're right. I'll just join the "Daddy Knows What's Good For You" majority.

And, trust the every trustworthy politicians who know the will of the Gods....on Wall Street and the Pentagon.

[EFerrari]

3. Now any leak is treason then, right? n/t

/oops

[Better Believe It]

13. Yes. Unless it is leaked by the administration.

[leftstreet]

6. K&R

[FLAprogressive]

8. Change We Can Believe In.

[FLAprogressive]

10. Change We Can Believe In.

[PBS Poll-435]

12. Oh, Jane...

Read a book. Take a walk. Do something other than complain about processes that you make up in your head.

[Better Believe It]

15. What books in defense of civil liberties would you recommend she read?

[PBS Poll-435]

18. I would start with Green Eggs & Ham

Then, perhaps Hop on Pop.


When she has shown progress I would recommend Charlotte's Web.

[Better Believe It]

26. So you have no suggestions that will make her as informed and literate on the subject as you are.

I'll be looking forward to reading your booklet or leaflet in defense of the persecution of Manning when it's published.

[PBS Poll-435]

34. UCMJ? USC?

Not sure what you are asking here...

[dionysus]

16. god bless ms hamster.

[PBS Poll-435]

21. Always spinnin' that wheel

Never gets a break, bless her heart.

[SidDithers]

19. Unrec...

Sid

[truebrit71]

22. And my rec to undo your apologist snark..

...

[SidDithers]

23. Ain't democracy grand...nt

Sid

[truebrit71]

24. Indeed...

;-) :hi:

[Gold Metal Flake]

29. Rec...

[frazzled]

20. This has to do with Military Code of Justice, not federal law

This is the Army, not Obama. Though if you use "government", that monolithic bogey man, it will appeal to your readership. What a dope that Jane Hamsher is. And a bad quoter, too. What is this supposed charge of “knowingly gave intelligence information” to “the enemy alleged to have received the intelligence information.”

Let's see what that charge really is:

In total Manning, a former military intelligence analyst, is accused of violating 16 specifications of the UCMJ, including wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the internet knowing that it would be accessible to the enemy; five specifications of theft of public property or records; eight specifications of transmitting defense information in violation of the code; and two specifications of computer fraud and related activity.


10. ADDITIONAL CHARGE I: VIOLATION OF THE UCMJ, ARTICLE 104.
THE SPECIFICATION: In that Private First Class Bradley E. Manning, U.S. Army,
did, at or near Contingency Operating Station Hammer, Iraq, between on or about
1 November 2009 and on or about 27 May 2010, without proper authority,
knowingly give intelligence to the enemy, through indirect means.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE II: VIOLATION OF THE UCMJ, ARTICLE 134.
SPECIFICATION 1: In that Private First Class Bradley E. Manning, U.S. Army,
did, at or near Contingency Operating Station Hammer, Iraq, between on or about
1 November 2009 and on or about 27 May 2010, wrongfully and wantonly cause to
be published on the internet intelligence belonging to the United States
government, having knowledge that intelligence published on the internet is
accessible to the enemy, such conduct being prejudicial to good order and
discipline in the armed forces and being of a nature to bring discredit upon
the armed forces.

[Better Believe It]

27. "This is the Army, not Obama" Sorry. I thought Obama was the Commander-in-Chief of the military.

My mistake.

In light of your information I think we can now all assume that President Obama is strongly opposed to the persecution and prosecution of Manning as an enemy of the state.

[frazzled]

32. I'm talking about how misplaced (and stupid) a Nixon analogy is

We are talking about the difference between a member of the military being charged (by the military) under its Uniform Code of Justice--a very specific set of rules that apply to members of the military-- not a civilian being badmouthed by a president, which you must admit has not happened. Obama has not made any public statements on Bradley Manning that I can find. Whether he is the master puppeteer behind these charges, neither I nor you knows.

Besides, as I have documented, the charge does not call Manning "an enemy of the state"; it simply says he published information on the Internet which he knew would become available to enemies. There is hardly any debate about that, unless he didn't know lots of people read the Internet, including enemies.

The drama-queening of this incident is over-the-top, imo.

[Solomon]

28. Thank you so much Frazzled. I'm getting sick to death of all

things blamed on Obama. I wish he would just waive his magic dictatorial wand and solve every conceivable prioblem on the planet. They're all his fault. Not only that, but do it in only 2 years at the helm.

[SidDithers]

30. Agreed...

some around here want him to be a socialist/liberal version of Bush.

Sid

[EFerrari]

31. What does any of that have to do with this case?

[Solomon]

37. That's the point. Obama's being blamed when it's an army thing.

Get it? Everything, I don't care what it is, whether it's on his plate or not is all Obama's fault. Apoparently you haven't seen the threads thrashing him for this as though he caused all of this to happen.

[Better Believe It]

33. I'm looking forward to his visit with Jeb Bush tomorrow. That' should help solve problems.

Don't ya think?

[Solomon]

35. He should only meet with the people you approve of.

Some people need to grow up.

[Better Believe It]

36. Do you think he should be giving a right-wing union bashing Republican a national platform?

Perhaps you can explain how this will help school teachers and their labor organizations.

I'm listening.

[Modern_Matthew]

38. Presidential pardon. End of debate. nt

[whattheidonot]

25. change of power.

a change of power is needed. once it takes place it will years before the difference is felt. can we wait four more years? If Obama gets reelected it has to be by the skin of his teeth, with a new Congress. If Obama is change then there is not going to be much change. The Republicans are worse so where to look. The government does not pay attention to the people anymore. All the polls on public opion are disregarded. The rich and powerful call the shots