Manning "joked" about committing suicide...

[Cid_B]

... according to his lawyer.

Specifically mentioned hanging himself by his underwear supposedly. I know this guy isn't the brightest bulb but anyone who has been in the Army more than a day knows how much tolerance there is for suicide jokes. I'll give you a hint... NONE

Especially for a high profile case... no chances will be taken...

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/03/ap-wikileaks-manning-lawyer-says-suicide-joke-led-to-stripping-030511/

[AlabamaLibrul]

1. We know how you feel about him. n/t

[treestar]

2. Yeah, if he did kill himself

His fans would blame the government.

[AlabamaLibrul]

4. His enemies would applaud his death, at any rate.

I'd be a bit skeptical if he were to wake up dead while on "suicide watch".

[TorchTheWitch]

17. you should be skeptical of anyone ever waking up dead

Really now, how exactly is it possible to wake up dead???

[AlabamaLibrul]

18. It's called a figure of speech, but I'm sure you know that n/t

[treestar]

19. Here's what I'm talking about:

I've answered many posts on how awful the details of suicide watch seem to be. So let him wear clothes, take that all away. Then if he kills himself, suddenly it will be twisted into the government should have made him sleep naked, etc. They'll get blamed if they take him off suicide watch and don't do those things that make up a suicide watch. They should just take him off it. Then, if he kills himself, they can get blamed for that.

[Hissyspit]

7. And if the government killed him

you would absolutely insist he committed suicide?

I cannot FATHOM at all why people would be skeptical. Let's call Pat Tillman's mom and ask if she can shed some light on it.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Hissyspit]

12. My ability to critically analyze is just fine. Thank you.

Of course there are differences between the two cases. Effective critical analysis would show that that is beside the point. --> The point - obviously - is that the military is fully capable of attempting to cover up the deaths of our own soldiers, no matter the circumstances.

[treestar]

20. If you really think the government would kill him

Then of course you believe that he's not suicidal and they are wrong to put him on suicide watch.

If you're that cynical about the government, you don't believe in our system anyway. They detain him and you complain. They put him on suicide watch and you complain. If they were just going to wholesale murder him, they could have done that in the field best anyway, why detain him?

And you are insisting they have no right to prosecute anyone at all. They suspect this guy of violating the laws on classified documents, yet they should not prosecute. So why should they prosecute any of the laws?

[readmoreoften]

9. Well, the whole torture thing does kinda put the blood on their hands.

:crazy:

You're really sompthin special.

[treestar]

21. You're simply defining as torture what they think of as suicide watch

And resort to ad hominem.

So if he were taken off suicide watch and then in the event he did kill himself, who would you be blaming for it?

[underpants]

3. Say the "S" word and you get TDO'ed for at least two days

Temporary Detaining Order

Manning should be put in a hospital to be observed.

BTW - this stinks of the pre-story to "He fell down 38 times"

[Cid_B]

5. Meh...

... then one would expect his lawyer to state that his client never made that claim... or did I misinterpret your post?

[underpants]

13. He needs a better lawyer AND the medical staff anywhere else would recognize what needs to be done

anywhere else.

I worked with "Crisis staff" and I had an alcoholic brother who I directly advised to use say suicide in a harrowing bottom moment- it worked. He got complete medical assistance and started on the road to recovery.

[emilyg]

6. +1

[PBS Poll-435]

11. This all is so odd

:wtf:

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[Pirate Smile]

15. You know the "Don't joke about having a bomb in your suitcase while at the airport" Rule? I guess we

have a new one to go along with it - "Don't joke about killing yourself with your underwear while in the Brig".

Not a good spot to go for the "sarcastic quip".

[TorchTheWitch]

16. hardly just the army

Anyone in a facility that is responsible of what happens to you especially when your mental health is already in question that "jokes" about killing themselves is going to automatically be suspected of NOT joking. As it should be.

And sadly, I don't think he was joking.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. And, the military, in it's usual way treats suicide "risks" by stripping them naked.

Not to mention that Manning is accused of committing a non-violent crime and shouldn't be in prison anyway.

[treestar]

23. Just as no jokes about hijackings are tolerated in airport gates

There are some things where the government is going to cover its hide, and can't be blamed - though they will be blamed no matter what happens.