Some of you couldn't handle the idea of your little friend Manning in jail with tattoed animals. So I changed the picture. Maybe you can deal with the USDB at Fort Leavenworth where he will be.
"Manning, 25, will be dishonorably discharged from the U.S. military and forfeit some pay, Lind said. His rank will be reduced to private from private first class. Manning would be eligible for parole after serving one-third of his sentence, which will be reduced by the time he has already served in prison plus 112 days. Wearing his dress uniform, the slightly built Manning stood at attention as the sentence was read, seeming to show no emotion. As he was escorted out of the courtroom, supporters shouted "Bradley, we are with you." Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, called the sentence "unprecedented" in its magnitude. "It's more than 17 times the next longest sentence ever served" for providing secret material to the media, Goitein said. "It is in line with sentences for paid espionage for the enemy."" Reuters
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IMO this is a lenient sentence. He could have been shot for treason and/or espionage. The sentence is subject to review by the convening authority, then to appeal by an appellate court and SCOTUS, but IMO this will stick.
The part of the sentence that allows parole after 1/3 of the sentence has been served surprises me. I thought he would get 20 years without parole. The Dishonorable Discharge is something that civilians will not understand in its importance. It is a handicap that will follow him around for the rest of his life.
He will serve his sentence as a military prisoner. Hopefully he will never be allowed to wear the uniform again. This wiould be a relief to many, especially in the Military Intelligence Regiment and the 10th Mountain Division whose insignia he has disgraced. pl
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/21/us-usa-wikileaks-manning-idUSBRE97J0JI20130821
I agree with you whole heartedly. The far left is pushing an agenda that really has little to do with American values but everything to do with theoretical ones. I do not see this same group putting forth any energy into holding accountable the architects and facilitators of the war(s) they find so objectionable. Their first hero, President Obama, is busy having the NSA shred the Constitution and its leaders lie under oath about it. Meanwhile they are busy with their latest hero, Bradley/Chelsea; the new David taking on that big bad Goliath – Uncle Sam.
Posted by: Fred | 23 August 2013 at 02:50 PM
WRC,
Got a hunch it's about keeping him high profile. The talking heads will now certainly be debating whether or not the DOD should be required to pay for the operation. Abalones will be riding bicycles before that happens, but no matter.
Posted by: Mark Logan | 23 August 2013 at 03:49 PM
Might look better with a pair of DD's, rather than just one, though?
Sorry, couldn't help myself
Posted by: elkern | 23 August 2013 at 05:27 PM
You are making excuses. Millions of poorly educated soldiers have served terms of enlistment with under conditions far worse than Manning's. They didn't betray their obligations regardless of their support or lack thereof for the nation's policy while they were on active duty.
Posted by: Fred | 23 August 2013 at 08:53 PM
COL, your statement is true, but it begs the question of what all those uniform-wearing analysts and policy makers at NSA were thinking (and continue to think) about breaking the law to collect on US citizens? Or those in the service who participated in the use of "enhanced interrogation" techniques?
RP
Posted by: RetiredPatriot | 25 August 2013 at 10:13 AM