The Other McCain

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Bradley Manning Hasn’t Been Shot Yet

Posted on | January 8, 2013 | 47 Comments

There was a time when a traitor in the ranks of the U.S. Army would have been in front of a firing squad within 48 hours of his apprehension.

I happened to be at Fort Meade today on other business, which included a lecture about concerns for “operational security.” When it was time to get lunch, I was advised not to leave the base, but rather to eat at the on-base Burger King, as there might be hassles getting back through the main gate because of the Bradley Manning trial:

The US soldier accused of being behind the massive WikiLeaks publication of state secrets has been awarded a 112-day reduction in any eventual sentence on the grounds that he was subjected to excessively harsh treatment in military detention.

(If that worm were locked up in Leavenworth for life, that would be excecessively mild treatment, as far as I’m concerned.)

Colonel Denise Lind, the judge presiding over Bradley Manning’s court martial, granted him the dispensation as a form of recompense for the unduly long period in which he was held on suicide watch and prevention of injury status while at the brig at Quantico marine base in Virginia where he was detained from 29 July 2010 to 20 April 2011.

(Why ”suicide watch”? Spare us the expense of hanging him.)

During that time he was held under constant surveillance, had his possessions removed from his cell and at times even his clothes, often in contravention to the professional medical [advice] of psychiatrists.

(If the Army had sought the advice of any competent psychiatrist, Bradley Manning never would have been in the Army in the first place.)

Lind’s ruling was made under Article 13 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that protects prisoners awaiting trial from punishment on grounds that they are innocent until proven guilty. The recognition that some degree of pre-trial punishment did occur during the nine months that the soldier was held in Quantico marks a legal victory for the defence in that it supports Manning’s long-held complaint that he was singled out by the US government for excessively harsh treatment.

How the hell can the Army enforce discipline when a traitor like Bradley Manning is permitted to bring in a commie lawyer to claim that his “rights” were violated by “excessively harsh treatment”? And speaking of commie lawyers:

David Coombs, Manning’s civilian lawyer, revealed at a hearing at Fort Meade military base in Maryland what is likely to be a central pillar of the defence case at the soldier’s court martial. A full trial is scheduled to start on 6 March.
Coombs said that the defence would be calling as a witness Adrian Lamo, the hacker who alerted military authorities to Manning’s WikiLeaks activities, to give evidence about the web chat he had with Manning shortly before the soldier’s arrest in Iraq in March 2010. The content of the web chat, Coombs suggested, would be used by the defence to show that Manning selected information to leak that “could not be used to harm the US or advantage any foreign nation”.

Yeah. Let’s just take the word of a traitor who disobeyed orders, because someone who violates his oath of service can be trusted to tell the truth.

UPDATE: In case you didn’t know:

Coombs is best known for defending Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar, who was convicted and sentenced to death for a deadly 2003 attack on fellow U.S. military members in Kuwait.

Some people will probably protest: “How can you call him a ‘commie’? Coombs is a retired officer!” And your point would be?

I mean, John Kerry used to be an officer, didn’t he?

 

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Category: Crime, Military

Comments

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    I am fine with letting Bradley Manning rot in prison (he can waive to Jonathan Pollard). Let him have his trial, get convicted and serve a lengthy long sentence. He can decide if it was worth it and it serves as a deterrent for future spies.

    Now I am not against the death penalty in all cases: What about Jihadist Terrorist Murderer Nidal Hassan? He should be shaved, washed up, tried and shot.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.org Bob Belvedere

    Hang the lilly-livered traitorous bastard by his puny neck – don’t give him the honor of a firing squad. If we executed a few of these traitors, it would send a damn good message.

  • Monitor2112

    I’m with Bob Belvedere….Hang the S.O.B. I was in the signal corps in the National Guard before I went Regular Army back in the day…they stressed opsec.
    He took a piss all over opsec and should be used as an example. His actions could have, if not did, get people killed.
    Doesn’t matter though, if he was sentenced to death, our Dear Leader is sure to commute the sentence. Bastard.

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    That would mean he’s out in public with all of us, right?

  • jwallin

    I feel sorry for Mr. Manning.

    I think he should be reissued his uniform web belt, give toiletries (including a blade razor) and extra towels and sheets for personal hygiene reasons.

    And if that doesn’t work, put him in the prison’s general population. Or move him to Ft. Hood and bunk him with Hasan.

    Yeah. That’ll do it.

  • Dave

    Manning, if convicted, will not be given much time. He will be used to undermine the UCMJ as it exists as an expression of the American people’s legal control of their military. Folks will be outraged at his receiving a few years, and be willing to negotiate the UCMJ, which will get larded up with a lot of very destructive rules.
    The Prognazis never waste a crisis, and when children aren’t being slaughtered by the mentally ill, Obama’s crew manufactures a crisis. Manning will be just such a one, trotted out at the proper time.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    While I would not shed a tear if he was hung, I do not want to give Manning some martyrdom status (and I think the chances of that actually happening given the circumstances is remote and unlikely). Let him be forgotten in some prison. It is a far worse punishment.

  • George Ryan

    Looks like the army is being run by a bunch of pusseys,as usual. What about the Ft Hood Muslim terrorist? In case you mf’s ain’t lookin I demand some answers.

  • SDN

    I mean, John Kerry used to be an officer, didn’t he?

    So did Benedict Arnold. Not to mention highly decorated.

  • http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/ Maggie@Maggie’s Notebook

    This is what we have today with a military full of “cautious and mediocre” officers, carefully treading a career path under and administration who blames previous generations for Hiroshima, views Winston Churchill an invader, and current Military as common rapists, who they intend to tame and train as appeasers.

  • http://boogieforward.us/ K-Bob

    Thanks, Stacy. I needed to read something a little more “solid” than where I’ve just been.

    Andrew Klavan has a post on why conservatives need not give in to despair. It’s well done, for all that it shouldn’t need to be necessary (I dinged Klavan for the “neccessary” bit, but it really was well done). Anyhoo, Ace put it up, because, hey, positive!

    So Ace done good. But reading the thread comments is about the most convincing argument I’ve ever seen for why an all-volunteer military is so important.

    And Bradley Manning was about the most un-volunteering “volunteer” I’ve ever read about. Why he was deemed fit for duty is a mystery eclipsed only by the Fort Hood shooter.
    [who should always receive the standard, McCain, non-promotional mention]

  • http://boogieforward.us/ K-Bob

    Okay, but he needs to do heavy labor, though.

  • Wombat_socho

    Benedict Arnold arguably did more good for this country than John Kerry. See the Battle of Saratoga.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    I am all for that.

  • 2nd amend

    Is this treason this post is about. What about his Commander n chief. Now I know 2 wrongs don’t make a right but all of you would die protecting Constitutional rights. How about until proven guilty.

  • Patrick Carroll

    A guy I work with, who just got out of the USAF, described to me how a young woman in his squadron got a boob job, at taxpayer expense, in order to improve her self-esteem.

    We are doomed.

  • Patrick Carroll

    Oh, BTW, how are we doing with Major Nidal Hasan?

    We. Are. Doomed.

  • libertyftw

    After reading some of these comments, I’m fairly sure none of you served in the military.

    Execution, torture, and endless lock-ups? I have serious doubts that you a) served as POWs or b) read enough about this to come to an informed opinion.

    As for Stacey…really? You’re using the term ‘commie’ in a serious political conversation in 2013? This is why we can’t have nice things.

  • gvanderleun

    Without real consequences the rot will continue unabated.

  • M. Thompson

    If he gets a jury with any group of NCOs, he shouldn’t win.

    This turd ought to be strung up and buried on unconsecrated ground, but the traditional punishments aren’t in vogue.

    Not for self, for country.

  • Monitor2112

    Could be. It means that his death sentence is turned into something else. Probably life. However it will probably qualify him for a chance at parole in the future, if Dear Leader doesn’t just give him a pardon or clemency.

  • http://boogieforward.us/ K-Bob

    Your red herring is way past its sell-by date.

  • MrPaulRevere

    While we discuss what punishment would have been meted out ‘back in the day’ I thinks its appropriate to point out Manning has a certain personal proclivity which would have precluded enlistment itself back in the day. Those rules seem pretty wise viewed from the rear view mirror.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    It might have been justified for troop moral. Ever think of that? Who are we to deny our troops?

  • http://twitter.com/PaulZummo Paul Zummo

    Really. You’re using the phrase “this is why we can’t have nice things” in serious political discourse in 2013?

  • rustypaladin

    Ladies and Gentlemen, regardless of the overwhelming evidence against him, Manning should get a fair trial. Then stick him in the general population for him to enjoy the rest of his life. I am also glad he has such a renown military lawyer for his defense. We can only hope Coombs does as good a job for PVT Manning as he did for SGT Akbar.

  • Quartermaster

    That doesn’t say much since Kerry has done absolutely nothing for this country. Like most Libtards it’s all about him.

  • Quartermaster

    Traditionally, traitors have been hung. Being shot is a death reserved for those whose career was honorable otherwise. Admiral Byng is an example of the latter. Byng’s shooting was the inspiration for Voltaire’s “pour encourager les autres.” Arnold would have been hung, so should Manning.

  • Quartermaster

    While there is a little doubt in this case (veeeeeery little), most that are accused, no matter the level, are guilty as original sin. The trials are simply a formality where the evidence is produced for the public.

  • Quartermaster

    In peacetime, an all volunteer Army is workable. Ina situation like WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and such, it is not. Congress has the authority to enact conscription under the constitution, slave soldier whining on the part of the Rockwellits notwithstanding, and at times it is required to defend the country. That fact, more thasn any other, is why Congress is loathe to declare war because it means mobilization of the country and conscription.
    The poor darling Libtards don’t want to get shot at. They do want their “stuff” however.

  • Quartermaster

    I served, and I agree with locking up Manning and Hasan. I also agree hanging is too good for both of them, but it’s about the worst we can do to them. I’d be all for drawing and quartering, but the lily livers in this country can’t stand condign punishment.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.org Bob Belvedere

    I’m against the Draft because it seems to me that any nation that cannot get enough people to put on the uniform and fight for it probably does not deserve to survive.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.org Bob Belvedere

    Indeed.

  • Patrick Carroll

    I take your sarc. Heh. Still, boob jobs for the troops at taxpayer expense convinces me that women have no place in the military.

  • Patrick Carroll

    How many people has Bradley Manning killed?

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    Consider how many West Pointers served in the Confederate Army. Or the regrettable General Eaton of Iraq.

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    HANGED. The past tense for hanging someone is HANGED. Aaargh…

  • http://boogieforward.us/ K-Bob

    Yeah, I agree with that. I just meant the standing Armies.

  • Quartermaster

    Sorry, but the West Pointers that served in the CSA did not commit treason. That issue was visited with Jefferson Davis and neither of the Attorneys detailed to prosecute him would do so. Richard Dana was pretty staright foprward about, saying that Davis did not commit treason.
    The states had every right to secede, and the war did not “disprove” that idea.

  • Quartermaster

    heh, heh, heh. We got his goat good.

  • Monitor2112

    It’s hard to pretend he is innocent when he has admitted doing what he is accused of. What he is tryinhg to argue now is that it was NOT sensitive enough material to hit the treason threshold.

  • Quartermaster

    Heinlein agreed with you there. Not sure I agree with you. I would agree that there are some that don’t serve to live in a free country. Many change their minds after putting their hide on the line. Much of the reason the 50s were the way they were is because of the men who served in WW2.

  • http://www.leftbankofthecharles.com/ Charles

    So as long as you announce, “I secede” it’s not treason? The Union Army should have decimated the CSA ranks, made the CSA officers draw lots and then executed every tenth man. But the tradition of showing mercy being so long established, Bradley Manning will likely get it too.

  • http://madamescherzo.tumblr.com/ Mme Scherzo

    Kerry’s more highly decorative than highly decorated. A small difference, to be sure.

  • FOAF

    Choom will pardon him, count on it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/eric.ashley.58 Eric Ashley

    Um, that’s crazy talk man.

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