Comments on: Bin Laden obtained classified cables leaked by Bradley Manning to Wikileaks, prosecutors claim

By: Dennis Smith

Dennis Smith — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:36:00 +0000

The way the judge has responded to the pre-trial treatment he has received demonstrates the judge has already sentenced BM and this is just a show for the public to make it look like it was all properly conducted, and the trial was fair, but he is guilty anyway. The judge clearly is acting on orders from above.

By: nowimnothing

nowimnothing — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:05:00 +0000

Seconded, most of all this is just a sad case.

I was not trying to be pedantic.

By: nowimnothing

nowimnothing — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Thanks for the info, I thought Manning had been more clear, but you are right.

By: Bangorian

Bangorian — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:04:00 +0000

You know that you are totally screwed when the government cooks up some way to link your case to Bin Laden.

By: Jen Onymous

Jen Onymous — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:36:00 +0000

Oy vey. Please don’t tell me that the Gubmint is actually trying to “Emanuel Goldstein” Manning. Not only is he against Big Brother, but he met with The Ultimate Enemy DIRECTLY.

Meh.

By: bshock

bshock — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 04:57:00 +0000

It also seems possible that Osama Bin Laden inhaled some of the same air molecules exhaled by Bradley Manning.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

By: exile

exile — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:32:00 +0000

Indeed, probably from any of many respectable (once respectable?) newspapers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak#Coverage

… and/or using the password made public by a Guardian journalist.

http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/wikileaks-guardian-journalist-negligently-published-password-to-unredacted-cables.html

By: Boundegar

Boundegar — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:08:00 +0000

Anybody who can laugh during the War on Terror is clearly on the enemy side. Patriotic Americans are too terrified to laugh.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:34:00 +0000

…..found out that Mr. bin Laden obtained the classified cables?

By: WinstonSmith2012

WinstonSmith2012 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:22:00 +0000

“Bin Laden obtained classified cables leaked by Bradley Manning to Wikileaks”

Big deal. So did anyone else who wanted to download them at that time from multiple sites. And they were only classified as secret, some perhaps secret noforn, because that was the level of _general_ classification for the particular network Manning was on. That’s generally bubble gum garbage material in the overclassified world of military and state department traffic. The “good stuff” is top secret and above, “above top secret” meaning special access programs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_access_program

By: WinstonSmith2012

WinstonSmith2012 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:13:00 +0000

”Bob Woodward didn’t sign a legally binding non-disclosure statement promising not to disseminate specific information”

However, Woodward’s source(s) most certainly did.

By: awjt

awjt — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:11:00 +0000

It’s just sad that this poor person has been and is currently subject to 1. a government witch-hunt 2. brutal long-term solitary confinement, complete with extra bonus cruel treatment 3. endless ridicule and speculation about their sexuality on the Internet 4. trial by media 5. no family visitation and 6. probably has no idea any of this external stuff is going down.

WE ARE THE MOST FREE OF THE FREE NATIONS ON EARTH?

I don’t believe in God, but please, God, help us.

By: aikimoe

aikimoe — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:05:00 +0000

You don’t have to be a member of the military to be prosecuted for leaking classified documents or for “aiding and abetting the enemy.”

Manning’s problem was that he leaked classified information (though not as classified as the information that Woodward leaked) that made the U.S. government look bad.

By: ChurchTucker

ChurchTucker — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:01:00 +0000

“Hey Ahmed, pass me the New York Times.”

GOTCHA!

By: Ito Kagehisa

Ito Kagehisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:09:00 +0000

And also Hitler.

By: Avram Grumer

Avram Grumer — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:44:00 +0000

It’s illegal to laugh at New York Times articles now? I may have to drop off the Internet entirely.

By: scolbath

scolbath — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:35:00 +0000

The issue is, Bob Woodward didn’t sign a legally binding non-disclosure statement promising not to disseminate specific information, an example of which is this: http://www.archives.gov/isoo/security-forms/sf312.pdf

By: chronoss

chronoss — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:31:00 +0000

howd that work out for binladen anyways

By: Derek Merleaux

Derek Merleaux — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:23:00 +0000

here’s a link to that Greenwald piece – very worth the time to read this – how we go from promises of a transparent govt. and whistleblower protection to this…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/10/manning-prosecution-press-freedom-woodward

By: Xeni Jardin

Xeni Jardin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:09:00 +0000

Sure, and it’s used here in that spirit. But “Private” isn’t Manning’s first name, and it’s silly to use that as a way to get around referencing the name at the center of the government’s legal action. I’m going with the name on the legal papers.

By: oasisob1

oasisob1 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:07:00 +0000

In the meantime, Private Manning is 100% correct.

By: Xeni Jardin

Xeni Jardin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:54:00 +0000

Manning is not an object.

Manning has a voice.

We can only acknowledge the name by which he/she currently chooses to be identified. We do not have any public statement from Manning indicating that he/she wishes to be acknowledged as a transperson or female; only old chat logs leaked without Manning’s consent which are difficult to authenticate and may or may not represent his/her current wishes.

When “Bradley Manning” asks the world to begin using the name “Breanna Manning,” and the female gender instead of the male, I will happily be the first to share this news.

By: Joe Buck

Joe Buck — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:36:00 +0000

As Glenn Greenwald points out, Bin Laden also got access to classified material that was leaked to Bob Woodward, and this was valuable to his propaganda effort; he recommended that Americans read Woodward’s book, “Obama’s War”. Woodward got access to Top Secret information; nothing Manning leaked was so highly classified, because Manning didn’t have access. So does Bob Woodward get the death penalty too?

By: nowimnothing

nowimnothing — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:35:00 +0000

I believe she prefers Breanna Manning

By: chellberty

chellberty — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:31:00 +0000

The united states has never had an official secrets act and that was proven with the pentagon papers, Ellesberg would still be in prison otherwise.

By: Dan Hibiki

Dan Hibiki — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:31:00 +0000

if only Bradley Manning was a rich banker…