Is this really how American pursues justice today??
By louisehartmann
Amnesty International is going after Secretary of Defense Robert Gates for the military’s treatment of Bradley Manning – the man accused of leaking classified documents to Wikileaks. In a letter to Secretary Gates – Amnesty International called for an end to the inhumane conditions under which Manning is being held – conditions that include 23 hours of solitary confinement a day. The organization Psychologists for Social Responsibility has taken up the fight too – calling for and end to the, “inhumane, harmful, and counter-productive treatment” of Manning. On Sunday – two journalists from FireDogLake were detained while trying to visit Manning – and last week Manning was place on suicide watch. This is all an effort by the US military and the Department of Justice to break Manning down – and elicit a confession that could also implicate Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. But according to a military official yesterday, “there is apparently no evidence [Manning] passed the files directly to Assange, or had any direct contact with the controversial WikiLeaks figure”. Yet – the Gitmo-style confinement continues. Is this really how American pursues justice today??
Comments
#2
I'm convinced that this IS the way American Justice system works in more than a few cases AND it IS the way the military justice - an oxymoron?- system works.
Gates was the target i chose to address with a "Shame on you" letter since he seeems to be less of a political animal, comparatively, and I have the impression he is less supporting of the 'wanna be Rambo' types. I hope this impression isn't badly flawed-it is just an opinion however.
The Beadley Manning story is such a miscarrige of justice but then again when "Power" is embarassed some must pay and pay dearly as a warning to others.
Viva Assange!
#3
We have situational justice. Manning is being pilloried because either a) they want to show how mad they are at assange and wikileaks for compromises their big dark secrets which turn out to be neither very big nor dark, or b) as an object lesson to potential whistleblowers. It's hard to say which at this point, but the idea of innocent until PROVEN guilty before a court of law has apparently gone out of fashion in 21st century America. It is also very apparent that only a few of us care enough to raise a stink. Rendition is still a part of our act, and indefinite detention. The Patriot Act is still in force. Do you like your fascism better under Mr. Obama? Of course, any prosecution of any of the Bush gang for their wanton disregard of the laws against torture, and even the basis for our prosecutions at Nuremberg - Starting a war - goes unpunished. It killed thousands of innocent Iraqis and American service men, but that's just collateral damage. The empire will be imperial (until it's not).
#4
He is in the army so different rules apply, and if I were suspected of being a traitor, I think I would prfer solitary to general population.
#5
I'll be interested to see if Bradley Manning eventually gets the status of someone like Daniel Ellsberg. Ellsberg was absolutely vilified after the relase of the Pentagon Papers but eventually aquired folk hero status. I suspect that because Manning was in the military they'll sue this to throw the book at him and he'll get a lengthly sentence as an example to others.
This is part of the reason why the Chinese can afford to be so dismissive of American calls for greater civil rights in China and Tibert. As long as these sorts of thing keep happening (and now Amnesty is involved) China can afford to say 'Get your own house in order beofre you start to lecture us'.
With regards to Assange the situation is trickier. Because they can't prove any link between him and Bradley any possibility of getting a conviction there has gone out of the window. I would have thought it would make sense for them to stop harassing Assange quite so openly as it just gives him martyr status and helps cement his support.
#6
When I was a child in the fifties I frequently heard news broadcasts about injustices done by the evil Soviet empire. The news stories I hear about the USA today remind me of those same stories about strong armed, power controlled injustice to the people.
#7
Well lets see...Stalin purged his own people to the tune of 20 Million souls! Most died by firing squads, many were starved, millions died in the Gulags!
And you say that America is becoming like what Russia was during Stalins' Dictatorship!
My goodness man, read a bit of history and Stop Watching FOX NOISE! Or whatever Propaganda you are watching or reading!
Facts matter.
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With our government under the control of fascist-Nazi groups their MO will be the sick justice for our citizens.