Military statements regarding Bradley Manning “patently false”

“Despite the assertion of Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, PFC Bradley Manning is not being treated like every other detainee at the Quantico brig. Morrell stated during today’s Pentagon briefing that PFC Manning’s ‘confinement is not in the least different from the manner in which anyone else at the brig is being held.’ This statement is patently false,” notes Bradley Manning’s lawyer David Coombs on his blog. Coombs also explained that his client was the only detainee at Quantico held under the maximum custody regime or the highly-restrictive “prevention of injury watch” order.

RELEASE: Military steps up retaliation against accused WikiLeaks whistle-blower with arbitrary “suicide watch”, followed by detainment of approved visitor

Military officials at Marine Corps Base Quantico today increased the isolation of accused WikiLeaks whistle-blower U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning by detaining Manning’s friend and regular visitor David House at the base entrance until visiting hours were over. House was accompanied by Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake.com, a website that has collected 42,000 signatures on a petition calling for improvements to the conditions of Manning’s detention, which constitute extreme and illegal pre-trial punishment.

Nadim Kobeissi interviews Kevin Zeese on military’s latest outrage toward Manning

Bradley Manning supporter Nadim Kobeissi interviewed Kevin Zeese today in an emergency installment of his CHOMP.FM internet broadcast. Have a listen here: http://chomp.fm/003/ . Some quick quotes: (4:00) Nadim: Did they have any ethical grounds for doing this? Did they have any legal grounds for doing this, even? Kevin: This is a bizarre action by…

Manning Supporters Detained by Quantico

February 6 update: David House was able to visit Bradley recently. Here is his account of the visit on MSNBC (YouTube) Quantico VA (January 23, 2011) – David House, supporter and personal friend of Bradley Manning, traveled to Quantico with journalist Jane Hamsher to visit Manning earlier today. Though House is an approved visitor, he…

Manning removed from two-day suicide watch; attorney files complaint, calls action punitive

Bradley Manning’s attorney, David Coombs, posted on his blog today that he has filed an Article 138 complaint with the Quantico Marine Corps base command alleging that the commanding officer of the brig where Manning is being held abused his discretion in placing Manning on suicide watch for two days this week.

The move to put Manning on suicide watch status came the day after some 150 people protested outside the gates of the Quantico base demanding Bradley’s freedom. Mr. Coombs was quoted in the Washington Post as saying, “The fact that they won’t articulate any basis for it leaves you with no other conclusion than it must be punitive.”

Former Commander of Headquarters Company at Quantico Objects to Treatment of Bradley Manning

As a former regular Marine Corps captain, a Korean War combat veteran, now retired on Veterans Administration disability due to wounds suffered during that conflict, I write you to protest and express concern about the confinement in the Quantico Marine Corps Base brig of US Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.

Dr. King and Bradley Manning Show the Way to a Revolution of Values

“I take comfort in the fact that I am not alone and that there is strength in numbers. Today we were told that we could only protest across the street from the base at Quantico. We chose not to obey that order and instead marched across the street and right through the gates chanting “Free Bradley Manning!” There were a few Marines and police officers stationed at the street and gate to stop us. They held up their hands and told us to stop but we did not hesitate and marched on through.

“Likewise, there is strength in numbers if the peace and social movements join together to speak out against the concentrated corporate power that controls our government and our media. Together we can create the changes we so desperately need. Together we can raise our voices so high that we cannot be ignored.”

MLK Day protests at FBI headquarters and Marine Base Quantico

Following a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day protest at FBI headquarters in Washington, DC, yesterday to demonstrate outrage and indignation against police state surveillance, infiltration, and attempts to entrap peace, environmental, animal rights, civil rights and solidarity activists, a convoy of attendees set off for Quantico, Virginia, to protest the isolation and torture of Bradley Manning at Marine Corps Brig Quantico.

Oklahoma City noontime vigil for Bradley Manning

Twenty-five activists came out in the cold to help educate the passers-by about Oklahoma native Bradley Manning. With t-shirts, signs, palm cards and newspapers, the message was “Free Bradley Manning” and “Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime.” Read more at oklahomacitizen.org and look at some pictures from the event: [nggallery id=9]

How Is Bradley Manning Really Being Treated?

David Swanson of WarIsACrime.org catalogues and questions recent developments regarding Bradley Manning’s treatment in confinement, and suggests a course of action:

There are conflicting accounts of exactly how Bradley Manning, the alleged whistleblower on countless U.S. government crimes, has been illegally punished for 8 months so far, pre-trial. There’s no denying that this young man who allegedly sought to make his government’s actions known for the public good and did not seek to profit thereby has been denied a speedy trial. The question is to what extent he has already been punished, and even cruelly and unusually punished, without having been convicted of any crime. But the accounts differ less than it at first appears. And there is one sure way to find out the facts.