You are a true patriot with great love of country.

I am also grateful to you for writing about what you encountered while serving the nation, how you were vilified for defending your oath, and especially for writing in defense of Bradley. Please continue to make your voice heard.

- Pat

Let’s Redouble Our Efforts To Free Private Bradley Manning-President Obama Pardon Bradley Manning -Make Every Town Square In America (And The World) A Bradley Manning Square From Boston To Berkeley to Berlin-Join Us In Central Square, Cambridge, Ma. For A Stand-Out For Bradley- Wednesdays From 5:00-6:00 PM
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The Private Bradley Manning case is headed toward an early summer trial now scheduled for June 2013. The news on his case over the past several months has centered on the many (since about April 2012) pre-trial motions hearings including defense motions to dismiss for lack of speedy trial (Private Manning’s pre-trial confinement is now at 900 plus days and will be over 1000 days by the time of trial), a motion still not ruled on, dismissal as a matter of freedom of speech and minimal effect on alleged national security issues (issues important for us to know what the hell the government is doing either in front of us, or behind our backs), a motion also not ruled on and now the subject of prosecution counter- motions, and dismissal based on serious allegations of torturous behavior by the military authorities extending far up the chain of command while Private Manning was first detained in Kuwait and later at the Quantico Marine brig for about a year ending in April 2011. In December Private Manning himself, as well as others including senior military mental health workers, took the stand to detail those abuses.

The results of that last motion are now in, as announced at an early January pre-trial hearing, and while every Bradley Manning supporter should be heartened by the fact that the military judge ruled that he was subject to illegal behavior by the military during his pre-trail confinement her remedy, a 112 days reduction in any future sentence, is a mere slash on the risk to the military authorities. No dismissal and, alternatively, no appropriate reduction (the asked for ten to one ratio for all his first year or so of confinement) given the seriousness of the illegal behavior. And a deterrent to any future military whistleblowers, and others who seek to put the hard facts of future American military atrocities before the public.

Some other important recent news, this from the November 2012 pre-trail sessions, is the offer by the defense to plead guilty to lesser charges (wrongful, unauthorized use of the Internet, etc.) in order to clear the deck and have the major (with a possibility of a life sentence) espionage /aiding the enemy issue solely before the court-martial judge (a single military judge, the one who has been hearing the pre-trial motions, not a lifer-stacked panel). Also there has been increased media attention by mainstream outlets around the case (including the previously knowingly oblivious New York Times), as well as an important statement by three Nobel Peace Laureates (including Bishop Tutu from South Africa) calling on their fellow laureate, United States President Barack Obama, to free Private Manning from his jails. Check the Bradley Manning Support Network for details and future updates.

Since September 2011, in order to publicize Private Manning’s case locally, there have been weekly stand-outs (as well as other more ad hoc and sporadic events) in various locations in the Greater Boston area starting in Somerville across from the Davis Square Redline MBTA stop on Friday afternoons and later on Wednesdays. Lately this stand-out has been held on each week on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at Central Square, Cambridge, Ma. (small park at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Prospect Street just outside the Redline MBTA stop, renamed Manning Square for the duration of the stand-out) in order to continue to broaden our outreach. Join us in calling for Private Manning’s freedom. President Obama Pardon Private Manning Now!

Swartz’s Guerilla Open Access Manifesto outlines the steps all of us need to take to keep information flowing.

Bradley Manning’s acts were above and beyond the call of duty and he should decorated, not denigrated, for his efforts in the struggle against the classifiers, the gatekeepers, the rentiers … all who would impede our right to know just what is going on, and then to make informed decisions based on knowledge, not propaganda.