A democracy cannot thrive in secret. The American people and the politicians who represent us have a right to know what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet if the military succeeds, the Manning court martial will remain a military secret. Americans will not see the evidence because watching unarmed civilians gunned down in cold blood could bring, in the words of the official charge sheet “discredit upon the armed forces” – a threat so horrifying to the U.S. Army that it is repeated eight times in the official indictment.

In its defense, the military has a good point. Seeing unarmed people murdered at close range seems unfair. Some of us, including this blogger, find it mildly disturbing to see our tax dollars being used to shoot non-combatants in the back with 30mm cannon fire.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

On September 16-19, 2010, activist organizations and individuals will take to the streets to call on the United States government to drop the charges against Army Private First Class Bradley Manning. Manning, 22, has been held in isolation since May, charged with releasing classified documents including a video that shows American troops shooting and killing 11 people, including two Reuters employees, in 2007.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.

Apgailestaujame, bet šį įrašą galima peržiūrėti tik English.