By: Kathleen Ramos

Kathleen Ramos — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 07:26:24 +0000

One of the most egregious indictments of the military is, of course, the mistreatment (read torture) of Bradley Manning during his 10 months in solitary confinement at Quantico,VA. But most shocking of all: the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, was repeatedly denied access to Manning during that time. Nonetheless, after a 14 month investigation, Mendeza found Manning’s treatment to be “cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment”, in violation of both the 5th & 8th amendments of the U.S. Constitution
When State Department spokesman Crowley (on 3/11/12) called Manning’s prison treatment “ridiculous, counter-productive and stupid”, he was immediately forced to resign.
On a positive note however, on 4/11/12, 295 academics (mostly Americans) signed a letter stating that Manning’s treatment violated the 8th amendment (“cruel and unusual punishment”) as well as the 5th Amendment, which prohibits punishment without trial.
I’ve noticed that the U.S.government/Military ignores anything coming from the U.N. when it is not in its own interests. Ditto even our own laws and Constitution (not to mention International Law) which are bypassed with impunity when they get in the way of our government’s objectives. Our own leaders, up to the highest level, have rendered “the Rule of Law” a joke.

By: Roger T. Thomes

Roger T. Thomes — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 07:53:39 +0000

Justice delayed is justice denied–Interpreted from the Magna Carta, Article 40 (also attributed to Wm. Gladstone).
–R.T. Thomes (Amsterdam)

Comments on: Day 1 courtroom notes: Bradley Manning’s motions hearing, October 17, 2012

By: Kathleen Ramos

By: Roger T. Thomes