Online, a huge movement has sprung up demanding Bradley’s release.
From the Western Telegraph, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK:
Ex-Tasker Milward pupil in Wikileaks US security scandal
One pupil in Bradley’s year, who asked not to be named, said: “He was really into computers and politics, he was always online, on MSN or myspace. I think everyone I know who has been talking about it can’t actually believe they know him. I can remember he boasted about his computer skills and stuff, but you just don’t expect someone you know to be arrested for something like this.”
[...] Online, a huge movement has sprung up demanding Bradley’s release.
[...] Within days of Bradley being charged, 20,000 people visited the bradleymanning.org site. A petition started last month has already attracted more than 1,400 signatures.
Thank You Western Telegraph:
Bradley Manning needs support right now.
If the allegations are true, many of us believe he has taken the correct action anyway, by revealing the sadistic nature of the US campaign now raging in Iraq, Afganistan, and Pakistan. Many of us do not consent to these so called “wars” and we want them to end immediately.
We are determined to reveal any criminal activity by the US government and military. The charges against Bradley Manning make it obvious they are just as determined to hide their illegal methods and justifications.
The ongoing campaign to squelch dissent here in the US is insidiously devouring free speech and free press. Thank you for keeping this story in the news and in the minds of Free People.
Sincerely,
Shawn Fair, Fleming, Colorado, USA
I wish you had a clue about how good you have it here, Shawn. I spent much of last night listening to a friend’s mother who lived in Iran tell a story about how she was arrested, sent to a secret prison and was bailed out by a bribe only to hear that her friends had not been so lucky and had been executed. Their crime? Possession of a philosophical book about freedom. Remember how awful so many places on earth are and how lucky we are to be here.
That said, I was also in Iraq twice with the infantry and it makes me terribly frustrated and sad to hear you talk about the criminal activity and the insidious war over there. I assume you haven’t actually been in Iraq or Afghanistan and most likely not to the Middle East at all, so I’ll tell you that it is an oppressive, dog-eat-dog place where we still exercise extreme discipline and restraint when making the call to fire on any target.
It is more difficult than you can imagine to feel like you may me killed at any moment, to be desperate to defend your life and the lives of your brothers, and to still have to make a radio call to someone 50 miles away to request permission to fire back at someone who is firing at you. If you want to get just a fraction of that feeling, go to a shooting range and stand next to the targets. It feels way different on the other side of the weapon. No imagine that the person with the gun is aiming for you. Not a cool feeling.
Still we exercise restraint because we have to, because we are committed and disciplined, and have a strong desire to keep from killing innocent civilians. In return for such conduct, Marines and soldiers themselves are often killed, as several of my friends have been. I wish you would praise that sort of heroism and sacrifice, but I don’t figure that that is nearly as popular.
Manning was a rare example of someone who was much more intelligent than his surrounding peers, and when he witnessed unethical (as all military operations are) activities he decided to let others know.
Whenever the military classifies information it is almost certainly for purposes of masking criminal activities. If someone breaks ranks and informs the population of the offenses of the government, the government retalliates with such wrath.
That’s what we see here.
Poor Bradley. Never ever should have joined the military as nobody should.
Jesse.
Ignorant. Naive. Have you even been outside of our well defended borders?
Hero more American than all the flag wavers could ever conceive …telling the truth is AMERICAN all the way this is Aresting Bradley Manning the most dispicable unamerican undemocratic act ever.
God Bless you Bradley Manning show us not to be like the Good Germans who notice nothing say nothing just live their own lives speak no evil hear no evil see no evil …
Your reference to what I assume to be NAZI Germans is logically false and despicable. The actions of Hitler’s Germany should never be used so lightly and conveniently as literary tools. Take a moment to review what actually happened there and try to never again trivialize it and its horror.
and I suppose that genocide is one of those special words that can only refer to the Jewish holocaust…
Dustin: Just so you know who the ignorant assuming asshole is here, it’s you. I am rapidly losing my patience with jerkoffs like you. All the proof I need came out this weekend. You stink to high heaven just sitting there, let alone the stench when you open your mouth.
Yes, Dustin, I served in the US military in the 80′s, OK? Navy. I was stationed for a time off the coast of Lebanon, remember that? I’ve been around the world, so you can keep your assinine assumptions to yourself.
Dustin,
You are just a sucker posterboy for the military who is experiencing Stockholm Syndrome.
All descending voices who break ranks are heros. You are the antagonist who keeps the miserable status quo going.
And of course Dustin you are a leech since you are a government employee who lives off taxes.
A leech? Really? Do you know how much I made when I was in the Marine Corps? Do some research. And I find it ironic how you praise dissenting ideas but when I provide my contrary view point the insults come flying my way. You stay classy, boys.
Dustin,
I served twice in Iraq as an Infantryman. Obviously all the fringe idiots arguing with you who refuse to give you even any acknowledgment for the logical points you made are not good Americans. I say this because you refuse to think. Dustin isn’t banned from criticism but he did serve and his experiences aren’t “assumptions.” The amount of ignorance is astounding. As for the guy who served in the Navy…. thanks for serving but let’s be honest your tour off the coast of lebanon does not compare to what infantryman do every day in the crazy urban combat environment where the enemy blends in perfectly with the population.
Manning was to smart for his own good. If he was smarter he would have waited until he got back from his deployment and uploaded it on a public computer. So yeah, not that smart. He broke the law and is now facing UCMJ. Sorry Manning… it was good faith on your part but this isn’t some corporate entity you work for. This is the “man” and he will put you in your place if you pledge allegiance to him and reneg on your word.
Guy: Just so you know, I only read two of your sentences above. I got as far as “are not good Americans”
I’ve heard that from your kind one too many times, buddy. I’ve heard your fallacious arguments for at least the last ten yrs. Your conclusions are always to kill some more. You are now irrelevant to me.
Ok… I am glad that I am irrelevant to you but my answer is not “kill more” or any right-wing rhetoric that you are accusing me of saying. As an American it is your responsibility to seek the truth and learn as much as you can and make informed decisions.
I am not angry at Manning and I do believe what he did can benefit America and it’s foreign policies. Why is it that you assume that anyone who does not agree with you must be instantly deemed a stereotype.
Simply put, I pride myself on being objective. If you would rather live in ignorance and assume that those on the other end of the argument must be crazy then you are not deserving of the title “good American.”
GUY, it’s funny how you show up all of a sudden after all the WAR CRIME evidence starts coming out. You and TravelGirl and Red nose 6, you all work for the Government, don’t you?
You are all a bunch of WAR CRIMINALS and what you’re afraid of is everyting that you’ve been wishing on Bradley tonight.
Get your stinking government asses out of here. BABYKILLER
Guy –
I agree with you on some points and disagree on others, but I appreciate your largely objective views. Way to go, bud. As for the guy who said that he got two sentences in and decided you were irrelevant, who really cares about the opinion of someone who is driven by such blind passion and bias that they can’t even hear what a person says before losing it. Take care.
Dustin
CQ, do you listen to yourself? hahahaha “A bunch of war criminals” because we have opinions that we’ve posted on a website? Babykillers? What are we in the 70′s? You’re crazy man!
ps Free speech is so important to you guys, except for that which differs from your own. Food for thought. Have a good one!
He has been manning the tower in watch of America’s freedom…..
A real man like him has the guts, would take the risks he took
Man up and support Bradley Manning….
Dustin. I’m not going trawl all over your comments as after reading the first I saw a point that you made that is a little contradictory to what I know myself, from fact.
I quote you; “I assume you haven’t actually been in Iraq or Afghanistan and most likely not to the Middle East at all, so I’ll tell you that it is an oppressive, dog-eat-dog place where we still exercise extreme discipline and restraint when making the call to fire on any target.”
Given the above and your declaration of restraint. Would you care to explain what 360 fire means?
For those that don’t know what it is I’ll put my spin on it.
It’s when you shoot at everything that’s moving…
Now… Would you care to explain where the restraint is in these particular orders…
It would better if those of us here to give support don’t get into squabbles with other comemnters. Better to give Dustin benefit of the doubt. The war was based on lies, but it wasn’t those sent to do the fighting that told [those] lies. Everyone wants to be doing the right thing and it is a good and bad thing. Good in that people aspire toward good intentions, bad that they turn a blind eye toward their own actions that result in harm. People like Dustin may actually limit the harm caused by the actions of the political leaders who make war…
We can concentrate our efforts toward supporting Bradley Manning the man with the kind eyes who exposed the terrible people that war makes us all.
Thank You Bradley Manning for manning up to the war machine.
To all of you in this thread–
I’ve already written to Bradley Manning and told him what I think of his actions.
What I think is that he has sacrificed his freedom (and surely more will come) to awaken America to the reality of war. Dustin and others know. I’m someone who’s been very, very close to veterans since Vietnam, and by now they tell me “You were there.”
What they’re saying is that the nightmare of combat has been made clear to me. What happens is not a principled fight for the Constitution and the American people. What happens is a confusing, terrifying struggle to stay alive and keep your brothers and sisters in uniform alive as well. The military does a good job of training soldiers to do that, and to have thick skins when it comes to doing things they’d never have imagined they would do, before becoming soldiers.
The only way to save them from the terrible experience of war, and to save the morals and conscience of this country, is to NOT participate in war. War by definition destroys all it touches–civilians, soldiers, money that should be going to help instead of hurt, and the souls of those it touches.
Manning’s actions have gone a long way to make that clear to Americans, who have never experienced war outside their homes, threatening their children, cutting off their food and water, killing their loved ones. Never.
It’s time that was clear, so clear that the U.S. will not go so easily into destroying another country–and into self-destruction at the same time.