Update 12/9/11: Bradley’s lawyer responds to gov’t opposition of all defense witnesses, Army issues overview of press restrictions
Witness Justification
Recently, Bradley’s lead attorney David Coombs made public the defense witness list for next week’s pre-trial Article 32 hearing. It included wide ranging list of 48 persons, from government agents involved in gathering evidence against Bradley, to Bradley’s fellow soldiers, to President Barack Obama. The prosecution has indicated that it is opposed to EVERY SINGLE WITNESS (except for the 10 that they also want to testify).
In response, Bradley’s attorney David Coombs, filed a memorandum on “Witness Justification” with the military yesterday, in which he explains:
It is troubling that the government…objects to every listed witness by the defense that is not also on the government’s list. The government does not seem to be interested at all in providing a thorough and impartial investigation…The government claims that it is too costly and troublesome to bring any of the defense requested witnesses. Such a position defies logic and common sense.
PFC Manning is charged with offenses that carry the maximum punishment of life without the possibility of parole. His charges are among the most serious charges that a soldier can face. The government must be prepared to accept the costs incurred by the seriousness of the charges that they have preferred against PFC Manning. Anything but the personal appearances of all witnesses requested by the defense and government would deny PFC Manning his right to a thorough and impartial investigation and turn this into a hollow exercise.
The full document, with a few redactions, is available as a PDF:
Memorandum. Subject: Witness Justification – US v. PFC Manning
Army Public Affairs on media access to proceedings
Media Advisory – The U.S. Army Military District of Washington – Guardian of the Nation’s Capital
[email protected] / 202-685-4645
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11-40 – DATE: December 7, 2011
– MEDIA COVERAGE OF ARTICLE 32 HEARING –
WASHINGTON – An Article 32 hearing for Pfc. Bradley E. Manning, a soldier accused of aiding the enemy; wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the internet knowing that it is accessible to the enemy; theft of public property or records; transmitting defense information; fraud and related activity in connection with computers; and for violating Army Regulations 25-2 “Information Assurance” and 380-5 “Department of the Army Information Security Program,” will begin at 9 a.m., Friday, December 16 at Fort George G. Meade.
Media organizations interested in covering the Article 32 hearing must register by email to [email protected] Registration must be completed no later than 3 p.m. EST, Tuesday, December 13. Information listed below is required for registration.
a. Name of the organization
b. Number of personnel attending
c. Names of personnel attending
d. Is your organization bringing a live truck, and if so what size?
e. A phone number where you can be reached after hours in case of schedule changes.
f. News assignment editor/telephone number
g. Vehicle make/model/year/color; license tag number/state
EDITOR’S NOTES/MEDIA ACCESS INFORMATION:
1. Not all requests can be granted. There are a limited number of credentials available for the courtroom and the media center; however, every effort will be made to ensure varied media representation at each venue. The Military District of Washington Public Affairs Office will contact the media outlets which will receive credentials and then will make every effort to contact those not receiving credentials, no later than 4 p.m. EST, Wednesday, December 14.
2. All media are required to present press credentials, sign ground rules, and forfeit a photo ID in order to gain access to the military installation and the Article 32 hearing.
3. Electronic devices, i.e., cell phones, radios, pagers, iPods, Blackberrys, voice recorders and similar devices are not allowed in the courtroom or media center. These devices must be secured within your vehicle. Computers are allowed within the media center for filing purpose only. Computers will not be accessible during legal proceedings.
4. A security sweep of equipment will take place prior to gaining access to the military installation. Personnel attending the Article 32 will be subject to magnetometer screening and/or search prior to entering any of the secured areas.
5. Photographers and videographers will be pre-positioned in a fixed press pit outside the courtroom. All live trucks will be parked at a designated parking area and must be removed no later than one hour after court recesses for the day.
6. All updates during the Article 32 hearing will be given at the media center. All on camera interviews will be conducted at the fixed press pit outside of the courtroom or the stand-up area by the live trucks.
7. Credentialed media must arrive at the designated time provided or they will not be credentialed that day.
8. Expect extended hours and legal proceedings to be conducted on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18.
9. The media center will be operational for filing purposes each day during court recesses and up to one hour after legal proceedings end for the day.
-30-
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO
15 military employees disciplined
Fifteen military employees were disciplined for decisions and failures “that put Pvt. Bradley Manning in a position to download and leak thousands of classified military reports and diplomatic cables he allegedly provided to WikiLeaks”, according to a Politico report.
First, this is great to get updates like this. It is unacceptable and unconscionable that the US government will not allow Pvt Bradley Manning to be properly defended. This must not be a Soviet-style show trial. All of Bradley’s witnesses must be admitted.
I also think that if Bradley Manning was the person who leaked documents it was done so that the citizens of the USA and the rest of the world should see for themselves the war crimes being committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is accused of aiding the enemy, which is an insult to the millions of people who had a perfect right to the information and these people, including many US citizens share this view. I think the archaic and exceedingly serious charge of ‘aiding the enemy’ is a bogus one designed to ramp up the sentence. In any fair court of law it should not stick.
What absolutely must be put on the public record is the vengeful torture and humiliation to which Bradley Manning has been subjected.
The wilfully forgetful US media calls Manning’s non-profit actions the biggest spying operation ever. Why? Because red-neck, craven Gingrich is willing to review for-profit super traitor Pollard’s life sentence for incomparably more egregious spying. This free media hides that fact, so that if Gingrich becomes President, he can slyly let Pollard out the back door. As disgraceful as it is typical. Another nail in the coffin.
If we Germans had had a Bradley Manning sending us videos from Auschwitz, a critical mass against Hitler would have developed. Haaretz = German Opposition to Hitler = Manning. All principled, genuine and far-sighted patriots of their various countries.
” 15 Military Employees disciplined”. OK! Now name 15 Wallstreet gangsters who were ‘disciplined’ for bringing down the entire world, rather than merely disclosing the to be expected untreated sewage of our ‘diplomats’!
I hope that President Obama will see the light and free Bradley Manning. “The land of the free and the home of the brave”, is proving to be the home of one brave man and the land of prisons and lies.
The Planning and doing of Aggressive War is the Supreme International crime on planet earth. That was the judgement of the Nuremburg Trials chaired by U.S. Judge Jackson. This anti-fascist treaty is by the U.S. Constitution, to be treated as the Supreme Law of the land. Further Judge Jackson says that it is the supreme international crime whether Germany does it or the U.S.A does it. See both internationally and nationally the U.S. Military is creating the worst possible war crimes on the planet. Both Manning and Assange are heroes and law abiding journalists upholding the truth to the light of the world. Liberation as freedom of the press and freedom of the person is needed in this case, for exposing war crimes is not a crime. Workers of the world, unite!! Lest we forget at our own peril. 1st cdn. div. says that. Free Manning and Assange.