How Is Bradley Manning Really Being Treated?
David Swanson of WarIsACrime.org catalogues and questions recent developments regarding Bradley Manning’s treatment in confinement, and suggests a course of action:
There are conflicting accounts of exactly how Bradley Manning, the alleged whistleblower on countless U.S. government crimes, has been illegally punished for 8 months so far, pre-trial. There’s no denying that this young man who allegedly sought to make his government’s actions known for the public good and did not seek to profit thereby has been denied a speedy trial. The question is to what extent he has already been punished, and even cruelly and unusually punished, without having been convicted of any crime. But the accounts differ less than it at first appears. And there is one sure way to find out the facts.
How will the movie “Bradley” impact Marine recruitment?
Any violation of human rights committed by the US makes any attempt to address China’s violations, by President Obama, a tad hypocritical.
Upholding the human rights of Bradley Manning, by the U.S. president, should be a priority. A brave and honest move by the U.S. would be to respect humanity in general. How can the American people believe that any of them is immune to this kind of treatment. Holding a government accountable to its `People’ is something that should be an integral part of every democracy. Not something held up just at times like this, but always. Lip service to democracy is not enough. Openness, within reason is essential. State bullying is unacceptable.
Honesty. Humanity. Decency, Respect.
Every country should be constantly monitoring its own behaviour; its own treatment of its citizens. Our attitude to Human Rights is a reflection of our understanding of our own humanity.
I have just received, by facebook message, a mail from a US citizen called Debora Tumlinson in which she said that she hoped that Bradley rots in jail for what he has done and that she thinks that if he costs a single life that he should be executed.
As you can imagine I told her EXACTLY what I thought to receiving posts like that (politely of course), but I felt I should mention it as clearly the other side are stepping up their efforts to cause Bradley further harm. I will copy paste to organiser email/facebook account if required, mail me on [email protected]. And if Debora or other supporters of mass murder of children and breeches of human rights want to mail me too that is fine, I might even reply, but more likely I will report your mails as abuse to the relevant bodies to get you shut up for a while. Still better that than letting your army execute innocents dont you think?
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