Demand ‘aiding the enemy’ charge is dropped! Call 202-685-2807
This week the Bradley Manning Support Network is joining with FireDogLake in a call-in action to protest the government’s decision to move ahead with all its charges against Bradley Manning. Call Maj. General Linnington, the presiding authority over the trial, and demand he step in to free Bradley. Call 202-685-2807.
Call in and protest! Demand General Linnington drop the charges against Bradley Manning. |
“I believe that if the general public, especially the American public, had access to the information contained within [the releases] this could spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan.” – Bradley Manning, February 28, 2013.
Last week, Pfc. Bradley Manning delivered a historic, personal testimony to his motivation behind passing diplomatic cables and battlefield data to Wikileaks.
Manning explained that he had become deeply troubled by the reality of our asymmetric warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the cover-up of horrific battlefield crimes; he felt similar events could only be prevented by vigorous public debate.
It is more clear than ever that Bradley Manning was aiding Americans, not the enemy.
Maj. General Linnington is the presiding authority who will be asked to approve the outcome of Bradley’s trial.
Call Maj. Gen. Linnington and tell him the “aiding the enemy” charge is an outrage and Bradley deserves to be free!
Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington |
Maj. Gen. Linnington:
202-685-2807
Once Maj. Gen. Linnington’s voicemail box is full – you can also leave a message at the DOD: (703) 571-3343 – press “5″ to leave a comment.
*If this mailbox is also full, leave the Department of Defense a written message.
One of the most moving aspect of Manning’s testimony was his explanation as to why he released the so-called “Collateral Murder” video, which shows the gunning down of two Reuters journalists and bystanders by apparently bloodthirsty and remorseless American soldiers in a US aircraft.
Manning described being deeply troubled by the video, especially the crew’s “lack of concern for human life” and lack of “concern for injured children at the scene.” Manning directly stated that he wanted the American public “to know that not all people were targets that needed to be neutralized” but “people living in the pressure cooker environment of asymmetrical warfare.”
Statements like these solidify what many of us had assumed for some time now: Pfc. Bradley Manning is an American hero who wanted to aid the public, not a traitor looking to ‘aid the enemy.’ That he risked his life to courageously expose this information and provoke a public debate to bring greater transparency to our foreign policy actions makes the insinuation that he ‘aided the enemy’ all the more absurd.
Please call Maj. General Linnington now!
202-685-2807
It is clear that Pfc. Manning exposed these documents at great personal risk for our benefit. The least we can do is continue to support him in any way we can. Thank you for continuing to do so.
He didn’t answer his phone when I called. I think he was sleeping. I should call him later and ask how he can sleep knowing that he’s trying to punish an American hero for doing the right thing.
This is what I wrote to the Department of Defense:
To Whom it may concern,
The case of Bradley Manning is of such significance importance that I feel compelled to join the ranks of those demanding that he be judged fairly.
I respect that the complexity, and stakes involved in the decision making process of the military apparatus are beyond my capacity to understand. I know that more lives are at stake than just that of one soldier.
At the same time, I am, and represent the general public. In my case I am also a member of the international public. Although the case of Bradley Manning is not well covered by the media here, it is in the corner of a great many people’s eyes. I feel a responsibility to inform you of my observations in the hopes that it will compel you to do everything in your power to assure that justice is done. It is clear to myself and to all those of conscience that Bradley Manning is being and will be used as an example to dissuade other members of the military from following his example. It is clear that his human rights have been violated, and that if found guilty of the charge of “aiding the enemy” the rights of all people of conscience in the military will be violated.
One of the arguments for a compulsory military is that by including all levels and members of a society in its ranks, the military can assure that the decisions and actions of that body are checked and balanced by the conscience of all its members. Even though this is not the case in the US military, Mr. Manning has demonstrated that this mechanism can function. By punishing him for that which has functioned correctly you will destroy one of the last safety valves which prevents the US military from becoming that which great fascist militaries of the past were.
Please punish Bradley Manning for the crimes he committed. But do not, for those he didn’t.
I hope that it helps … for all of us.
I support this initiative to drop the ‘aiding the enemy’ charges. In my opinion, Manning’s actions will actually be of assistance how the US and regular Americans are being perceived abroad: that not everybody within the US military and / or government supports torture and the systematic abuse of civilians.
I did everything you suggested, but I ended up leaving a message at the DoD website and hoped that it got to the Major. Today I got a response that specifically answered questions that had nothing to do with PFC Manning, so I went back online to update “The Report.” There I was told that my comment had been viewed. I resent the same letter and asked if Major Linnington saw it, because an auto-generated response from the Public Communications Responder is not good enough,
Perhaps you can update people on getting down in the weeds if the only choice is to send a letter.
Or, remind me again (in another email) to try calling again.
Thank you for fighting.
FREE Bradley Manning—-Jail the war crimnimals!
I left my message with a man in Major Gen. office; all he said was ok. Manning is a REAL hero and deserves to be treated in that manner.
Sent:
Re: Pfc. Bradley Manning:
Sir,
I support ALL our men in uniform. We in these United States rely upon our citizenry to man our armed forces. We expect our soldiers to proudly represent our form of government, and the people of our union as well.
Further we expect them to honor our constitution at home or abroad. However, we leave the reading, understanding and interpretation of that constitution up to the individual.
If were are interested in liberty, how could we do otherwise?
Sir, the charge of ‘Aiding the Enemy’ in this case is misapplied. It was clearly NOT Pfc. Manning’s intention to betray his country, but to AID his country.
I do not doubt your commitment to justice, but agree or disagree with Pfc. Manning’s actions, one must admire his courage to stand for his view of our country.
I hope this note aids you, and I sincerely thank you for your service and time.
Got through the Major General’s phone first try, got one of his aides and merely stated that Bradley should most certainly NOT be charged with ‘aiding the enemy’ as that was not what motivated him to step forward.
What Bradley did, he did out of conscience and THANK GOD SOMEONE there did. The aide actually seemed to agree with my comment. I never detected a tude from the guy.