It seems clear Manning’s sentence serves only one purpose: to make an example of a soldier who only intended to show the true costs of war (Photo credit should read Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images).
Let’s all take a trip down memory lane to our Sesame Street days and engage in the following exercise of “Which One Doesn’t Belong”:
- The only soldier who was tried in the death of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq – no prison time, and the government conducted no further investigation into the incident, despite persistent and strong advocacy by human rights organizations.
- Countless CIA agents used so-called enhanced interrogation techniques that amounted to torture on “war on terror” detainees – no prosecutions, and the world is still awaiting the release of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Armed Services’ Report on Torture by the CIA.
- A General who oversaw Abu Ghraib prison, where Iraqi detainees were tortured – demotion to Colonel.
- The soldiers who perpetrated those acts of torture at Abu Ghraib prison – three to ten years of prison.
- A soldier who released classified information that pointed towards potential human rights violations by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan – 35 years in prison.
Private Manning’s sentence is more than 17 times longer than any other sentence previously administered for providing information to the media. When compared to those who committed the human rights violations described above, it seems clear that this sentence serves only one purpose: to make an example of a soldier who only intended to show the true costs of war.
Private Manning's sentence is more than 17 times longer than any other sentence previously administered for providing information to the media.
As part of the Military Court Martial process, the Convening Authority which oversees the trial can modify the findings and the sentence of the court martial upon application from the defendant. While this application process may still take another month or more to complete, Amnesty International has drafted a letter of support for this application requesting a reduction in sentence to time served and has launched a petition to collect signatures for this letter. Amnesty International will provide this letter along with all signatures collected to Manning’s attorneys to be submitted with the application to the Convening Authority once it is completed.
Please join Amnesty International in this request for clemency from the Convening Authority by signing this petition to have your name added to the letter.
Ugh. This just disturbs me so much and scares me.
Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime.
The release of classified information during a time of war is treason and the normal penalty for that is death. He should be made an example of because of the lives he put in danger.
Precious truthteller tortured and maligned by his own government for doing his sworn duty to the Constitution and for his love and loyalty to his fellow man. We love you Chelsea!
Regardless or motive —- Manning broke the law and is a traitor. He (she) is where he (she) belongs. The piles and piles of info —- much of it not related at all to "whistle blowing" or "human rights" was highly classified and sensitive. The 35 year sentence was a lenient and generous one.