Veterans For Peace demand Bradley Manning’s freedom
By Veterans For Peace. March 1, 2012
A national organization representing thousands of military veterans is calling on the US Army to abandon court martial proceedings against Private Bradley Manning, the accused Wikileaks whistleblower. The young soldier, who has been imprisoned for 21 months, will be formally arraigned today (Thursday, Feb. 23) at Fort Meade, Maryland. Army prosecutors say they will file 22 charges against PFC Manning, including “aiding the enemy,” a crime that can be punished by the death penalty or life in prison.
“Where is the justice?” asks Gerry Condon, a Board member of Veterans For Peace. “The Army is shirking its duty to punish soldiers who have committed rape and murder. Yet they are trying to destroy the life of Bradley Manning, who has not harmed a hair on a person’s head.”
In May 2010, the Army arrested PFC Manning, then 22, in Iraq, where he was working as a low level intelligence analyst. He is accused of leaking classified information, including an Army video that shows US soldiers in Baghdad shooting down unarmed civilians, including two Reuters employees, from an Apache helicopter. The video, dubbed “Collateral Murder,” has been viewed millions of times on YouTube.
Prosecutors have also accused Manning of giving Wikileaks thousands of Army diaries from its occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army’s own reports reveal that the killing of civilians was a regular occurrence and that the Army regularly lied about it.. The diaries also show that the Army was lying to the American people about the progress of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Supporters demand Manning's freedom. Photo: Astrid Riecken/EPA
“It is not a crime to reveal evidence of war crimes, but it is a crime to cover up evidence of war crimes, as the Army has apparently done,” said Leah Bolger, a former Navy Commander who was recently elected the first woman president of Veterans For Peace. “The American people deserve to know the truth about the wars being waged in our name,” continued Bolger. “Our soldiers should not be asked to die for a lie, and those who tell us the truth should not be the ones being punished.”
Bradley Manning has been confined for 21 months, including 8 months in solitary confinement at the Marine brig at Quantico, Virginia, where reports of his abuse bordering on torture caused an international outcry. Manning is now at another military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Quantico brig has been closed down.. The US government has declined repeated requests by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, to interview PFC Manning privately about his treatment.
Private Manning’s lawyer, David Coombs, has complained on his blog that most of his requested defense witnesses were denied by the Army judge, while all of the prosecution witnesses were allowed.
“This is a kangaroo court martial,” said Gerry Condon of Veterans For Peace. “It is now obvious that the US Army will not give PFC Manning a fair trial, That is why Veterans For Peace is calling on Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Commander-In-Chief Barack Obama to drop all the charges against Bradley Manning.”
At its national convention in 2010, Veterans For Peace awarded Bradley Manning for his courage. “If he actually did what he is accused of doing, then he is a hero,” said Mike Ferner, Interim Director of Veterans For Peace.
Veterans For Peace is a 26-year-old organization whose mission is to abolish war through nonviolent means, and to take care of the needs of veterans and victims of war. For more information, visit www.veteransforpeace.org.
Surprises me NONE! Ron Paul 2012.
The Defense Department oversight and intelligence committees should now be holding hearings on why the officers in the chain of command were aware of these classified documents relating to the US forces killing unarmed civilians, some of whom were attempting to surrender? What action do they plan to take correct this kind of behavior and make sure it does not happen again?
That is why we have a large command structure. Even if it was not done in the past, it still should be done now.
Perhaps that is a good question to pose in those ads in the Washington,DC subways.
Bradley Mannings treatment from the get-go has been horrific. The abuse and ridicule he has been subjected to is inhumane and speak poorly regarding the military in this situation.
Time and again Bradley has been denied visitation rights, witnesses for his denfense barred from speaking for him.
It is obvious he will not get a fair trial. All actions by the military proves this.
Pardon and free Bradley Manning.
Remember, the whole world is watching!
set him free
This is EXCELLENT. I am so glad to hear this. I have heard some of these guys speaking in videos on YouTube and they are amazing, they have true moral courage in frightening times. Thanks to all of you for your service, and for speaking out on Manning’s behalf.
How can anyone vote for a Commander-In-Chief that don’t protect the troops. Deniging Bradly a fair
trial,but no trials for soldiers who have committed rape and murder. Free Bradly or give Bradly a honest trial. The voters are watching and not giving for the election.
These soldiers have kept their promise to the military and to their country, To Refuse An Illegal Order To Participate In A Unlawful Occupation.
Home is for heroes not prison
I’m a 79 year old civil retiree and a US Army veteran who strongly believes that our US of A is being put in the worst situation ever by too many greedy rich persons and groups who control the majority of politics and politicians throughout of all our country
especially in Washington DC. I also strongly believe that politics and the majority of politicians throughout our country are crooked and just as bad as criminals in that they have to do what the greedy rich persons that help them to get into office tell them what to do in many ways. “We need to replace them and keep tabs on the replacements because once they get into office there are always those greedy rich persons who are not satisfied with their wealth and always want things done their way.” There are also some politicians who want to do good for the people but change after a while because of the money under the table that they are offered by the greedy rich. “We have very few politicians throughout our country that really care to serve and represent their constituents in a fair and just manner so I hope that Bradley Manning will be set free without any charges, he is a hero.” “I sincerely believe that W Bush and mainly Cheney, should have been tried as war criminals due to the wars that they created with lies, and for all of the innocent people that have been killed, and for all of the troops that are maimed for the rest of their lives, and for their families.” I could write more but again I say, I hope that our brave hero Bradley Manning will go free and be compensated for all of the time that he has
suffered. We need to do all we can for him.
As a (100% disabled)veteran of 10 years service (U.S. Army), I know that ‘Professional Soldiers’ DO NOT engage in torture, commit murder, war crimes or crimes against humanity, and are obligated to expose those who do engage in such dispicible behavior.
I also know that Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have sworn an oath to ‘protect and defend the Constitution’ against enemies both foriegn and domestic. This oath is not subject to the approval of, nor require the support from, political parties nor particular administrations.
Bradley Manning should be freed, and thanked for his actions.