Supporters rally outside Ft. Meade, April 10, 2013, calling for an end to the secrecy surrounding Bradley’s trial.

The LA Times editorial board argues that the Bradley Manning trial “smacks of overkill”, and it is time for the government to make a deal. With this week’s ruling against the prosecution, Judge Lind has stated it will be up to the government to prove that Bradley Manning had reason to believe the released documents would harm national security:

In arguing that Manning aided the enemy, the government’s case apparently will rest on the assertion that some WikiLeaks material made its way to a digital device found in the possession of Osama bin Laden. This is an ominously broad interpretation. By the government’s logic, the New York Times could be accused of aiding the enemy if Bin Laden possessed a copy of the newspaper that included the WikiLeaks material it published. (Read more…)

Bradley Manning has done more for peace than Obama, states Ron Paul:

While President Obama was starting and expanding unconstitutional wars overseas, Bradley Manning, whose actions have caused exactly zero deaths, was shining light on the truth behind these wars,” the former Republican presidential contender told U.S. News. “It’s clear which individual has done more to promote peace. (Read more…)

In the pre-trial hearing last week, the military reprimanded journalists leaking an audio recording of Bradley Manning’s statement. New rules have been put in place to restrict media access to the trial. The New York Times reports:

Military authorities, meanwhile, said that while court was in session they would ban cellphones and air cards and turn off the wireless Internet in a media center where reporters and activist bloggers watch a closed-circuit feed from the courtroom. The steps were a response to the release on the Internet by the Freedom of the Press Foundation of a bootleg recording of Private Manning’s statement in February.Colonel Lind emphasized that recordings were not allowed at any court-martial proceeding. (Read more…)

Read the Bradley Manning Support Network’s report here, and please sign the petition to increase media access to the upcoming trial!