Bradley Manning Charged With Aiding the Enemy

Hugh Pickens writes writes "The Washington Post reports that the army has brought twenty-two new charges — including the Article 104 offence of 'aiding the enemy' that carries a potential death sentence — against Pfc. Bradley E. Manning, a former intelligence analyst accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents to the anti-secrecy Web site WikiLeaks. The new charges, filed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, include wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the Internet, knowing that it will be accessed by the enemy, that US officials have asserted could put soldiers and civilians at risk. However the prosecution has notified Manning's attorneys that it will not recommend the death penalty and the charge sheet, like the original set of accusations, contains no mention by name of the enemy to which the US military is referring. Manning's supporters reacted to the new charges with dismay. 'I'm shocked that the military opted to charge Pfc. Bradley Manning today with the capital offense of 'aiding the enemy,' says Jeff Paterson, project director of Courage to Resist, which has raised money for Manning's defense. 'It's beyond ironic that leaked US State Department cables have contributed to revolution and revolt in the Middle East, yet an American may be executed, or at best face life in prison, for being the primary whistleblower.'"

Comments

The "enemy"

[damn_registrars]

Just as in the previous two Bush administration (this being the third Bush administration currently), the "enemy" is whoever is not "with us". Anyone who did not aid in invading Afghanistan or Iraq can be counted as an "enemy". Anyone who doesn't view tax breaks for the rich as the pathway to economic salvation is an "enemy". Anyone who uses a god-forsaken and wholly Un-American "socialized" single-payer health care system can be an "enemy".

Sure, Manning aided someone from at least one of those categories.

Re:And who, exactly, is the enemy?

[damn_registrars]

The enemy is the same in this third Bush Administration as it was during the previous two. The enemy, of course, is anyone who the administration doesn't like, or anyone who doesn't like them.

Opposed to invading Iraq / Afghanistan? You're an enemy

Opposed to tax cuts for the rich? You're an enemy

Support single-payer health care? You're an enemy

That pretty well covers everyone who doesn't live in the US - and at least half of the people who do.

Re:This is reasonable

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow your nick is so fitting.