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Bradley Manning Says He's Sorry
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "The Washington Post reports that Pfc. Bradley Manning told a military judge during his sentencing hearing that he is sorry he hurt the United States by leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive military and diplomatic documents to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks and he asked for leniency as he spoke for less than five minutes, often in a quavering voice "I'm sorry I hurt people. I'm sorry that I hurt the United States," said Manning, who was convicted last month of multiple crimes, including violations of the Espionage Act, for turning over the classified material. "I'm apologizing for the unintended consequences of my actions. I believed I was going to help people, not hurt people." Speaking publicly for only the third time since he was arrested in Iraq in June 2010, Manning said he had been naive. "I look back at my decisions and wonder, 'How on earth could I, a junior analyst, possibly believe I could change the world for the better over the decisions of those with the proper authority?'""
That's a matter of personal opinion. In general wrong and illegal are the same thing, because no one will be able to decide what is wrong unless it's defined that way.
At least he is acknowledging how reckless he was in mass dumping data like that. He only had a gut feeling that he was doing more good than bad and that isn't enough to do what he did when lives are on the line.
He was entrusted with a clearance. He broke his word, he broke whatever trust and faith and responsibilities that his chain of command entrusted in him. He violated Operational Security. I cannot bring myself to care about how "sorry" he is or isn't. He messed up in the biggest way possible for someone of his job.
No, he's a fucking pussy. To think I participated in a protest calling for his freedom from prosecution. He knows he's going to be locked up and eaten alive, he could have roused the rabble with an extended speech about how freedom must not succumb to tyranny and that the population must rise up, etc. He did not "hurt" the United States, he "hurt" the corrupt power and kill-hungry military leadership and their empire-building. Disappointing. Very, very disappointing. It's the kind of Indian-give a typical bootlicking Slashdot reader would do.
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