BREAKING: Military Harassing David House, Jane Hamsher for Visiting Bradley Manning

BREAKING: Military Harassing David House, Jane Hamsher for Visiting Bradley Manning

fdlaction.firedogl ake.com

Jane Hamsher is with David House who is trying to visit Pvt. Bradley Manning at Quantico today while carrying a petition with 42,000 signatures requesting humane treatment for Manning. The military isn’t making it easy at all and detained Jane and David for two hours. We’re publishing her tweets as well as David House’s tweets here as a post in case you haven’t been able to follow them on Twitter (@JaneHamsher and @DavidMHouse

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Bradley Manning's health deteriorating in jail, supporters say (WL)

This is flying around twitter atm and if it is true seems sad and wrong on so many levels.
To start with they were trying to deliver a petition requesting better treatment for mannings. He has kept in solidarty confinement and not even given a pillow or blanket.
Nor has he been charged.
Why would you detaine someone trying to deliver a petition. I am suprised they are allowed to do so.
Manning in my eyes done the right thing. He has helped exposs the lies of two wars illegal under international war and further exposed the disragard of the geneva convention.

kx

fdlaction.firedogl ake.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

i hope the reason they do not want peeps to see him is because of PR not because they have hurt him...

kx

reply to post by purplemer


I gotta say that I see nothing wrong is this.
He is a military prisoner, not a civilian prisoner.
Different standards, policies, precedents and laws.
The fact that some goof balls come to a military installation with a petition is really silly in any case.

Military members are to protect democracy, not practice.

According to Manning's attorney, David Coombs, (prior to today's incident)

source

The guards at the confinement facility are professional. At no time have they tried to bully, harass, or embarrass Private Manning.

The comments on the OP's source were specualting that he was possibly being abused at this time in some way, if that is the case the attorney will be able to provide that info.

As for other conditions:

He is allowed to watch television during the day. The television stations are limited to the basic local stations. His access to the television ranges from 1 to 3 hours on weekdays to 3 to 6 hours on weekends.

From 7 p.m. to 9:20 p.m., he is given correspondence time. He is given access to a pen and paper. He is allowed to write letters to family, friends, and his attorneys. Each night, during his correspondence time, he is allowed to take a 15 to 20 minute shower.

On weekends and holidays, he is allowed to have approved visitors see him from 12 to 3 p.m.

He is allowed to receive letters from those on his approved list and from his legal counsel. If he receives a letter from someone not on his approved list, he must sign a rejection form. The letter is then either returned to the sender or destroyed.

He is allowed to have any combination of up to 15 books or magazines. He must request the book or magazine by name. Once the book or magazine has been reviewed by the literary board at the confinement facility, and approved, he is allowed to have someone on his approved list send it to him. The person sending the book or magazine to him must do so through a publisher or an approved distributor such as Amazon. They are not allowed to mail the book or magazine directly to Pfc. Manning.

The rest of the conditions in the source I provided seems similar to other conditions that one could expect on solitary confinement. It seems the attorney is ok with the conditions of his treatment.

The question I have about the OP here, what are the conditions to get on the 'authorized visitor' list, and has any of his actions violated those conditions (speaking of David House).

Mr. Coombs will have a statement on this if it is anything to be concerned with, I suspect that it was just a frustrating day for the visitors and because they are sympathizers here, decided to make it known.

Originally posted by macman
reply to post by purplemer

 

I gotta say that I see nothing wrong is this.
He is a military prisoner, not a civilian prisoner.
Different standards, policies, precedents and laws.
The fact that some goof balls come to a military installation with a petition is really silly in any case.

Military members are to protect democracy, not practice.

if they are to protect democracy then you would expect the same standards when the same
Oliver North was not subjected to anything like that while he was awaiting for trial.

Does it not ring any alarm bells that the united nations is probing a complaint that mannings is being mistread.
Or that Ammanisty international is doing the same...

kx

reply to post by youdidntseeme


i dont think it is as rosy as you make out... it depends what you call bullying. certainly there are alarm bells ringing...

Amnesty International has written a letter to Defense Secretary Robert GatesDefense Secretary Robert Gates expressing concern about the confinement conditions of Private Bradley who is accused of leaking material to Wikileaks. Bradley is being held at a Marine Corps base in Virginia the Quantico naval brig.

He is allowed to exercise alone for one hour a day. The restrictions are a result of Bradley being classified as a maximum custody detainee. During any family visits or those by his lawyer he must be shackled at the hands and legs even though the visits are non-contact! As well as falling under Maximum Custody Provisions, Manning also falls under a POI Prevention of Injury classification. This subjects him to further restrictions. His guards check on him every five minutes. He is not allowed to sleep during the day. He must remain visible at all times even during night checks. He is also deprived of sheets and a separate pillow. He must sleep in boxer shorts and apparently his skin is chafed by the blanket that is provided.

www.allvoices.com...

Recently, Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, posted a blog detailing the conditions of Manning's detention. Though he is allowed to read books and watch television for a few hours a day, the ban on exercise in his cell is strictly enforced. "If he attempts to do push-ups, sit-ups, or any other form of exercise he will be forced to stop," wrote Coombs. The lawyer also expressed frustration with the harsh conditions, describing multiple attempts to improve them and indicating that he is prepared to file a motion under Article 13 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which bans illegal pretrial punishment. "The defense has raised the conditions of PFC Bradley Manning's confinement conditions on multiple occasions with the Quantico confinement facility and the Army Staff Judge Advocate's (SJA) Office assigned to handle this case. Our efforts, unfortunately, have not resulted any in positive results. To its credit, the SJA office is attempting to correct this situation. However, given the fact that Quantico is a Marine Corps facility, it has similarly had no success."

www.huffingtonpost.com...

I think Bradley Manning should be given a medal.

He is suffering for doing the right thing. People have a right to know what there own government/military are up to, they are supposed to serve the people.

I am sad that there isnt a bigger public outcry about this.

reply to post by purplemer


Please, please keep this thread updated.

If pre-approved visitors are being harassed and prevented from seeing Manning, odds are very good that he's not being treated any better.

Originally posted by Lady_Tuatha
I think Bradley Manning should be given a medal.

He is suffering for doing the right thing. People have a right to know what there own government/military are up to, they are supposed to serve the people.

I am sad that there isnt a bigger public outcry about this.

Yes i hope there will be a public outcry....and he does deserve a medal.....

kx

reply to post by purplemer


I am not trying to say that its rosy at all, just quoting the attorney's blog entry.
Isolation is not supposed to be rosy, I know people that have been in isolation in civilian prisons, and had more restrictions that Manning has in place.

When we look at Manning, we can have any opinion of his actions that we want. But that does not mean that he is not responsible for his actions. He knew what he was doing was an illegal act as per the UCMJ, and he likely knew the possibility of being caught and what that meant.

In the online chats with Lamo he stated what he had done and that he knows the consequences. Did he think that he would get away with it? or that he would be enjoying life while he waited a court martial? Manning knew exactly what he was doing and now he is facing the consequences.

reply to post by purplemer


Truth be told if they let him out to await trial or let him into GP somebody would probably kill him.

I notice this is a very polarizing issue. He is considered a hero or a traitor. I think they are protecting him as best as they can. If he is being harmed by those in charge it will come to light.

I'm not taking a position either way with Manning. Look at it this way though,he stole top secret documents during a time of war,a hundred years ago he would have been summarily shot or hanged on the spot. He is guilty or at least suspected of being guilty of high treason,as a soldier he does not enjoy the same rights as a citizen,he's very lucky he hasnt been killed already.

He knew the risks, he assumed the responsibilitys of his being caught,I hope it was worth his life because his life is over even if he isnt sentenced to death. Frankly I havent seen anything he has facilitated the release of worth dying over or even worth getting excited over and honestly I feel as wikileaks has let him down if there is something juicy in there.

What makes him a hero? His stupidity? He isnt a hero, he's an idiot and he will pay for his actions,there is nothing nobody can do for him now,he must live with his decision.

This assumes he is guilty,I have no idea if he is or is not and frankly I cant do anything about it either way.

Originally posted by purplemer

Originally posted by macman
reply to post by purplemer

 

I gotta say that I see nothing wrong is this.
He is a military prisoner, not a civilian prisoner.
Different standards, policies, precedents and laws.
The fact that some goof balls come to a military installation with a petition is really silly in any case.

Military members are to protect democracy, not practice.

if they are to protect democracy then you would expect the same standards when the same
Oliver North was not subjected to anything like that while he was awaiting for trial.

Does it not ring any alarm bells that the united nations is probing a complaint that mannings is being mistread.
Or that Ammanisty international is doing the same...

kx

Nope. The UN is doing it as grand standing.
He knew that his actions would bring bad joojoo. He chose to partake. He is lucky that he hasn't been executed for treason.

reply to post by soficrow


He is lucky that he is getting visitors.
Military prisoners really aren't awarded such privilege.

reply to post by Kangaruex4Ewe


General Population? This is Leavenworth, not the county lockup. This prison is not like any that most have heard of. He is either in isolation or making big rocks into little rocks.

Originally posted by macman
Nope. The UN is doing it as grand standing.
He knew that his actions would bring bad joojoo. He chose to partake. He is lucky that he hasn't been executed for treason.

Of course he knew what he was doing and the possible repercussions.

Here is a snippet from his chat logs:

(1:11:54 PM) bradass87: and… its important that it gets out… i feel, for some bizarre reason
(1:12:02 PM) bradass87: it might actually change something
(1:13:10 PM) bradass87: i just… dont wish to be a part of it… at least not now… im not ready… i wouldn’t mind going to prison for the rest of my life, or being executed so much, if it wasn’t for the possibility of having pictures of me… plastered all over the world press…

source
It seems he was ready for the repercussions, just not the notoriety. Reading through the logs, it just seemed like he was suffering psychologically because of what he had done. Its interesting to read and assume what might be going on inside this guys head while he is 'confessing' to his deeds. I quoted confessing, becuase he actually said:

(1:39:03 PM) Manning: i cant believe what im confessing to you :’(

Not only the fact he knew what he was doing, but the fact that he had to of had someone coaching him in where to look and what to look for.

He is a thief, a liar to his brothers in arms and the fact he is involved with the Wikileaks guy does little for his character.
if he truly was a hero, he would have released the info to news papers, stations and so on.
He instead went to a slimebag like Assange, who has not put this out for info for the masses, but as a circuit show where he is the ring leader trying to sell more tickets.

reply to post by macman


Reading the chat logs, he all but says that Assange was directing him.

When his buddy asked him how he gets in touch with JA, his response was that JA would contact him and provide him with all info.

Originally posted by youdidntseeme
reply to post by purplemer

 

I am not trying to say that its rosy at all, just quoting the attorney's blog entry.
Isolation is not supposed to be rosy, I know people that have been in isolation in civilian prisons, and had more restrictions that Manning has in place.

When we look at Manning, we can have any opinion of his actions that we want. But that does not mean that he is not responsible for his actions. He knew what he was doing was an illegal act as per the UCMJ, and he likely knew the possibility of being caught and what that meant.

In the online chats with Lamo he stated what he had done and that he knows the consequences. Did he think that he would get away with it? or that he would be enjoying life while he waited a court martial? Manning knew exactly what he was doing and now he is facing the consequences.

No as such he has been charged with no crime.. yet he is being punished... he is a political prisoner..when did the rule of law go out of the window in america?