The inhumane conditions of Bradley Manning's detention--Salon

[MEGAMANTROTSKY]

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_gr...ning/index.html

Bradley Manning, the 22-year-old U.S. Army Private accused of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, has never been convicted of that crime, nor of any other crime. Despite that, he has been detained at the U.S. Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia for five months -- and for two months before that in a military jail in Kuwait -- under conditions that constitute cruel and inhumane treatment and, by the standards of many nations, even torture. Interviews with several people directly familiar with the conditions of Manning's detention, ultimately including a Quantico brig official (Lt. Brian Villiard) who confirmed much of what they conveyed, establishes that the accused leaker is subjected to detention conditions likely to create long-term psychological injuries.

Since his arrest in May, Manning has been a model detainee, without any episodes of violence or disciplinary problems. He nonetheless was declared from the start to be a "Maximum Custody Detainee," the highest and most repressive level of military detention, which then became the basis for the series of inhumane measures imposed on him.

From the beginning of his detention, Manning has been held in intensive solitary confinement. For 23 out of 24 hours every day -- for seven straight months and counting -- he sits completely alone in his cell. Even inside his cell, his activities are heavily restricted; he's barred even from exercising and is under constant surveillance to enforce those restrictions. For reasons that appear completely punitive, he's being denied many of the most basic attributes of civilized imprisonment, including even a pillow or sheets for his bed (he is not and never has been on suicide watch). For the one hour per day when he is freed from this isolation, he is barred from accessing any news or current events programs. Lt. Villiard protested that the conditions are not "like jail movies where someone gets thrown into the hole," but confirmed that he is in solitary confinement, entirely alone in his cell except for the one hour per day he is taken out.

With the media mania surrounding Assange's incarceration in Britain, I've been under the [impression] that this wasn't covered as much. Happy reading.

 

[SPH73]

America, Canada, Western Europe and the UK are all being taken over by the same fascist conspiracy.

Someday we'll all have to pick a side. Freedom or fear. Life or death. Don't wait until its too late.

 

[monkat]

Well, that's not good.

He should at least have a trial before punishment, and certainly a punishment nowhere near this severe.

Regardless of your view on wikileaks, he (supposedly) gave away classified military information to a foreigner.

 

[geminisama]

God Bless America...

 

[trumpet-205]

So this is Americans' dream huh?

 

[Raiser]

At least give him a trial FFS.

There's no hope left for America.

 

[heavyknight]

So, he's -technically- done nothing wrong, and they're breaking his existence piece by piece, not even allowing him to get a little exercise and deteriorating any fibers left in him?
Plus, they're not allowing him to learn anything of the outside world, and they're not giving him a pillow, and they're constantly watching him. And they force down anti-depressants.

Now I guess I can finally get a viewpoint on the whole WikiLeaks thing. America gets what it deserves. What's done is done, you stupid government noobs. Get over it and fix it, K? If they think the TSA is security, then it's no wonder why the WikiLeaks stuff happened. Let's not forget that there's a rising number of reports on police killing 'innocent' people by 'mistake', and the constant making of pedestrians shouldn't be heroes. Well, where the hell are you when we need you?
We're oh so safe, aren't we?

On to the point - this is nothing but bullying one person. After all, it's not like he was convicted of anything.

 

[fgghjjkll]

His mere existance is threatening the US.
Even if they have realised that he was completely innocent, they are not going to free him because:
1. He may exact revenge on the government who has betrayed him meaning that he may leak classified information to wikileaks and

2. He's detained in the worst jail ever. If the UN(Or maybe some other part of the world) ever got any information on the US' methods of punishment, torture and cruelty in jail, The US is seriously gonna lose all that reputation they've gained.

They've already jailed him. They cannot afford to take any risks of freeing him.

 

[GundamXXX]

Although I support Wikileaks fully there is no doubt that Manning is a traitor.

He send confidential files to someone who wasnt autherized. Seeing as he is a marine he goes by the laws of the Armed Forces of the United States not by common law.

They can do whatever they please with him basicly and they will be in their full right.

Im not condoning this but Im not opposed to it either, he knew the risks and the risks are very real and very much legal


EDIT:

For all nubs saying "America fail" etc... this would have happend in ANY country. He will be lucky if he gets away with it without being put on deathrow (something he will probably get)

 

[chrisrlink]

So this is Americans' dream huh?

More like America's nightmare

 

[Sterling]

So this is Americans' dream huh?

More like America's nightmare

See the above post. It's would be like this in any other country.

 

[431unknown]

How the hell does a private gain access to shit like ths any way? The ones in charge of the security of the cables that were tapped should be the ones in real trouble not this dude. Most of what's been leaked so far is just stupid bullshit anyway.