I mean, I only ask, you know, given that he’s now going to jail for thirty five years.
THIRTY. FIVE. YEARS.
And if you liked knowing that your Government was shooting children on your behalf, or abusing so-called friendly Governments in diplomatic cables, or had been caught out lying to you – I mean you might not have LIKED knowing that, but you’d rather know, right? – then what have you done so far to get this whistleblower out of jail?
If you want a good overview of what Manning leaked, click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/bradley-manning-leaks_n_3788126.html
Remember, he’s going to jail for thirty five years because the US Government, and Governments around the world, think YOU should not know what they’re up to. Not Al Qaeda, or any other nasty. Because it’s been conceded that not one single American asset or serviceman has been harmed as a result of Wikileaks. Plenty of Government embarrassment: no danger.
No: they simply don’t want YOU to know what’s going on.
For a free society to work, for Government to be held to a decent moral standard, for us to make informed decisions about who and what we support, we NEED whistleblowers. We need Bradley Manning.
I see his lawyers are now going to plead with Obama for a pardon. If ever Obama had a chance to show that he is not just some dyed-in-the-wool conservative like those he pretends to oppose across the aisle, this is it.
I will not be holding my breath, however, as this President shows every sign of becoming more authoritarian by the day. But we are watching, Mr President. We are watching.
Today is a very, very sad day for freedom. Today, we slipped a little further down the slope.
Speak up, world.
Related articles
- Pardon Bradley Manning campaign launched – sign the petition and show your support! (bradleymanning.org)
- US Govt: ‘We Want to Make an Example Out of Bradley Manning’ (prn.fm)
- Judge sentences Bradley Manning to 35 years (politico.com)
Well, This Is What I Think 