Ladies and Gentleman,

   A question for discussion...
   
   Bradley Manning, the PFC at the center of the wiki leaks article 32 trial which is currently underway faces life in prison (FT. Leavenworth) for recovering and publishing via the wiki leaks team a large amount of data stored on the Department of Defense SIPR network (secure internet protocol router network).  PFC Manning has been charged with providing aid to the enemy.  Assumed by the release of information of varying classification levels.  More information may be found at..." http://www.bradleymanning.org/ ".

   When the arrest first occurred and wiki leaks became public knowledge United States service members (SMs) were issued guidance -not- to access wiki leaks.  I can recall when this first happened and I had mixed feelings about the information release.  The information released was sensitive however, I personally had real questions as to the actual damage damage and risk which we assumed as a result of the operational security (OPSEC) breach.

        Now some information has been released in regards to the cause for the conduct of PFC Manning.  As part of his defense his legal team has outlined a few large mitigating circumstances.  The primary issue of interest to the readers here is that PFC Manning identifies as a transgendered individual.  In some of the chat logs and BH records read into the pre-trial ( which may be found here  http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/07/manning-lamo-logs/ ) it shows some of the despair and torment PFC Manning was experiencing.  Along with a dysfunctional command and a environment in which basic information security was. It practiced in the interests of facilitating productivity...I can personally relate and shared the personal horror which PFC Manning was experiencing.  While this does not excuse the breach of regulation and the potential for great harm to blue forces.

        It is vital that the conditions which existed that fostered this behavior can be largely attributed to the stigma and stance the DoD places on transgendered service members. 
I encourage each of you to read this posting and the chat log and case explanation.  This is perfect example of how a hostile work environment fostered by regulation can compromise missions and the lives of our SMs and the others our military works with.   It is my opinion that this incident could have been prevented, allowed only thought criminal neglect., archaic regulation and severe leadership failures where at the root cause of this incident.  While it does not excuse the action of PFC Manning; I personally experienced a extreme amount of torment and fear due to similar reasons but as a key leader I endured and adhered to my duty and Army values.  My kids and our customers needed me, their lives and welfare depended directly upon my performance.  It can not be ignored that this is a very valid arguing point for cause in order to review and adjust regulation.


                  Your thoughts please...
     

Transgender, male, female, whatever... I don't care what their problems are.  It was a willful act to distribute HUGE volumes of classified information that probably cause others to die over. I personally support the harshest punishment available for this person. While I disagree with the militarys hostility to transsexuals, it should hardly be a surprise for anyone that joins the Army. Sorry if it offends anyone but I'm not sympathetic to this traitor.

I've read most of the stuff that was released.  And a pile of stuff before that when I had a security clearance.  Like lots, and lots (if not most) of the stuff marked 'Secret' it's far less about protecting security than protecting people who, a) should not be protected, in this case the Government of Pakistan, or b) protecting people who were terminally stupid or chronic liars, in this case people who continued to support Pakistan when all evidence was they were not our friends, and actively working against our interests.  In other words, its more about embarrassment (if not covering for illegal actions) then anything like security.

What Manning did was wrong. The counter argument to the defenses claims would be exhibit A: Jessica B. Jessica is a transgender servicemember who despite being exposed to the same system managed to do the right things. It's about the persons integrity, in my opinion. Hugs, Devlyn

A hostile work place is not an excuse for committing a criminal act.  The world and especially the military are going to change very slowly in regards to how they treat transgendered people.  I don't think this helps the cause.

This will be held as "proof" that we are all "->-bleeped-<-ed in the head" and can't be trusted. It is not the place of a Private First Class to decide what should be declassified  or what is a State Secret or not. What may seem trivial to one person may just piss off some terrorist and get our soldiers or allies killed and probably some innocent civilians as well.

Personally, I think we should all hold each other to a "higher standard" rather than try to circle the wagons when one of our brothers or sisters does wrong, not make excuses for them.

Personally I'd question any system that would let the lowest person in the group have access like that.  No PFC should ever have that kind of access, that's a failure of the system.

It's not that unusual for a PFC to have classified access depending on what their jobs are and them being granted propper security clearance. Part of getting security clearance is knowing the responsibilities and consequences of abusing that clearance.

Funny, when I was at Bechtel no one under a manager could handle documents like that.  And for sure, if that kid is court marshaled (as he should be) a couple of his superiors ought to be in that box right along with him.

The US Army is different from civilian contractors. Any private in a Ranger Battalion or any of the intelligence fields will have access to classified information. I have no idea if superiors violated security protocal so I can't comment on that.

  I did electronics repairs on navy aircraft and I had to get a security clearance to work on the classified stuff.  My access to the classified manuals as an E-2 was fairly regulated and on a need-to-know basis.  In my time it was John Walker (Johnnie Walker 'Red' label) who gave the Soviets classified material.  And he was in the "Friends and Family" plan when he did it.  He involved those in his family and a couple of friends in his spy ring.  For money.
  Reading PFC Manning's chat logs, one can assume there was sloppy handling of classified material by his own group.  This and being gay/transgender in a DADT environment does not excuse him from giving out that classified material.  He is a traitor. 
  There may be the more enforcement of the rules dealing with classified material now as when my brother joined the Navy after the news of John Walker's spy ring.  He joined the Navy ten years after I got out and he related to me the tighter rules he had to follow. 
  Joelene

I would be ready to burn him at the stake too like the rest of you, if it wasn't for the fact that the US Government has grown too fat for it's own good. Especially when the military can now detain you indefinitely, even if you are a US Citizen.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/31/obama-pledges-to-exempt-americans-from-indefinite-detention-law/
Clearly PFC Manning was not happy with his homeland either, otherwise he wouldn't have felt the need to betray it.  Yes, what he did was wrong, But his CO's need to be held accountable too for their part.

but I am interested in how history remembers him.

He didn't cause anyone to die s/he just just showed the atrocities commited by your government the man or woman is a hero in my eyes.

At least Walker was a Chief Warrant Officer, not a PFC.

And...HUGE DIFFERENCE... Walker et.all, as well as the other cold war and Pollard cases - those were high and classic espionage cases.  They involved trading state secrets directly to the enemy for money.  That's not the case here.  The only 'enemy' that can use the stuff that was released are other United States citizens and political types who are trying to stop exactly the kind of crap outlined in all that material.

Yeah, get outraged enough to toss him in Leavenworth for a long time - that's a done deal.  But you should be much, much, much more outraged at the conduct of parts and people in our own government.

Quote from: Keaira on January 09, 2012, 01:02:11 AM
I would be ready to burn him at the stake too like the rest of you, if it wasn't for the fact that the US Government has grown too fat for it's own good. Especially when the military can now detain you indefinitely, even if you are a US Citizen.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/31/obama-pledges-to-exempt-americans-from-indefinite-detention-law/
Clearly PFC Manning was not happy with his homeland either, otherwise he wouldn't have felt the need to betray it.  Yes, what he did was wrong, But his CO's need to be held accountable too for their part.

but I am interested in how history remembers him.

Just when I think things can't possibly get any worse in America, they do.  All the more incentive to renounce my US citizenship.