The Wikileaks Whistleblower Bradley Manning is in big trouble. He faces four charges related to accusations that he leaked a classified video from 2007 showing an American helicopter gunning down civilians. What should happen to this young man? Should he be classified a traitor? Here's a story from blastmagazine.com on the subject.
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U.S. Congressman Calls For Execution Of Wikileaks Whistleblower
by Nicholas Deleon on August 3, 2010
What should happen to PFC Bradley Manning, the young man now charged with the unauthorized access of and subsequently leaking of classified military information, namely the video that Wikileaks released under the title “Collateral Murder”? Should the United States government execute him? If your name is Congressman Mike Rogers, then you believe that yes, the young man should be put to death.
The congressman, appearing on a local radio station in Michigan, said that Manning’s actions (still alleged at this point—he hasn’t been convicted yet) qualify as treason in a time of war, and thus should be considered capital crimes. That is, crimes punishable under pain of death.
You ought to listen to the entire interview (it’s available online, and it only 17 minutes long) before forming any opinion on what the congressman said. I’m not a fan of taking a few words here and there, presenting them out of context, then claiming that the sky is green.
One odd thing: Rogers seems to be working under the assumption that Manning, who has sizable support online, was also responsible for the Afghanistan war logs. To my knowledge Manning is only in custody over the leak of the “Collateral Murder” video, and not the war logs. Not yet, at least.
The congressman, who represents Michigan’s 8th district and who sits on the House Intelligence Comittee, said that if Manning isn’t charged with treason then he should be charged with murder.
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Which side are you on? Would you have leaked a video which you considered against your principles, even though you were in the U.S. military? Or do you consider this an act of treason. Leave a comment.
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