geonuc wrote:Let me refine my statement. I don't think service members can be 'whistleblowers' in an attempt to change or expose US foreign or military policy. War crimes or other acts contrary to the UCMJ are a different matter.
He has served time and that should, and I believe will, count against his sentence. But he needs to do considerably more time.
I pretty much agree with geonuc FWIW. Not sure if its for the same reasons but who the hell knows.
So I'll just write what I think for you all to read and shoot me down in flames.
When you join the military you are owned by the military.
Its a duty above and beyond civil duty and needs to be treated accordingly.
Attempting to put civil rules/laws/morals in a military environment will only guarantee you'll have the most useless military on the planet.
Judging military personnel according to civilian rules by default implies they are not military.
Manning was military. He had clearance above what most have. He had responsibility to the military and to the civilians of his country.
The problem came when he decided that his opinion was worth more than the chain of command.
Right there it has to be stopped.
Maybe he was right.
It makes no difference.
He broke the chain of command and took personal responsibility in deciding what should be classified and what should not.
That is not his decision to make.
End of story.
If history shows he did the right thing then let it also reflect the sacrifices a soldier must make.
If you're willing to die for your country then you should also be willing to serve time for doing something that cannot by any stretch of the imagination become an easy simple thing to do without much repercussion. It would spell the end of the military otherwise.
It sucks. It really does if he did what he should have done and still has to pay for it for the greater good but that is exactly what the military requires of their personnel. Sacrifice for the greater good. If he doesn't get that then he didn't have the brains to make a call on what should be made public and what should not.
Nor should anyone mistake him for a good soldier if he can't understand the concept of self sacrifice.
If it was me I'd shut the fuck up and take my punishment. Not whine like a little bitch to the media.
If its too much to take being locked up, then take your alternative and move on to the next life.
Because THAT is the cost of doing what he did when you are a soldier.
And it has to be the cost, if its not, you'll have no military.
What you'll have is internet warriors who sign up for something that they are too damned stupid to understand and think war is about, "I pwnd u".
Well Manning, you got, "PWNED".
Deal with it.
Last edited by FZR1KG on Thu Aug 01, 2013 3:18 am, edited 1 time in total.