Guadalajara -
PFC Bradley Manning today entered a plea of guilty to 10 counts of unauthorized possession of government documents before a military tribunal in Ft. Meade, Md.
But Manning told Colonel Denise Lind, the Army judge presiding over his general court martial, that he's not guilty of a far more serious charge of aiding the enemy, which could land him in prison for life. It's not clear if the government will pursue a dozen remaining counts in the case which carry heavier penalties.
The 26 year old Army private was arrested in May 2010 and accused of uploading thousands of documents to Wikileaks, a controversial whistle-blowing website founded by Australian Julian Assange in 2006.
Manning has remained in custody at military stockades since his detention, and has been subjected to extreme and abusive conditions of confinement which violated the law, according to his attorneys and supporters. When he's not required in court Manning is currently jailed at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks.
Three years ago WikiLeaks - which publishes, online, information received from anonymous sources - began releasing classified cables sent to the State Department by 275 U.S. consulates, embassies, and diplomatic missions worldwide, between 1966 and Feb. 2010. Many of the 250,000 cables contain sensitive analyses of international situations, as well as diplomats' assessments of events and officials in the countries where they were based. The cables embarrassed the United States, complicated its diplomatic relations with several countries and in some instances severely stressed old friendships. Nowhere was that more evident than in the arena of U.S.-Mexico affairs, where a former American ambassador was forced to resign in 2011 over confidential comments he made to Washington about Mexico's allegedly anemic drug war efforts. The last WikiLeaks cables were released in Sept. 2011, but because of their size - 260 million words - their analysis will take years.
Manning was assigned to an intelligence unit during his Army service, and was regarded by superiors as a competent soldier and a computer expert. But he was described in pretrial hearings as moody, prone to occasional violent outbursts and intensely focused on gender issues (Did the man behind explosive Wikileaks disclosures want to be a woman?).
Military prosecutors allege Manning uploaded thousands of secret documents to Wikileaks as an act of anger and revenge against the Army. Today Manning admitted he unlawfully transferred government files while on active duty, but said he did so to "open a public debate on the role of the United States in world affairs." Manning told the court that he didn't believe his actions had caused any harm to the government. "I'm the kind of person who wants to know the truth," he told Lind, "not just scratch the surface. I want to know why things are the way they are, and look for a solution (to problems)."
Although many U.S. politicians have harshly condemned Julian Assange and Wikileaks, and by extension Pvt. Manning, not all agree that significant damage was done by the publication of the confidential diplomatic cables. In Nov. 2010 former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said, "Is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? Fairly modest."
At today's hearing Col. Lind told Manning that he will receive prison time for his admitted offense. But many expect the sentence will be modest compared to the draconian penalties he originally faced in the 22 count indictment, especially given what the soldier has already endured. Earlier this month Lind was critical of Army officials for subjecting Manning to harsh conditions, which his legal counsel argued were tantamount to torture. After his arrest Manning was held in solitary confinement for over two years, where he was under the constant surveillance of guards. He was forced to sleep naked, allegedly to protect him from a suicide attempt. Judge Lind told Manning she would take those factors into consideration when she imposes sentence.
Each count of unauthorized possession could earn Manning two years of confinement, but the judge could order that the terms be served concurrently rather than consecutively.
Julian Assange, an outspoken defender of Manning, himself remains under virtual house arrest at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He's been there since last summer, after British officials refused to yield to Quito's demand that Assange be granted safe passage from England. The U.K. government says it will arrest Assange on a Swedish international criminal warrant charging him with sexual assault if he steps out of the embassy. Assange and his supporters claim the warrant is politically motivated, and largely sponsored by the United States in retaliation for his Wikileaks disclosures. Ecuador grants diplomatic asylum to Julian Assange, while stalemate at London embassy continues.
Feb. 24, 2012 - Wikileaks suspect Pfc. Bradley Manning arraigned in first stage of full court martial
Jan. 12, 2012 - Wikileaks suspect bound over for trial; will likely face general court martial in 2012
Nov. 12 - U.S. intensely focused on Yucatán security in 2008-2009, diplomatic cables reveal
July 22, 2011 - Mexican archbishop asked U.S. to help in derailing Manuel López Obrador's 2006 presidential bid, according to Wikileaks
© MGRR 2013. All rights reserved. This article may be cited or briefly quoted with proper attribution or a hyperlink, but not reproduced without permission.
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