Bradley Manning - Sentence A Bit On The Heavy Side?

[Booldawg]

http://news.uk.msn.com/world/manning-cleared-of-aiding-enemy-1

considering he was cleared of most the charges he will still die in prison. Justified or a bit steep?

[dr b]

According to the article he has not been sentenced yet.

[boxtops]

Nor on the BBC TV news either.

[dr b]

Sentencing phase of trial starts tomorrow. "Up to 136 years" sounds dramatic but is unlikely to happen.

[sandyRoe]

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were executed in the USA after being convicted of leaking nuclear secrets to the Soviets. Here, in the UK, spies were given particularly long sentences.
Bradley Manning may not have realised what he was letting himself in for.

[LazyGun]

BBC report said he was found guilty of 19 charges, each charge can have 10s of years, and he would be serving them consectuvily, leading to a likely sentence longer than his lifespan.

Presumably the american administration will consider such a sentence wholly appropriate to cover their embarassment, and a deterrent to any other whistleblower/traitor ( delete as appropriate)

[EDDIE51]

Not sentenced yet but he is expected to get at least 1,000 years.
The USA does not like people who show it up for what it is , why do you think Snowden is so anxious not to get sent back to the US ?

[Gromit]

It could be worse. He could be holed up with a bunch of Ecudorians for the rest of his life.

[Gromit]

Ecadorians

[jake-the-peg]

Manning's case is different to that one Sandy - he's been acquitted (rightly so I think) of aiding the enemy.

I think it's pretty clear that he committed a pretty serious offence and unlike Snowdon doesn't really have a public interest defence (Not that that would make much difference in an American court I suspect).

Clearly he's caused the military and the government a lot of embarassment but I'm not sure exactly how much damage has been done. If there is significant demonstrable damage that is obviously going to justify a pretty harsh sentence.

Unfortunately I think a lot of people are going to want to set an example - especially with Snowdon on the run so I think regardless of the merits of the case he'll have the book thrown at him

[emmie]

hasn't been sentenced yet as far as i can see

[Quizmonster]

As far as I am concerned, he is not some plucky little whistleblowing hero, he is a treacherous criminal of the worst sort...ie a soldier who traduced his military oath and all it stands for. (I write that, having spent half my adult life in military service.)
The "aiding the enemy" charge was never likely to be upheld, but 136 years - if that's what transpires - for the rest will do just fine!

[ludwig]

Judging by the usual American sentencing practice, it probably would have been 5,000 years with the aiding the enemy charge, but will now only be 1,000, so he got off lightly.

[jomifl]

Ecuadorians even?

[jomifl]

He wasn't a spy, he was a whistle blower exposing the inexcusable practices of USA Corp. He confirmed what lot of people had suspected.

[lightbulb247]

a bit steep.

[andy-hughes]

Wow QM, you obviously feel very strongly about this - I have never known you to pronounce so strongly about anything on here.

I think the essence of the sentencing is deterrent - to send out a seriously strong message to anyone else that America takes its security arrangements very seriously indeed.

At least the 'Aiding The Enemy' charge has gone off the table - that could have lead to a death sentence.

There are ways of making protests against your country's foreign policy - Bradley Manning's actions is not one of them.

[chrisgel]

I love the typical British understatement of the OP, "A bit on the heavy side " when we're talking about 100+ years. :-)

[Quizmonster]

Hi, Andy.
Yes, I do feel strongly about this and I'm also one of those people who believe Assange should certainly finish up in Sweden for questioning on the women's allegations there. He's no hero either, but just a skulking, self-aggrandising coward.
When he first got holed-up in Ecuador's embassy, an official there said he'd be welcome to stay for 200 years. Sounds good to me.
My apologies to you if you feel I have gone "over the top" on these two!

[andy-hughes]

Hi QM - absolutely no need to apologise, I am all for people displaying passion about anything in which they hold strong opinions.

[modeller]

I'm 100% with you QM . I only spent 8 years in the army and a lot of innocent info.was automaticaly marked secret. but what is seemingly unimportant info. can help the enemy.
I remember reading about the delivery of a huge number of toilet rolls 4000 to a small Russian village which told us with other ' unimportant ' info that a Russian battalion was moving in.
That info. could have saved our lives in war.

I hope they throw the book at him. He is traitor in my eyes.