15-12-2011, 10:55 AM
Bradley Manning is a hero among OWSers. His joke of a trial [sort of] starts tomorrow.....
PFC Bradley Manning's Article 32 pre-trial hearing starts this Friday.
Firedoglake writer Kevin Gosztola is en route to Ft. Meade, Maryland to cover this important hearing that will determine whether or not the government has sufficient cause to move forward with prosecuting Manning.
The government has leveled dozens of charges against Manning, including aiding the enemy - which carries the potential penalty of life in prison or even execution. Firedoglake has been working tirelessly to defend Manning's right to a fair trial and humane treatment for over a year now, and Kevin will be there to report on these critical proceedings.
You can catch our coverage of the Article 32 hearing beginning this Friday at http://dissenter.firedoglake.com.
To date, over 20,000 people have signed our petition demanding the government drop the 'aiding the enemy' charges against Bradley Manning.
But with less than a week before proceedings are set to begin, the government is already refusing to play fair by blocking 38 of the 48 witnesses requested by the defense. In fact, the 10 witnesses who were approved by the government are simply the same 10 witnesses the prosecution plans to call as part of their own cross-examination.
In addition, Manning's counsel wanted to explore whether there was undue influence on the military chain of command stemming from President Obama's comment at a fundraiser earlier this year that Bradley "broke the law" 7 months before he even had a date set for his hearing. The defense also wanted to hear from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the true sensitivity of the materials Manning is alleged to have leaked. Both requests were blocked by the government, but Manning's counsel may at least pursue a deposition from them instead.
Incredibly, among the 38 witnesses blocked from the hearing are Army mental health specialists and military personnel in Manning's immediate chain of command - individuals with intimate knowledge of the facts leading up to his arrest whose testimony would be imperative to deciding whether or not the government has sufficient cause to move forward.
In addition, Manning's counsel wanted to explore whether there was undue influence on the military chain of command stemming from President Obama's comment at a fundraiser earlier this year that Bradley "broke the law" 7 months before he even had a date set for his hearing. The defense also wanted to hear from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the true sensitivity of the materials Manning is alleged to have leaked. Both requests were blocked by the government, but Manning's counsel may at least pursue a deposition from them instead.
Firedoglake has been and will continue to be at the forefront of the battle for Bradley Manning's rights. Help us out by donating $10 or more to Kevin Gosztola's coverage of a case that is likely to have profound implications for civil liberties in this country.
We're anxious for Manning to finally have his day in court, and hope you will continue to work with us throughout.
Thanks for all you do,
Jane Hamsher
Founder & Publisher,
Firedoglake.com
PFC Bradley Manning's Article 32 pre-trial hearing starts this Friday.
Firedoglake writer Kevin Gosztola is en route to Ft. Meade, Maryland to cover this important hearing that will determine whether or not the government has sufficient cause to move forward with prosecuting Manning.
The government has leveled dozens of charges against Manning, including aiding the enemy - which carries the potential penalty of life in prison or even execution. Firedoglake has been working tirelessly to defend Manning's right to a fair trial and humane treatment for over a year now, and Kevin will be there to report on these critical proceedings.
You can catch our coverage of the Article 32 hearing beginning this Friday at http://dissenter.firedoglake.com.
To date, over 20,000 people have signed our petition demanding the government drop the 'aiding the enemy' charges against Bradley Manning.
But with less than a week before proceedings are set to begin, the government is already refusing to play fair by blocking 38 of the 48 witnesses requested by the defense. In fact, the 10 witnesses who were approved by the government are simply the same 10 witnesses the prosecution plans to call as part of their own cross-examination.
In addition, Manning's counsel wanted to explore whether there was undue influence on the military chain of command stemming from President Obama's comment at a fundraiser earlier this year that Bradley "broke the law" 7 months before he even had a date set for his hearing. The defense also wanted to hear from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the true sensitivity of the materials Manning is alleged to have leaked. Both requests were blocked by the government, but Manning's counsel may at least pursue a deposition from them instead.
Incredibly, among the 38 witnesses blocked from the hearing are Army mental health specialists and military personnel in Manning's immediate chain of command - individuals with intimate knowledge of the facts leading up to his arrest whose testimony would be imperative to deciding whether or not the government has sufficient cause to move forward.
In addition, Manning's counsel wanted to explore whether there was undue influence on the military chain of command stemming from President Obama's comment at a fundraiser earlier this year that Bradley "broke the law" 7 months before he even had a date set for his hearing. The defense also wanted to hear from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the true sensitivity of the materials Manning is alleged to have leaked. Both requests were blocked by the government, but Manning's counsel may at least pursue a deposition from them instead.
Firedoglake has been and will continue to be at the forefront of the battle for Bradley Manning's rights. Help us out by donating $10 or more to Kevin Gosztola's coverage of a case that is likely to have profound implications for civil liberties in this country.
We're anxious for Manning to finally have his day in court, and hope you will continue to work with us throughout.
Thanks for all you do,
Jane Hamsher
Founder & Publisher,
Firedoglake.com
"Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws. - Mayer Rothschild
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass