First of all Manning, is a trouble maker and a douche.  It's clear throughout his disciplinary record even before the Army that he's a basket case.  Why the hell the Army let him in to begin with is beyond me.  I think he leaked this information, not for a noble cause but more as a way to lash back at the society that he felt mistreated him for so long.  He was rightfully angry that he wasn't accepted for who he is, however, that's not the way the military works.  As Rachel has put it before, it's not the ministry of sunshine and rainbows.  I think he was looking for a way to get attention, recognition and to lash back at the organization that had "mistreated" him.

I still am unclear on the allegations that he was "practically tortured" in his original USMC prison.  On one hand, they are Marines, I'd expect no less (not meant to be offensive, Marines are just stereotypically over zealous and nationalistic and when dealing with an alleged traitor... I get it.)  On the other hand though, they said he threatened suicide and followed SOP for prisoner suicide prevention, which includes taking their clothes away if they say they're going to make a noose out of them.  So I'm a little fuzzy on that, but it was ruled that he was getting unfair treatment and the 11 weeks or whatever was taken off of his final sentence... whoopti freakin doo, when you're about to serve two lifetimes does it really matter?  I guess so, for the principle or whatever.

So they dropped the serious charges which I understand.  How could anyone be knowingly aiding the enemy anyways when they leak 700,000 documents?  There's no way he went through it all.  I guess playing dumb would be a good defense on that one.

Anyways, the article brings up a good point, the US government seems to be slacking the reigns when it comes to whistle blowing.  Will this segway into more whistle blowing or will people still be too afraid to expose the biggest, most violent, well funded gang of all time?

Whatever, I like how the whole Manning case took a back burner, I don't think CNN even covered it.  Attention spans of gnats.  Is it that everyone has lost interest after a 3 year long trial process or that nobody cared to begin with and the media has us eating out of their hands?  What the fuck happened to Snowden, you don't hear much about that shit bag anymore either.

Bottom line, you took an oath, you violated it, here's your punishment, you're welcome.  That's how I'm seein this case anyways.  Thoughts?