I have written several times about the horrible brutalization being inflicted on Bradley Manning (pictured at left) who allegedly downloaded classified documentation which among other things exposes atrocities committed by U. S. military personnel. As more and more details leak out, the treatment can only be described as sadistic - something that once might have expected under the misrule of Chimperator Bush. But something one would have ceased under our leader in the White House who continues to show many of his campaign promises to have been nothing but lies. Andrew Sullivan looks at the mistreatment and calls it as he sees it. here are some highlights:*
I find the military's explanation of why they strip Manning naked each night and then require him to stand naked outside his cell every morning ... er, unpersuasive. They've made his bedding suicide proof - why not find some clothing that could do the same - even though there's no evidence he's a real threat to himself. From his lawyer:
*
The decision to strip PFC Manning of his clothing every night for an indefinite period of time is clearly punitive in nature. There is no mental health justification for the decision. There is no basis in logic for this decision. PFC Manning is under 24 hour surveillance, with guards never being more than a few feet away from his cell.
*
There is only one word to describe the treatment of this model prisoner: sadism. Glenn Greenwald has been following the case closely and has two disturbing must-reads here and here. We all hoped that under Obama, brutal treatment of military prisoners and lies about it would end. In this case, they haven't.
*
The likelihood of a rational challenger to Obama next year is remote. If I vote again for Obama, it will be while holding my nose and gagging. I continue to believe he is a slick, disingenuous liar. His only saving factor is that he's not insane and/or a Christo-fascist like most of the GOP front runners.
No comments:
Post a Comment