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Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

nytimes.com

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Re: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

#21

Post by elliotec »

chollida1 wrote: post #11

It's been said that one person's freedom fighter is another's terrorist. > The files she copied also included about 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world showing sensitive deals and conversations, dossiers detailing intelligence assessments of Guantánamo detainees held without trial, and a video of an American helicopter attack in Baghdad in two Reuters journalists were killed, among othe…

I don't think anybody has answers to your questions, and there seems to be no solution in sight for these issues.

Re: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

#22

Post by TillE »

qz_ wrote: post #4

I hope this will set the tone for how whistleblowers are treated in the future, and I wonder what the President Elect has to say about this.

A 7-year prison sentence is about what you get for horrible violent crime in most of the civilized world. That's not a great "tone" to set.

Re: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

#25

Post by problems »

chollida1 wrote: post #11

It's been said that one person's freedom fighter is another's terrorist. > The files she copied also included about 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world showing sensitive deals and conversations, dossiers detailing intelligence assessments of Guantánamo detainees held without trial, and a video of an American helicopter attack in Baghdad in two Reuters journalists were killed, among othe…

If you're knowledgable enough to censor the documents yourself before release, that's the way to go. Not everyone has perfect knowledge. Releasing only to journalists and stuff is a fairly good method too, but maybe create unnecessary exposure.

Manning also went for a bulk dump strategy rather than being selective. Ultimately when you're dealing with a lot of data, that might be the only reasonable way to get it, but leaking unnecessary data where no incriminating evidence is present certainly detracts from the legitimacy of whistleblowing claims. If you can afford the time to be selective in your dumping or at least in your releasing, take it.

Unfortunately some of Manning's stuff got leaked in full, I believe not due to anything of Manning or Wikileaks' fault, but because an uninformed or careless journalist published an insurance key he shouldn't have.

Re: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

#26

Post by gph »

siegecraft wrote: post #3
blhack wrote: post #2

Good. I wish that he would just pardon her, though. I don't want the next administration to somehow undo this.

Yes, it seems very cowardly and very much passing the buck and doesn't acknowledge that what she did was justified at all, just that mercy was granted.

Isn't that exactly what Obama was trying for? I've never read any statements from the Obama administration that makes it seem like they find anything about this case justified or acceptable.

Re: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

#27

Post by gipp »

notpc wrote: post #18

Manning indiscriminately leaked tons of diplomatic cables, as part of a personal vendetta against the US Army. It is without contention that the vast majority of the leaked cables revealed nothing that anyone considers wrongdoing. This wasn't the act of a whistle blower. It was the cowardly act of someone who put their own petty fantasies ahead of their solemn duty to protect the information they were entrusted with…

What need does Obama have to pander to anyone right now?

Re: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence

#30

Post by skolos »

noja wrote: post #24
headcanon wrote: post #13

how much you wanna bet that Julian Assange will conveniently forget his agreement to be extradited if Manning gets pardoned? https://www.yahoo.com/news/assange-agrees-extradition-us-rel...

He didn't pardon her.

The article was talking about clemency, not pardon.
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