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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGov Seeks Life for Manning; Hammond Could Face Ten Years
Michael Ratner, President Emeritus, Center for Constitutional Rights says:
Bradley Manning pleaded guilty to 20 years in prison a number of months ago. I was there, as I said, on that day. I'd hoped that that would be the end of the case against Bradley Manning. He's 25 years old now. Think about it. He started doing this at 22. He pleaded guilty to 20 years. Get him out of jail when he's 41 or 42 years old. You would think the government would say, we've taken our pound of flesh from this truth-teller, we've taken our pound of flesh from this whistleblower, from Bradley Manning; let's get this case done with and be done with and accepted. But not this government right now."
Our government must not only punish whistle-blowers but punish them severely as a warning to others that might think of exposing the truth about our government. This is called terrorism. Sean Hannity and the conservatives among will be dancing in the streets. Authoritarianism at it's finest.
Read more at: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10252
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)information. Why did you not disclose this?
SlimJimmy
(3,180 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)Ratner is known for his human rights activism.
He was co-counsel in representing the Guantanamo Bay detainees in the United States Supreme Court, where, in June 2004, the court decided his clients have the right to test the legality of their detentions in court. Ratner is also a past president of the National Lawyers Guild and the author of numerous books and articles, including the booksThe Trial of Donald Rumsfeld: A Prosecution by Book, Against War with Iraq and Guantanamo: What the World Should Know, as well as a textbook on international human rights. Ratner is also the co-host of the radio program, Law and Disorder. He and three other attorneys host the Pacifica Radio show that reports legal developments related to civil liberties, civil rights and human rights.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)indicates a certain bias when discussing certain issues.
We lawyers are allowed to have biases--what is frowned upon is non-disclosure.
he is an activist human rights lawyer!
He takes cases because he believes in them.
You are actually lambasting the OP for not adding a disclaimer? shheesh
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)you are aware of the conflicts.
G_j
(40,367 posts)it's stated clearly right at the beginning of the video, and the bio below is right beneath the video.
Bio
Michael Ratner is President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York and Chair of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights in Berlin. He is currently a legal adviser to Wikileaks and Julian Assange. He and CCR brought the first case challenging the Guantanamo detentions and continue in their efforts to close Guantanamo. He taught at Yale Law School, and Columbia Law School, and was President of the National Lawyers Guild. His current books include "Hell No: Your Right to Dissent in the Twenty-First Century America," and Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away With Murder. NOTE: Mr. Ratner speaks on his own behalf and not for any organization with which he is affiliated.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)AMY GOODMAN: Among the protesters outside Fort Meade, Maryland, on Saturday was Sarah Shourd. She was jailed for 14 months in Iran after she and two other Americans, Shane Bauer and now her husbandwho is now her husband, and Josh Fattal, were detained by Iranian border forces on July 31st, 2009, for allegedly hiking across the Iraqi border into Iran, which they dont believe is the case. She spoke to Al Jazeera from the protest.
SARAH SHOURD: My name is Sarah Shourd. Im an author and an advocate against the use of solitary confinement. And I was held as a political hostage by the Iranian government for 410 days in solitary confinement, along with my now-husband Shane Bauer and my friend Josh Fattal.
Bradley Manning doesnt deserve to be in prison. And I know what its like to sit in a prison cell and know that you dont deserve to be there. Bradley Manning was held for nine months in extreme conditions of solitary confinement, very similar to my own conditions in Iranian prison. We were both under lockdown 23 hours a day, withunder sensory deprivation. Theres really no way to describe the depth of loneliness. You really just have to get through one day at the time, and every day is a monumental task.
But the fact that people are coming out for Bradley Manningand Im sure he knows about it, word will get to himIm sure will give him the strength that he needs and help remind him that a lot of people really appreciate what he did for our country and for the world. Its a level of bravery and heroism that really takestakes me aback.
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http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/us-accused-inhumane-treatment-over-wikileaks-soldier-case-2011-01-24
US accused of inhumane treatment over Wikileaks soldier case
Amnesty International has urged the US authorities to alleviate the harsh pre-trial detention conditions of Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking information to Wikileaks.
The US army private, 23, has been held for 23 hours a day in a sparsely furnished solitary cell and deprived of a pillow, sheets, and personal possessions since July 2010.
Amnesty International last week wrote to the US Defence secretary, Robert Gates, calling for the restrictions on Bradley Manning to be reviewed. In the same week, the soldier suffered several days of increased restrictions by being temporarily categorised as a "suicide risk".
"We are concerned that the conditions inflicted on Bradley Manning are unnecessarily severe and amount to inhumane treatment by the US authorities," said Susan Lee, Amnesty Internationals Programme Director for the Americas.
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http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawstory/#!/entry/amnesty-international-condemns-inhumane-treatment-of-bradley-manning,514aa81cd7fc7b56707a19b9
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