Interview and transcript of interview with Manning's father.

MARTIN SMITH: During those visits, has he ever mentioned any complaint of any kind to you?

BRIAN MANNING: No. I always, you know, am conscientious enough to look him straight in the eyes and ask him a direct question. How are they treating you? Are you sleeping? Is the food OK? And he's always responded that: Things are just fine.

MARTIN SMITH: How does he look?

BRIAN MANNING: He looks good.

MARTIN SMITH: And he doesn't complain about being shackled?

BRIAN MANNING: No. He doesn't complain at all about anything.

MARTIN SMITH: It wouldn't be surprising for somebody in solitary confinement to be suffering a bit.

BRIAN MANNING: Oh, I'm sure.

MARTIN SMITH: It's surprising to me that you described him as somebody who's doing well.

BRIAN MANNING: He comes across to me as doing well.

MARTIN SMITH: He's in solitary confinement. That's tremendously difficult, psychologically and physically.

BRIAN MANNING: I understand that.

MARTIN SMITH: So, are you surprised that he's doing as well as he is?

BRIAN MANNING: I'm happy that he's doing as well as he is.

MARTIN SMITH: So, is there any reason that Bradley wouldn't confide in you if things were tough for him there?

BRIAN MANNING: No.




http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june11/wikileaks_03-10.html

The memo could read as follows:
"Look, we´ve got your son here. There is no way he will be out. Death penalty may be on the table. And before, we can make him hurt very badly. No one will help him out. So it`s up to you: Make us look bad and the consequences will be up to him.
But if you make us look fine, maybe he will suffer less."

Unthinkable? You decide.

And has it ever crossed your mind that Manning would not like to see his father suffer?
So perhaps not telling what´s really going on?

Sometimes it's hard to tell - with so many people around who justify Manning`s treatment that was my first guess.
I apologize.

if things were tough for him there?

BRIAN MANNING: No.


Of course there's no reason for Bradley Manning to not reveal anything that might be tough for him there. After all, what could they possibly do to him to make him regret 'confiding in his dad' when dad isn't there?

The problem facing rogue states that engage in torture is that, eventually, those states lose all possible credibility. What happens is that, eventually, no-one can really believe what anyone whose been tortured has to say, and similarly, no-one can believe what anyone connected to the situation has to say.

That's the situation the U.S now finds itself in. Because it no longer respects its own laws, no-one can say for sure that the state isn't threatening (illegally) to do more harm if the accused, or anyone supporting them, publicly speaks what they know to be the truth.

This is now the situation facing the American government. It is no longer trustworthy or even vaguely transparent, so it is very difficult now to know what is actually going on.

And shouldn't be treated like he is.