It was only a matter of time before the INQUIRER found out - Top Intel spinner
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Wikileaks gives Manning $15,000 for defence
THE Bradley Manning Support Network has confirmed that after many delays WikiLeaks has stumped up $15,100 for the soldier's legal defence fund.
Manning is widely believed to be the source of the massive leak of US State Department cables which have made Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange famous.
WikiLeaks has been publicly soliciting donations specifically for the expenses of Manning's legal defence following his arrest in May 2010, but donations had been slow in being delivered.
The contribution by WikiLeaks brings the total funds raised and transferred to Bradley's civilian legal defence team, led by attorney David Coombs, to over $100,000. It has been estimated that it wil cost $115,000 to defend Manning properly.
It will be interesting to see if Wikileaks stumps up its money for Assange's pending sex case, and if it does how quick will it be to pay for it.
Manning has been jailed for 233 days so far for allegedly having handed over documents to Wikileaks. Assange is under house arrest while he awaits an extradition hearing about a request by Sweden on allegations of having treated two women badly by dating both of them in the same week. µ
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I find extremely uncomfortable to see all the remarks about Manning who seem to forget that :
- he is/was a soldier, sworn to defend his country and keep his mouth shut
- he ignored his duties and sent secret information not only to a non-military person, but to a foreign national
Sorry, but all the hoopla around Assange being exaggerated as is it, that does not mean that Manning's situation is as well.
Manning is just getting what is coming to him, and as a traitor, he's lucky he won't be tried under wartime rules (you know, the ones that generally end with a cigarette and a blindfold).
What criminal activity? To date, not *one* of the leaks so far have exposed criminal activity on part of the US that would ever hold up in court. Ironically, they appear to paint US foreign policy in a better light than before, especially in how they must deal with other countries.
The comment
"It will be interesting to see if Wikileaks stumps up its money for Assange's pending sex case, and if it does how quick will it be to pay for it."
Is incorrect. There is no pending case against assange only an investigation. Please get your facts straight before you print.
"Army guy is going to get slammed - and he should be - big transgression/security violation starting with boredom ending in criminal activity, and it will be well taken care of at USA tax payers expense. Very similar outcome on other side of pond :-)"
Exposing other people crimes is criminal activity? Interesting point of view, however I think you are quite warped mentally.
Oh and another thing, how are you going to defend manning when a) he isn't charged formerly and b) it will be a closed military trial.
Can the money actually be used for anything at this point but PR? Or maybe to cover the cost of flying to washington to get some politician to do something. lunch money too.
I was told assange had a book deal and made a million from that, surely he doesn't need wikileak funds to support his swedish case, for which the normal sentencing is something like a $700 fine I heard a swedish guy mention btw.
Incidentally it will be interesting to see if the US government will try to lay claim to that 15K, I would not put it pass them and it's smart to start with a 'smaller' amount like that.
I hear that Assange is getting $2 million for a book deal and he's huffing and puffing about being under house arrest in his friend's mansion while this poor guy who made wikileaks what it is today has spent nearly 10 months in a military prison without the basics like tv, pillow, blankets or exercise.
It's all good and with any luck both of these tools will end up where they belong. I'd suggest they look over their shoulder... a lot.
So both are under some for of restricted movement as part of paying back for their offenses, and the punishments are both appropriate, and in scale. Army guy is going to get slammed - and he should be - big transgression/security violation starting with boredom ending in criminal activity, and it will be well taken care of at USA tax payers expense. Very similar outcome on other side of pond :-)