General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Like it or Not, Bradley Manning is a Traitor [View all]dtom67
(634 posts)it has been accepted that participating in war crimes cannot be defended by claiming you were under orders as a soldier.It was no defense for the nazis and it is no defense for any American soldier. Therefore, a soldier is obligated to speak out if he or she witnesses wrongdoing by their government. Since the track record of whistle blowers that went "thru channels " is basically 100% prison time, an external leak is the next reasonable step.
But, do not worry. The government will never again overstep their bounds or behave unethically.
Which is nice to know, since there will be no whistle blowers from now on. Let the Government do oversight on itself; that has worked SO well in the corporate world......
And as far as emotional issues are concerned, try three years in prison, forced nakedness,and solitary confinement ( which is viewed by the rest of the World as " torture " , and show us YOUR emotional resolve.
And as for sympathy, I have none for the police state that you are gifting to your children.
By shutting down whistle blowing, that is exactly what has been done....