Manning’s Father Condemns Treatment of Imprisoned Son

[n2doc]

By Kim Zetter March 10, 2011


The father of suspected WikiLeaks leaker Bradley Manning says the military has crossed a line in its treatment of his son and called the conditions under which he was being imprisoned “shocking.”

Brian Manning broke his silence to a PBS Frontline correspondent this week after the U.S. Marine Corps brig at Quantico, Virginia, where his 23-year-old son is being held, stripped the soldier of his clothing and forced him to stand at attention in the nude and sleep naked. Manning’s defense attorney has called the brig’s move “inexcusable” and “degrading treatment.”

“This is someone who has not gone to trial or been convicted of anything,” Brian Manning told Frontline. “They worry about people down in a base in Cuba, but here they are, have someone on our own soil, under their own control, and they’re treating him this way…. It’s shocking enough that I would come out of our silence as a family and say … you’ve crossed a line. This is wrong.”

His exclusive interview with Frontline marks the first time the elder Manning has publicly spoken since his son was incarcerated at the brig last July after being charged with eight counts related to illegally downloading classified information and passing it to an unauthorized party. Last week the Army filed 22 additional charges against the young soldier, including a capital offense that makes him eligible for the death penalty.


more

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/03/brian-manning/

[Scuba]

1. The treatment of Manning is shameful. (sorry, I accidently un-recced).

[Mnemosyne]

2. Got your back. K&R n/t

[Scuba]

3. Thank you!!!

[emilyg]

10. Rec for you.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. An Open Letter to Robert Gates on Manning:Psychologists for Social Responsibility

An Open Letter to Robert Gates on Manning:Psychologists for Social Responsibility

MODs this is an open letter therefore does not violate
Copyright terms



Dear Mr. Secretary:

Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) remains deeply concerned about the solitary confinement conditions under which PFC Bradley Manning is being held at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia. When we wrote you on January 3, 2011, we warned of the severely deleterious effects on the psychological wellbeing of those subjected to solitary confinement. We also expressed alarm over PFC Manning's subjection to cruel and potentially harmful treatment during this lengthy pre-trial period when he has not been convicted of any crime and is presumed innocent by our Constitution and justice system.

We write you again today because news reports, including those in the New York Times, indicate that PFC Manning's conditions of confinement have recently become even more severe. According to these reports, which quote officials in charge of PFC Manning's care, PFC Manning is now being deprived of his clothes at night and is forced to stand naked for inspection in the morning. This is apparently being justified as a "precautionary measure" to prevent PFC Manning from injuring himself.

As an organization of psychologists and other mental health practitioners – many of whose members have worked in mental hospitals, the criminal justice system, and with veterans – PsySR can state unequivocally that removal of clothing is not an accepted or reasonable procedure for avoiding self-injury.

There is no publicly available information suggesting that PFC Manning is at heightened risk of self-harm. However, if this is a real concern of the military officials, it is imperative to recognize that forced nakedness (and solitary confinement) is designed to induce helplessness, humiliation, and shame – all of which are potential risk factors that increase the possibility of self-harm. We note that forced nakedness is so disturbing that it is banned for use by military interrogators in the 2006 Army Field Manual.

We are also concerned that the confinement conditions and treatment experienced by PFC Manning may interfere with the right to a fair trial. Literature on the harmful psychological consequences associated with the abuse to which PFC Manning is being subjected suggests that his ability to assist in his own defense may be compromised.

Our country and the entire world were shocked by the pictures of Iraqi detainees being kept naked at Abu Ghraib. PFC Manning's treatment, because of its needless and destructive cruelty, also shocks the conscience. Mr. Secretary, Psychologists for Social Responsibility calls upon you to rectify the inhumane and harmful treatment of PFC Bradley Manning immediately. Given your purported concern regarding PFC Manning's suicidality, we also urge you to release him from solitary confinement as soon as possible as a first step in addressing his mental health needs.

We are also providing a copy of this letter to President Obama, as he and his administration bear the ultimate responsibility for PFC Manning's treatment.
Sincerely,

Stephen Soldz, Ph.D.,
President, Psychologists for Social Responsibility

Trudy Bond, Ph.D.,
Psychologists for Social Responsibility Steering Committee

For the Psychologists for Social Responsibility Steering Committee

Also sent to President Obama

[Bragi]

8. U.S now a rogue torture state, and sadly, Obama okay with it

We have known for some time there are no longer any legal restraints in the U.S on torturing anyone suspected of "national security" crimes.

What is particularly sad about this case is that the Obama administration, by its silence on the torture of Manning, for the first time, has basically signaled its support for torture.

[outerSanctum]

5. In a previous time

he would have been hung immediately.

Not only would that have been more humane, it would have served as a nice visual lesson to any others.

[Bragi]

7. So you favour torture and secrecy to hide war crimes?

Interesting. So what brings you here?

[walldude]

9. A nice visual lesson...

Yeah. Right. "If we commit war crimes and you have the unmitigated gall to prove it to someone.. we'll hang your ass".


Nice. Enjoy your stay. I imagine it will be short.

[EFerrari]

12. But then, we don't eat each other any more, either. n/t

[Bragi]

6. What is the purpose of this torture? Can it succeed?

My guess it has two purposes: 1. to try to break Manning so he will somehow implicate Wikileaks and Assange in some manner that would allow U.S charges to be made against him, and 2. to show that there are no legal restraints on what the government will do to anyone else who releases documents showing U.S complicity in war crimes.

On the 1st goal, even if the U.S comes up with trumped up charges, it's hard to see how the U.S could actually extradite Assange (or anyone else) from any EU country based on evidence derived through torture. Further, since the U.S is now known to be a rogue state that uses torture, and has also shown that it no longer provides basic due process to anyone who might be sent there on a national security related charge, extradition seems highly unlikely.

It therefore seems likely that the abuse of Manning will not achieve the first goal.

As to the second goal -- showing to everyone that there is no longer anything legal or political that constrains U.S authorities from torturing any future whistleblowers who might reveal evidence of war crimes -- only time will tell whether the torture of Manning achieves this goal.

[Scuba]

11. I doubt Manning know boo about Wikileaks. Your second point is dead on. n/t