The details indicate that maybe the government was right, after all. He's been charged with doing a lot more than just leaking the video of an American helicopter attack that killed a dozen people.
According to the New York Times:
BAGHDAD, Iraq – An Army soldier in Iraq who was arrested for leaking a video of a deadly American helicopter attack here in 2007 has also been charged with downloading more than 150,000 highly classified diplomatic cables that could, if made public, reveal the inner workings of American embassies around the world, the military here announced on Tuesday.
Article
I don't have a lot to add. In general, I have been suggesting we wait and see before we declare that the Obama administration is persecuting all whistle-blowers out of spite, or worse. It sounds like this guy might have been doing a lot more than whistle-blowing.
He might have been justified in his disgruntledness over the war or other issues, but there is a point at which the rule of law requires punitive action from those in charge. We can't have a military where soldiers are downloading and disseminating huge volumes of confidential correspondence.
I'm assuming he will get a fair hearing, and I'll object if he doesn't, but it's beginning to sound like this prosecution was appropriate.