Aiding the Enemy is a capital offense. What Manning really did was to demonstrate that our mechanized-force video game players had turned killing civilians into a sport. Ultimately, as a democracy, we were the people responsible.
GOOD GOD IT'S COMPLICATED to sign that petition:
Whitehouse.gov has you 1) register, then 2) validate an email they send to your account. And finally 3) you get to vote.
First pardon all crimes, then support Bradley Manning for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is a nice touch, eh? Manning is formally nominated. Petition text and links below the fold....
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WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
First pardon all crimes, then support Bradley Manning for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.
Horrendous acts related to the Iraq War have damaged America. In comparison, this young man Manning supported our very American views of civilization.
We are a democracy. We cannot skip responsibility.
Our most barbaric crimes remain broadly unpunished. We killed 24 children and unarmed civilians at Haditha. We ran Abu Ghraib's torture chambers. We rushed into that war and had no idea what was happening.
Bradley Manning's theft of the Crazy Horse One-Eight video led to ending this American ignorance. Formal "Rules of Engagement" cannot replace moral commitment.
Bradley Manning changed America. We are stronger.
Prosecution now has Manning at risk of his life, charged with Aiding The Enemy. Please, a full pardon. Then, as well, please support Manning for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.
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Collateral Murder web site
The cables and combat communiques backed up the same points. These wars were killing people by the thousands with no strategic point and little operational control over the high-power segments of the force structures.
Humans, drones... same difference.
Some paid informant, "Jukebox," comes up with bodies and blames them on Manning, this kid could be executed.
It will take 1,000,000 signatures on this petition. Maybe more, to make sure this young man is safe. A few million from around the world and you never know what could happen. We have until April 5th to pile on. Then the White House web site closes it out.
At present the total sits just shy of 50 signatures for one full day. There has been minimal advertising effort. The large pro-Manning operations haven't yet kicked it into gear. That information will be spread out tomorrow.
-- Feel free to broadcast with twitter. Email, obviously, will be good too.
-- When the total hits 150, the White House will feature the petition on it's "New Petitions" list.
-- When it gets to 5,000 signatures there will be a place on the "Most Popular" list.
You knew it already:
-- There's a Facebook page with an INVITE YOUR FRIENDS! icon. Vote to support Bradley Manning
While the Republicans are out screaming insults at each other, let's see if the Left can make an effort for this young man.
This Private Manning is no Eisenhower or Patton. In military history he is more to be valued like a John Paul Jones or a Davy Crockett. Arguably half-mad, but singularly important to this country.
Without Manning there would have been no recognition that our Generals had lost control of a major segment of a generation of mechanized-force troops. Covering up mass murder would have become a standard Order of the Day for our armed forces.
We owe this kid Manning as we have owed no single enlisted man in the history of the United States. We owe him becuse he gave us the means to step back from becoming mindless brute murderers. And he had to know what would happen after he acted.
Please, take the minute at whitehouse.gov and sign for Manning. Thank you.
