Bradley Manning apologized in court today, telling the judge: "I'm sorry I hurt the United States." http://t.co/zZ36vlmaop
— Gawker (@Gawker) August 14, 2013
Complete Apology Transcript Via Huffington Post
First, your Honor. I want to start off with an apology. I am sorry. I am sorry that my actions hurt people. I am sorry that it hurt the United States. At the time of my decisions, as you know, I was dealing with a lot of issues -- issues that are ongoing and they are continuing to affect me.
Although they have caused me considerable difficulty in my life, these issues are not an excuse for my actions. I understood what I was doing and the decisions I made. However, I did not truly appreciate the broader effects of my actions. Those effects are clearer to me now through both self-reflection during my confinement in its various forms and through the merits and sentencing testimony that I have seen here.
I am sorry for the unintended consequences of my actions. When I made these decisions I believed I was gonna help people, not hurt people. The last few years have been a learning experience. I look back at my decisions and wonder, 'How on earth could I, a junior analyst, possibly believe I could change the world for the better over the decisions of those with the proper authority?'
In retrospect I should have worked more aggressively inside the system as we discussed during the Providence Statement and had options and I should have used these options. Unfortunately, I can't go back and change things. I can only go forward. I want to go forward. Before I can do that though, I understand that I must pay a price for my decisions and actions.
Once I pay that price, I hope to one day live in the manner I haven't been able to in the past. I want to be a better person -- to go to college -- to get a degree -- and to have a meaningful relationship with my sister's family and my family.
I want to be a positive influence in their lives, just as my aunt Deborah has been to me. I have flaws and issues that I have to deal with, but I know that I can and will be a better person. I hope you can give me the opportunity to prove -- not through words, but through conduct -- that I am a good person, and that I can return to a productive place in society.
Thank you, your Honor.
Complete Response from Wikileaks HERE
EXCERPTS:
. . . Mr. Manning has been an emblem of courage and endurance in the face of adversity. He has resisted extraordinary pressure. He has been held in solitary confinement, stripped naked and subjected to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment by the United States government. His constitutional right to a speedy trial has been ignored. He has sat for three years in pretrial detention, while the government assembled 141 witnesses and withheld thousands of documents from his lawyers.
The government has denied him the right to conduct a basic whistleblower defense. It overcharged him until he faced over a century in prison and barred all but a handful of his witnesses. He was denied the right at trial to argue that no harm was caused by his alleged actions. His defence team was pre-emptively banned from describing his intent or showing that his actions harmed no one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But Mr. Manning’s options have run out. The only currency this military court will take is Bradley Manning’s humiliation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr. Manning’s apology is a statement extorted from him under the overbearing weight of the United States military justice system. It took three years and millions of dollars to extract two minutes of tactical remorse from this brave soldier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bradley Manning’s apology was extracted by force, but in a just court the US government would be apologizing to Bradley Manning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Public pressure on Bradley Manning’s military court must intensify in these final days before the sentencing decision against him is made.
WikiLeaks continues to support Bradley Manning, and will continue to campaign for his unconditional release.
Free Bradley Manning.
Bradley #Manning was quick and polite. Seemed terrified. On verge of tears, it seemed.
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) August 14, 2013
I seriously almost cried when I read Bradley Manning's statement. It makes me want to burn this country to the ground. Fuck everything.
— Post-Landfill Poet. (@landfillpoet) August 14, 2013
Anyone on the Left who accepts Manning's "apology" as anything other than a statements made by a hostage under duress is an idiot.
— Jehu (@Damn_Jehu) August 14, 2013
Galileo recanted in the face of the Inquisition. Didn't make him any less right. #Manning #WikiLeaks
— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) August 14, 2013
@Nhedmondson When faced with death Galileo recanted what he believed to be true (much of which WAS true). That's my point.
— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) August 14, 2013
@wikileaks pfff. Reminds me of George Orwell's 1984 ending. "What is 2 times 2?" "Five! It is five!"
— Patrik Bauman (@BelleNOiRtv) August 14, 2013
Gratz on turning #Manning into a good patriot after 3 years isolation, torture and threats of a century in prison: http://t.co/LvogxAl2eU
— Beelzebjörn (@Beelzebjorn) August 14, 2013
Those words from #Manning? That's someone who the world's has beaten down until they've given up believing in their right to a conscience
— Molly Crabapple (@mollycrabapple) August 14, 2013
#Manning is on the stand begging that, in forty years, maybe he'll be allowed to see the stars again
— Molly Crabapple (@mollycrabapple) August 14, 2013
@mollycrabapple @prisonculture ♥ he did not want to read that statement. I promise you that. It was obvs from his strained voice
— WASP (@shokufeyesib) August 15, 2013
@wikileaks looks like some brainwashing happened during his detainment, IMO.
— Paul (@paulshort2) August 14, 2013
Bradley Manning apologizes for hurting U.S. We apologize to Bradley for locking him up. We apologize to Iraqis & Afghans. #freebrad
— CODEPINK (@codepink) August 14, 2013
I'm at #SaveBrad trial. So sad to see Bradley apologize but he doesn't want to spend his life in prison. Can't blame him. #FreeBradManning
— CODEPINK (@codepink) August 14, 2013
We apologize to YOU, Bradley, that our government treats you like a traitor instead of a truth-teller. @SaveBradley #FreeBradManning
— CODEPINK (@codepink) August 14, 2013
#Manning's pre-sentencing apology is straight post-rat mask Winston Smith. He now *loves* Big Brother. http://t.co/BHnehRPjvJ
— John Perry Barlow (@JPBarlow) August 14, 2013
#Manning's squeak of contrition reads like every torture-generated statement I've ever read. http://t.co/6ueb7uQcHZ
— John Perry Barlow (@JPBarlow) August 14, 2013
I apologize for my tweets regarding #Manning's testimony. They reflected my fury at the Gov't & and meant him no disrespect!
— John Perry Barlow (@JPBarlow) August 14, 2013
If torture & humiliation are now America's official responses to courage, honesty, and true patriotism, then Bin Laden won big time.
— John Perry Barlow (@JPBarlow) August 14, 2013
Join @SaveBradley Thunderclap "President Obama, FREE BRADLEY #MANNING NOW" https://t.co/Tnb3jwU1ks #FreeBrad #ThankManning
— Ivan Boothe (@rootwork) August 14, 2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@enquerre Lets get one thing straight, I've been pulling for manning the WHOLE TIME… Until, he had a chance to REALLY make a difference.
— James Thomsen (@sparhopper) August 14, 2013
Support 4 Bradley #Manning. Until, about four hours ago. #ImSorry too Brad.
— James Thomsen (@sparhopper) August 14, 2013
Sorry to see that Bradley Manning said sorry. But I guess spending years in a cage probably makes you sorry about a lot of things.
— michael (@michaelsayeth) August 14, 2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can set your watch by how soon #Manning supporters will say apology was insincere and out of fear, but crimes were out of commitment.
— Tom Nichols (@TheWarRoom_Tom) August 14, 2013
And there it is. One of many. MT @CrappyAirBags Of Course Bradley Manning is going to say those things during the sentencing phase.
— Tom Nichols (@TheWarRoom_Tom) August 14, 2013
I don't know if #Manning's apology is real, but by the logic of his supporters, no show of remorse during a sentencing can ever be trusted.
— Tom Nichols (@TheWarRoom_Tom) August 14, 2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#Manning is earnest.
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013
IMO #Manning has hindsight & experience about how he would have handled himself and what he might have done same and differently.
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013
#Manning humanity and earnestness is what makes him a powerful character. He is not a icon, symbol, brand. He is real.
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013
Bradley Manning just became a bigger man than his promoters, most of his detractors, and especially Edward Snowden. http://t.co/OqSThW44km
— Ls (@pettybooshwah) August 14, 2013
#Manning owns up while #Assange and #Snowden are still in hiding. Comment please, #wikileaks. http://t.co/PJ3v2l6uxk
— товарищ Puppet (@wikihype) August 15, 2013
Any bets on whether Glenn Greenwald will go ballistic over #Manning's apology for his action?
— Maggie Jordan (@MaggieJordanACN) August 14, 2013
So Manning apologizes 4 hurting US. Is Greenwald gonna call him an Obamabot now?
— Raina (@raina_by) August 14, 2013
Bradley #Manning says his actions hurt people. Waiting for Glenn #Greenwald to call him stupid, Obama-loving, neocon, war-monger, etc.
— John-Paul Pagano (@johnpaulpagano) August 14, 2013
FWIW: Bradley Manning claiming he's sorry he hurt the US (which he didnt) could have DRASTIC consequences for current & future leakers
— Liza Sabater (@blogdiva) August 14, 2013
@blogdiva Yes, though he's trying to get out of prison some time before he's 50 - it's understandable - the whole case is tragic.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) August 14, 2013
So Manning lied in court today? MT @ggreenwald @blogdiva ..he's trying to get out of prison some time before he's 50 - it's understandable
— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) August 14, 2013
Manning: I'm really sorry, Greenwald: He's not really sorry
— Jordan Ashby (@JM_Ashby) August 14, 2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bradley Manning's mental health at issue in sentencing phase of trial http://t.co/ghw4CEJc5r by @dandeluce
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) August 12, 2013
#Manning's mental state in 2010 may be relevant in court hearings, but his #gender identity shouldn't be. http://t.co/YTPcbpU28F
— Alex Hoegberg (@AlexHoegberg) August 14, 2013
Bradley Manning once emailed a photo of himself in drag to a supervisor http://t.co/x4HwJDDuEP
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) August 14, 2013
Well alrighty then - RT @DailyMailUS Army releases photo of Bradley Manning dressed as woman http://t.co/F6H3j11umr pic.twitter.com/T1SAlJZjgh
— Blogs of War (@BlogsofWar) August 14, 2013
After 1175 days of abuse, the Pentagon has finally monstered a 5'2, young gay soldier who wanted to be a girl into apologizing. Brave.
— M Cetera 「エム」 (@m_cetera) August 14, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment