Welcome back one and all. It's been too long since we could sit here, have a beer, and rant, hasn't it? It has. How sad.
Well, it's back. Be happy.
Straight to the point:
Pfc. Bradley Manning is a traitor.
Julian Assange is a hero.
In response to popular demand, this will be succinct. Besides, it's an easy one.
First, Mr. Assange. If you think he's a traitor who's endangering thousands of people around the world, you're not thinking. He didn't make the secrets. He didn't lie. He didn't start wars, talk behind allies backs, he didn't cover up vital information about world governments pissing in each other's punch bowls.
He just exposed it. All of it. And bravo. Stand on the nearest chair and clap for this man. The only man among 6.2 billion with balls. Big brass ones. If we had more Julian's, we wouldn't have so many lies, cover ups, or wars. It's true. He didn't endanger US Soldiers, we did by sending them to die for oil. He didn't embarrass countless presidents, prime ministers and diplomats, they did by acting like fools because they thought no one was looking. He is a private citizen of the world, and as such the truth is his responsibility. So hooray for Julian Assange. Hooray for balls. Be grateful that someone is fighting for you.
Now, Pfc. Mr. Piece of Sh*t Traitor Bradley Manning. Lock him up. Torture him. Shoot him on the White House lawn.
But Mr. ToT's...that's awful. And it's a contradiction. How can one be a hero, and his sidekick be a villain?
It's the "Pfc." that causes problems. Private. First. Class. Property of the United States Government. He signed away his life, then he used his power to stab his employer in the back.
Mr. Assange received information, and passed it along to all interested parties without prejudice or passion.
Pfc. Manning stole. He lied. He cheated. He turned his back on his country. He violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He is a traitor. A common criminal. Those who cry for him cry for nothing. We can't afford that in our military. We cannot afford for them to break that code. Once we accept that, we will fall to their control, instead of guiding what they do.
Mr. Assange was bound by no such code.
Think for yourself. Agree or disagree, I hope you enjoyed the shorter format.
Say for instance someone in the US military had to break the UCMJ in order to support American citizens in defense of our own government one day... --right here in our own back yard... Should he/she still be shot? What would be your opinion then? Nice read BTW
ReplyDeleteExcellent comment, and thanks. I would still feel the same way. One aspect built into the protection of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines working in the service of their country was established by the Nuremberg Trials. The mid-level Nazi commanders tried to defend their actions by stating they were ordered to do what they did. The tribunal dismissed this as a show of poor character, not a defense of abhorrent action, the men were found guilty and put to death. This established a precedent that protects military personnel from being charged for war crimes they refused to commit. These people are discharged for disobeying orders regardless, but they are tried in a different manner and under different rules. While I do believe we have a right to know what Wikileaks made public, this Private repeatedly committed a premeditated crime with the full knowledge that what he did posed a threat for far more short term damage to the military than long term benefits for civilians. Furthermore, he did not disobey a direct order, he violated an oath. He betrayed the men and women he was sworn to protect, even if he did it for my good and the good of future generations, he must account for it in front of the organization he signed his rights and life away to. While on the one hand it could be construed as brave and possibly even a show of good character in some ways, he knew what was coming if he was caught, and everyone pays the piper eventually. It's also pretty difficult to violate the UCMJ by doing what any civilian or military court would consider the 'right thing' to do.
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