PFC BRADLEY MANNING

Court Martialing PFC (Private First Class) Bradley Manning is a stupid thing to do. My views are well documented but we have no surprises here. A court martial (military term for trial) was inevitable based on the military system. The military conducts a thorough Article 32 investigation (Grand Jury). Once they have done it, the guilt or innocence is well established. Consequently the term, "bring the guilty bastard in." There is no dispute that Manning leaked the documents. The stickiness should be that the military has more than a little culpability. Manning should not have had assess to sensitive material, short and simple. He is a f..king midget in the system.

I have watched many a court martial. Most are cut and dry. Where they can possibly work is if they grasp and take into account mitigating circumstances. A senior (17 years) NCO (non commission officer) that I knew in Korea got himself tangled in the black market. He had some extenuating circumstances at home. Sick wife and child. He should not have been in Korea but he needed the extra cash (an unaccompanied tour of duty usually pays more). This normally outstanding NCO  was stupid. Purchased electronic equipment at the PX (post exchange) at a very cheap price and paid no tax on it, then sold it at a profit on the very robust Korean black market (One of many reasons why we need to be out of Korea). The good sergeant got caught and was court martialed. Even this was pretty heavy handed in my view but the military is a rule oriented entity, especially in a non combat environment. He should have been given a "Special Courts Martial" in front of a judge with usually lessor discipline. Maybe in a stretch, an Article 15, which is non judicial punishment administered by the commander. Can be pretty stiff but easier from which to recover. The courts martial busted my NCO one rank, fined him a month's pay and shipped him home. Not bad and something frm which he could recover.

The military could be smart here and give PFC Manning a Special Court Martial, bust him to E1 (he's now an E3), fine him a couple of months pay, sentence him to time served, give him a bad discharge and say sayanaro. Any chance they would do it. Not a chance in hell as someone might have to admit they f..ked up.