Chelsea Manning: ‘Freedom Was Only A Dream, And Hard To Imagine. Now It's Here!’

Capt Gregory Prickett - I wasn't speaking in the legal context. He is a traitor to his country based upon what he did. Because the Army and the previous administration were too lazy or complacent to go after the charge means little to those of us that recognize him for what he is, a traitor.

SFC (Join to see) & Cpl Jeff N.: What he was accused of did not come close to meeting the elements of treason, as defined by the U.S. Constitution and the law. Was Manning scum? Sure, without a doubt. Did Manning deserve the 35 years at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Ft. Leavenworth? Absolutely. But those charges didn't come close to meeting the requirements of treason, and Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy by the members of the court-martial. Since that would be a sub-element of any treason charge, it stands to reason that Manning would have been acquitted of that charge also. It's not a question of being too lazy, it is a question of facts and evidence, that there just wasn't the evidence there to convict on treason.

Next, the 35 year sentence was commuted to 7 years by the President. Manning is no different than anyone else who has been convicted and sent to USDB - and has the same right to apply for a pardon. Once granted, that's it. The song's over, and the fat lady has left the stage.

This is a list of people convicted of Treason against the US. Some did less than he did, some more.
- Philip Vigol and John Mitchell, convicted of treason and sentenced to hanging; pardoned by George Washington; see Whiskey Rebellion.
- John Fries, the leader of Fries' Rebellion, convicted of treason in 1800 along with two accomplices, and pardoned that same year by John Adams.
- Governor Thomas Dorr 1844, convicted of treason against the state of Rhode Island; see Dorr Rebellion; released in 1845; civil rights restored in 1851; verdict annulled in 1854.
- John Brown, convicted of treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1859 and executed for attempting to organize armed resistance to slavery.
- Aaron Dwight Stevens, took part in John Brown's raid and was executed in 1860 for treason against Virginia.
- William Bruce Mumford, convicted of treason and hanged in 1862 for tearing down a United States flag during the American Civil War.
- Walter Allen was convicted of treason on September 16, 1922 for taking part in the 1921 Miner's March with the coal companies and the US Army on Blair Mountain, West Virginia. He was sentenced to 10 years and fined. During his appeal to the Supreme Court he disappeared while out on bail. United Mineworkers of America leader William Blizzard was acquitted of the charge of treason by the jury on May 25, 1922.[11]
- Herbert Hans Haupt, German-born naturalized U.S. citizen, was convicted of treason in 1942 and executed after being named as a German spy by fellow German spies defecting to the United States.
- Martin James Monti, United States Army Air Forces pilot, convicted of treason for defecting to the Waffen SS in 1944. He was paroled in 1960.
- Robert Henry Best, convicted of treason on April 16, 1948 and served a life sentence.
- Iva Toguri D'Aquino, who is frequently identified with "Tokyo Rose" convicted 1949. Subsequently, pardoned by President Gerald Ford.
- Mildred Gillars, also known as "Axis Sally", convicted of treason on March 8, 1949; served 12 years of a 10- to 30-year prison sentence.
- Tomoya Kawakita, sentenced to death for treason in 1952, but eventually released by President John F. Kennedy to be deported to Japan.

The definition of treason: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
_________________________________________________________________________I think he fits the definition of giving aid to the enemy. The Army and the government were lazy and didn't want to go to the mat with Manning. He wore the uniform of the United States and gave aid and comfort to the enemy. They mistakenly believed a 35 years sentence would hold, they never put Obama and his minions in their calculus. I know lawyers love talking about how many angles can dance on the head of a pin. Most of the rest of us know a traitor when we see him.

I know it is over and you must be as pleased as you can be he walked away from prison after your hero Obama pardoned him now off to get his pecker cut off.

Cpl Jeff N. - did you miss the part that I thought he deserved the 35 years?

Second, it doesn't matter that you think it fit the definition of giving aid to the enemy--the Army charged him with a violation of Art. 104, Aiding the Enemy, and the jury acquitted him. If you can't prove that, there's no way to prove treason as a matter of law.

Second, you can make up stuff about how I feel all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that you're wrong. I've also told you what I think about Obama, but I see that hasn't stopped you from making stuff up on that either.

SN Greg Wright Its ok, I hate me today for this too.

FFS, why am I even about to do this. I don't know. Guess it's just one of those days.

So... I can see why that handle was chosen. Basically, it's a play that biology and identity are two separate thing. Acknowledging that biologically, that's what was assigned at birth. Yet here's the identity, which is different.

I don't know. I'm just guessing. I mean, the term idiot applies, but for other reasons. I can just see that the handle choice isn't one that is a choice from idiocy.

SSgt Ryan Sylvester - I can see your point.

SN Greg Wright - Yeah, I mean, don't get me wrong, she's still traitorous slime. There's not even the moral ambiguity of Snowden. Hands down, wrong. And she should have been put to a firing line. IMO.

LTC Orlando Illi Yes, but how does it make you feel!? Sorry, couldn't resist. I saw this thing at 7:30 this morning. My bagel still sits untouched.

She never should have been allowed to be MI or enlist. Didn't she get kicked out of the Coast Guard or something for behavioral issues? If it was during the surge then yes, there were far too many waivers issued. But she told her leadership about her different issues and no one did anything. I'm a 35F and this shit pisses me off what she did. Never would have happened in any of my S2 shops.

SGM Steve Wettstein - I want to know what MI has to do with it...HE is a POS and should have been convicted and sentenced accordingly.

SFC (Join to see) - Nothing really it had more to do with him being smart. But it was his MOS. Sorry MI folks I should have picked my words more carefully. My TBI kind of limits how I think sometimes.