The inhumane conditions of Bradley Manning's detention

[Tacitusitis]

And before Mobby rushes in with the "OH NO how dare you insult our military," the airforce is trying to block NYT.com

Like that's going to work? Like it's going to accomplish something?

Nope, vindictive stupidity.

 

[GoodGame]

Solitary confinement is not torture, it is prison-within-prison. I do wonder what this guy did that calls for solitary with no sheet or pillow?

It's entirely uncalled for for someone awaiting trial (not convicted) who has no disciplinary problems.

Maybe they think it's for his own good so no one else tries to kill him thinking that'll make them a hero. Prisoners are some times goofy that way.

 

[NovaKart]

No one has really addressed the misconduct that Bradley Manning mentioned in the OP article such as the unjust arrest of Iraqis.

 

[galdre]

And before Mobby rushes in with the "OH NO how dare you insult our military," the airforce is trying to block NYT.com

Like that's going to work? Like it's going to accomplish something?

Nope, vindictive stupidity.

yes, vindictive stupidity is an unfortunate human habit

 

[GoodGame]

No one has really addressed the misconduct that Bradley Manning mentioned in the OP article such as the unjust arrest of Iraqis.

It's a separate topic. One crime at a time.

 

[Theige]

He hasn't even been convicted yet you fascists.

He's in the military.

Could they not have executed him on the spot if his superiors had so wished?

 

[GhostWriter16]

He's in the military.

Could they not have executed him on the spot if his superiors had so wished?

Not legally.

And if they could, our military would not be worth existing, and I would speak against its existence.

 

[MeteorPunch]

And before Mobby rushes in with the "OH NO how dare you insult our military," the airforce is trying to block NYT.com

Like that's going to work? Like it's going to accomplish something?

Nope, vindictive stupidity.

We're trying to be cool like China.

 

[GoodGame]

He's in the military.

Could they not have executed him on the spot if his superiors had so wished?

Probably under certain conditions, though I don't think many officers would have the sack to do such a thing.


Basically he got charged disobeying the military law which is enough for him to go have fun at Quantico. To be honest, I don't comprehend why some posters think prison should be fun, especially military prison, or that there aren't ever special conditions placed on prisoners. Remember you sign up for the military voluntarily, swearing oath to the president/government, etc..
It's not like the guy was just downloading porn, or exercising personal freedoms. Those weren't HIS personal computers he was using.

If you think he deserves a pardon being a whistleblower, than better pray to Obama.

 

[NovaKart]

It's a separate topic. One crime at a time.

It's not really a separate topic. It has to do with why he's in prison. BTW no one is saying prison should be fun but because of the mental health implications of solitary confinement it is cruel and unnecessary. We're not saying he should have an X box.

 

[Theige]

Not legally.

And if they could, our military would not be worth existing, and I would speak against its existence.

My point is, that legally, I think it is allowed; not that any officer would actually do it.

One of our resident military experts can clear that up, I may be wrong.

 

[MobBoss]

Disciplinary problems while incarcerated.

Hard to have those when you are in solitary.

It is possible that solitary confinement is standard protocol for someone accused of releasing confidential material. It's also possible that military imprisonment follows a different set of rules than civilian.

Its also possible that since he would be in a prison with other military prisoners that he is in solitary for his own protection as well. There would absolutely be some military prisoners, while criminals themselves, might just react with violence against someone accused of espionage/treason against the nation.

I'm just saying that someone accused of a non-violent crime (who's still innocent mind you) and who has no disciplinary problems in prison would normally not be put in solitary confinement.

Again, if its partially for his own protection, sure they would.

how is he going to send confidential information if he's in prison waiting for his trial?

Its called talking to others.

solitary certainly doesn't seem to be warranted in this case

This isnt your average situation.

And before Mobby rushes in with the "OH NO how dare you insult our military," the airforce is trying to block NYT.com

Ease up there. Why not ask me my opinion about that first? Let me counter your assumption - I think trying to block major news media sites like that ultimately self-defeating. So there.

He's in the military.

Could they not have executed him on the spot if his superiors had so wished?

Nope. What the heck ever gave you that idea?

If you think he deserves a pardon being a whistleblower, than better pray to Obama.

Except he isnt a whistleblower. There are specific laws to protect those. This isnt one of those kind of cases.

 

[GhostWriter16]

@GG- Sure, if he's guilty, he shouldn't be pardoned, but he hasn't been tried yet so currently he is innocent.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Yes, he betrayed his country. He'd probably try to escape the first chance he got and flee to France or something. Need to keep him locked down to ensure escape is as unlikely as can be possibly made.

If my country treated me as he is being treated now, you can bet your ass I would flee too.

 

[MobBoss]

If my country treated me as he is being treated now, you can bet your ass I would flee too.

Well, if you dont want to be treated like that here's a thought:

DONT BREAK THE LAW.

Seems fairly common sense to me.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

You're the one that claims solitary confinement is torture. I am sorry you failed to follow your position to its logical conclusion. Is solitary confinement torture or not? I hear some parents ground their children for MONTHS! You know, like this guy...

When you spend your months of grounding locked in a closet for 23 hours a day with neither sheets nor pillow, with all activity severely restricted, and completely without idea of how long you will be stuck there, then you can compare this to grounding.

(hint, when parents do this, their children get taken away from them)

He may be innocent, but he is also accused. Its been pointed out to you many times now that it is neither unusual or cruel to hold a person awaiting trial for a year or more.

Of course it is cruel. That it is not unusual says nothing about the former.

All your angst over some imagined torture via solitary confinement is your imagination running away with itself. It is not unusual for prisoners to be kept in isolation for years. Granted this is normally because of discipline problems or some danger the prisoner poses, but again that just speaks to the appropriateness of the measure. Dangerous or not, a discipline problem or not, you still can't torture them. So in short, if it isn't torture to isolate a prisoner who is dangerous or a discipline problem, its not when done to anyone else either.

He is neither dangerous nor a discipline problem.

Neither you or your OP have provided any proof that his FIVE MONTHS (again, not at all a long time when it comes to solitary confinement) has done anything to him. Are we supposed to be shocked that a guy who just betrayed his country, was caught, is in all likelihood going to spend the rest of his life in prison, and us rightfully scorned by the population not made up of angsty "stick it to the man" teenagers is depressed?

He's probably going to be found guilty, so we should just throw away the key now and treat him however the hell we wish? Are you effing kidding me? Hell, why not just skip the foreplay, let's just shoot everyone who's even charged with a crime, if the poor bastards didn't want to die then they shouldn't have broken the law! But even then you would still not be able to shoot Mr. Manning, because he hasn't even been charged with a crime. But I guess the Constitution doesn't apply to those who swear to defend it.

Torture is not the issue, that's just an overactive imagination searching for a reason to be outraged. There is a good argument to be made as to its appropriateness, but its not torture. In all likelihood while in a MILITARY PRISON keeping someone accused of committing one of the worst violations a soldier can commit is probably a good idea for his own protection.

For his own protection.

Yes, when you refuse to use reason, its not really possible for you to reason with with me.

Its never possible to reason with you.

 

[GhostWriter16]

I'm tending to agree with Cheezy the Whiz. Especially since he hasn't been proven guilty in court.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Well, if you dont want to be treated like that here's a thought:

DONT BREAK THE LAW.

Seems fairly common sense to me.

You really have no concept of appropriateness of treatment, do you? I suppose that is typical of people who get a hard on out of telling people what to do while holding a gun. Woe to the vanquished!

 

[Newbunkle]

Pat's mom scares me.

Moderator Action: Please leave his mother out of this.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Holycannoli]

Hard to have those when you are in solitary.



Its also possible that since he would be in a prison with other military prisoners that he is in solitary for his own protection as well. There would absolutely be some military prisoners, while criminals themselves, might just react with violence against someone accused of espionage/treason against the nation.



Again, if its partially for his own protection, sure they would.

Very true, but protective custody is not so strict that the prisoner doesn't get sheets and a pillow. I question why they aren't giving him those, if he's not under suicide watch? Perhaps he is under suicide watch and they're lying about it?

Perhaps the whole article is full of half-truths and flat-out lies? It's happened before.

It just doesn't sit right with me right now.

EDIT: According to the update at the end of the article, it's obvious there's a few inaccuracies, so we will have to see if someone has the guts to find out what's really going on.