... A Heavy Price ...
by judd - ICH Thursday, Aug 22 2013, 8:30am
international /
prose /
post
“There is not a flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.” -- Howard Zinn
Bradley Manning
Did you expect more? Well maybe this is not what you expected but read it nevertheless:
Bradley Manning final statement read by defence lawyers:
The following is a transcript of the statement made by Pfc. Bradley Manning as read by David Coombs at a press conference on Wednesday:
... A Heavy Price ...
by Bradley Manning
The decisions that I made in 2010 were made out of a concern for my country and the world that we live in. Since the tragic events of 9/11, our country has been at war. We’ve been at war with an enemy that chooses not to meet us on any traditional battlefield, and due to this fact we’ve had to alter our methods of combating the risks posed to us and our way of life.
I initially agreed with these methods and chose to volunteer to help defend my country. It was not until I was in Iraq and reading secret military reports on a daily basis that I started to question the morality of what we were doing. It was at this time I realized in our efforts to meet this risk posed to us by the enemy, we have forgotten our humanity. We consciously elected to devalue human life both in Iraq and Afghanistan. When we engaged those that we perceived were the enemy, we sometimes killed innocent civilians. Whenever we killed innocent civilians, instead of accepting responsibility for our conduct, we elected to hide behind the veil of national security and classified information in order to avoid any public accountability.
In our zeal to kill the enemy, we internally debated the definition of torture. We held individuals at Guantanamo for years without due process. We inexplicably turned a blind eye to torture and executions by the Iraqi government. And we stomached countless other acts in the name of our war on terror.
Patriotism is often the cry extolled when morally questionable acts are advocated by those in power. When these cries of patriotism drown our any logically based intentions [unclear], it is usually an American soldier that is ordered to carry out some ill-conceived mission.
Our nation has had similar dark moments for the virtues of democracy—the Trail of Tears, the Dred Scott decision, McCarthyism, the Japanese-American internment camps—to name a few. I am confident that many of our actions since 9/11 will one day be viewed in a similar light.
As the late Howard Zinn once said, “There is not a flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.”
I understand that my actions violated the law, and I regret if my actions hurt anyone or harmed the United States. It was never my intention to hurt anyone. I only wanted to help people. When I chose to disclose classified information, I did so out of a love for my country and a sense of duty to others.
If you deny my request for a pardon, I will serve my time knowing that sometimes you have to pay a heavy price to live in a free society. I will gladly pay that price if it means we could have country that is truly conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all women and men are created equal.
Editorial comment:
Young brave, honourable Sir,
It is abundantly clear that you were aware of the consequences of your singularly brave and heroic action and the price you would pay; nevertheless, you were driven by a rare conscience and moral conviction to do right regardless of personal cost and for this we are in awe of your character, moral fibre and amazing fortitude under the most horrendous, extreme pre-trial conditions -- Sir, we honour you without reservation and salute the HERO you undoubtedly ARE!
It was clearly not your intention, but your singular action of bravery has shamed an entire generation and by stark contrast, portrayed many contemporary activists and 'would be's' as the narcissistic, reprehensible cowards that they are; I need not name them as it is clear who they are!
Your actions and moral convictions are truly awe-inspiring and are equal to many brave American heroes of the past, including Martin Luther King jr. who also could not tolerate criminal government and injustice in high places.
Your moral action has also shamed the current sitting black puppet president of the United States, a subservient slave to the evil white Zionist powers that dictate civilian killing policy to him and use him to conduct their criminal enterprises, including illegal invasive warfare, mass murder and resource theft in the interests of their personal gain and PROFIT -- this black, traitorous incumbent bastard is now internationally known to be a FRAUD, no small thanks to you, Sir; no further condemnation of that loathsome scumbag from me is required as he is already known and recorded by history as one of the most reprehensible criminal cowards of our time.
It was fortunate indeed that your personal statement, after receiving an illegal, but criminally enforced, long sentence has been released to the public, as the major message contained therein delivers more than is initially apparent; the un-articulated subtext delivers your thoughts, emotions and your UNWAVERING PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND CONVICTION, perfectly!
Your actions and the price you were willing to pay for maintaining truth, honour and integrity, shames your entire cowardly, self-centred generation, which makes your actions all the more astounding, inexplicable, extraordinary and supremely heroic.
A young brave gay man of remarkable strength of character and integrity has destroyed the reputation of the highest office in the land, which is currently occupied by the most reprehensible puppet/slave/TRAITOR the nation has ever seen. A black man serving the interests of white, mass murdering Zionist bankers is probably the most disgusting political position that a black man could assume -- his fate has been earned and he will be duly rewarded at the most appropriate time.
Endure sir, endure to the end and continue to inspire others with your bravery and integrity. Write, sir, and release your jail notes there is never time for despair for one that serves the interests of truth and justice, of that I'm sure you are aware.
Sir, be comforted by the fact that you have compromised an entire corrupt State and criminal government and have expedited the future trials of all the criminals that have ruined the integrity and reputation of the nation.
It is not over until it's over and your case is clearly an ongoing cultural affair -- have no doubt that justice, law and order will be restored to the nation and that your huge contribution in that regard will be held in the highest regard.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35929.htm