FORT MEADE, Md. — A military judge sentenced Pfc. Bradley Manning on Wednesday to 35 years in prison for providing more than 700,000 government files to WikiLeaks, a gigantic leak that lifted the veil on military and diplomatic activities around the world.

The judge, Army Col. Denise R. Lind, said that Private Manning was dishonorably discharged. She reduced him to the lowest rank of private, from his previous rank of private first class, and said he had to forfeit all pay.

Colonel Lind could have sentenced Private Manning, 25, to up to 90 years. She found him guilty last month of most of the charges against him, including six counts of violating the Espionage Act, five counts of stealing government property and one count of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. He was acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, a charge never before filed in a leak case ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/us/manning-sentenced-for-leaking-government-secrets.html?hp&_r=0

ACLU Comment on Manning Sentence --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

"When a soldier who shared information with the press and public is punished far more harshly than others who tortured prisoners and killed civilians, something is seriously wrong with our justice system. A legal system that doesn't distinguish between leaks to the press in the public interest and treason against the nation will not only produce unjust results, but will deprive the public of critical information that is necessary for democratic accountability. This is a sad day for Bradley Manning, but it's also a sad day for all Americans who depend on brave whistleblowers and a free press for a fully informed public debate."

https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-comment-bradley-manning-sentence

ACLU Comment on Manning Sentence --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

"When a soldier who shared information with the press and public is punished far more harshly than others who tortured prisoners and killed civilians, something is seriously wrong with our justice system. A legal system that doesn't distinguish between leaks to the press in the public interest and treason against the nation will not only produce unjust results, but will deprive the public of critical information that is necessary for democratic accountability. This is a sad day for Bradley Manning, but it's also a sad day for all Americans who depend on brave whistleblowers and a free press for a fully informed public debate."

https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-comment-bradley-manning-sentence

In an ideal world the ACLU would be absolutely correct but they are barking at the moon. If the victims of prisoner torture and civilian killings had been of our ruling class then the results would have been of proportion and then some.

They work the facade of 'liberty and freedom' but it is tattered and being ground to dust by the security state.

Don't you want to be safe?

Don't you want to be safe?

Sure. But from what?

In many cases these ACLU type organizations are the patina of legitimacy for the "human rights" offenders. "See, this must be a free country if the ACLU is allowed to bring suits and speak out as they do. Shows the system works!"

Yeah, it works and that is the problem...