PFC Bradley Manning, convicted of nothing to this point, was stripped of his clothing and was naked for the next SEVEN GODDAMN HOURS! According to his attorney, Iraq war veteran David Coombs, he was then awaken at 5 AM and forced to stand naked in front of his cell.
What's next? Dogs? Leashes? Electrodes and hoods? strappado hanging? Low-level guards giving a thumbs up over his dead body?
Out of all of the atrocities of the Bush Crime Family's reign of terror, nothing was more disgusting than the Abu Ghraib scandal. I told an old right-wing lady to go fuck herself when she defended it as "the treatment was not that bad" (we were waiting at a car repair shop and watching the news report). Yes, I am guilty of disagreeing while being disagreeable when it comes to torture. Sorry.
My feeling is this is a blatant attempt to intimidate whistle-blowers, who the Obama Administration has claimed an exception to his "look forward not backward" DOJ edict. It is completely outrageous. Jeffrey Dahmer, who committed gruesome murders that included rape, torture, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism, was never subjected to this treatment by prison officials. But Jeffrey Dahmer never embarrassed our Government or rich elites.
Will one of Manning fellow inmates beat him to death with a broomstick handle like what eventually happened to Dahmer? I have no sympathy for that monster, but Jesus Christ, this treatment of Manning is getting out of control.
If Manning is guilty of disclosing classified information, then he should be tried and convicted, but he, like all other prisoners, should be treated humanely. But is Robert Hanssen, who actually gave critical top secret information to the Soviets, made to stand in front of his cell naked? (Hanssen is in solitary, but his crimes, selling the highest level secrets, were MUCH WORSE, then anything manning has disclosed - Mannings information did not reach that level of classification).
Greenwald yesterday:
The documents Manning is alleged to have leaked have revealed a wide range of corruption, deceit and illegality by government officials around the world. They have forced Americans to confront the realities of the wars they endlessly wage and support. And it is virtually impossible to read news articles about any significant event in the Middle East without encountering references to important information revealed by WikiLeaks documents.
Call the White House if you are as shocked and outraged by the recent developments as I am. While your at it, tell them to direct the DOJ to investigate ALL US DETENTION FACILITIES for mistreatment of prisoners.
White House: 202-456-1111
I DARE anyone to defend this shit. Maybe if there is a Muslim prisoner in this brig, Manning can torture him and get the same protection as the Bush war criminals get from our DOJ.
Update: Lost Left Coaster diaried this while I was editing mine. Please read Lefty's post and recommend it, unless you approve of this treatment, then I would say go...calm down Bob.