Dear All,
Please join me in calling the DOD in support of this brave young man, who faces LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the absurb charge of "aiding the enemy." There is an Arabic proverb that says, "A friend is one who makes you weep." The implication is that a friend tells you the truth about yourself. In that spirit, Private Manning is a friend to all people of conscience, and an American hero. We silence him and people like him at our peril. Best, Hajja Romi/Blue Firedoglake.com Call Gen. Linnington: Drop the Charges Against Bradley Manning Dear Romi, Col. Carl Coffman has agreed that Pfc. Bradley Manning should face court martial.1 Although Col. Coffman did not comment on whether Manning should face any or all of the to dozen charges against him, the final decision now rests with General Michael Linnington. Firedoglake activists have logged over 1,100 calls and emails to the Department of Defense in just 3 days, demanding the government drop the ludicrous charge that Manning knowingly aided Al Qaeda by giving Wikileaks documents for publication on the Internet. The Obama Administration is once again playing a dangerous game with civil liberties that could set a chilling precedent for whistle blowers, journalists and free speech in general. Can you please stand up for Manning and call the Department of Defense today? Call the Department of Defense and demand General Linnington drop the 'aiding the enemy' charge against Bradley Manning. Can't call today? Click here to share this important action with your friends, family and followers. We'll continue to keep you updated on developments in Bradley Manning's case. Thanks in advance for all your help. In solidarity, Brian Sonenstein Director of Online Activism, Firedoglake.com PS. Check out my earlier email (copied below) for more information. Sources 1. 2nd Army officer recommends general court-martial for US soldier charged in WikiLeaks case. Washington Post, 1/19/12. On Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012, Brian Sonenstein, Firedoglake.com wrote: @firedoglake.com> Call the DOD Now: Drop the Charges Against Bradley Manning Romi The railroading of Bradley Manning is getting out of control. Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, the investigating officer in Manning's Article 32 hearing has recommended that Manning face a court-martial for all 23 charges of which he is accused. 1 The charges Almanza has recommended are absurdly disproportionate to the acts Manning is accused of committing — the most egregious being "aiding the enemy," a charge that carries a possible penalty of life imprisonment. This charge rests on the government's dubious claim that Manning knowingly provided intelligence to terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, because he knew Wikileaks might publish the information on the internet. Almanza's recommendation will now move up the chain of command, where Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington will ultimately decide if Manning should be court-martialed, and on what charges. Can you help us stop this snowballing, unfounded attempt to paint Manning as a traitor? Call the Department of Defense right now, leave a message for Maj. Gen. Linnington asking him to drop the "aiding the enemy" charges against Bradley Manning. Click here for a phone number and a sample script: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/manning-call Manning's supporters see Lt. Col. Almanza's recommendation as just another step in what is becoming a sham trial. Almanza himself served as a prosecutor for the Justice Department, which is also investigating Manning, but refused to recuse himself as investigating officer. Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, claims the DOJ wants to flip Manning and have him testify against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.2 Of the 48 witnesses requested by Manning, Almanza only allowed 12 to testify - 10 of which were also requested by the government. Coombs has requested oral depositions of the denied witnesses, who he says have the potential to show how baseless the "aiding the enemy" charge really is. The fact that they were denied testimony in the first place says a lot about the reasoning behind such a severe accusation. This entire process has not only been insanely cruel, it is setting a dangerous precedent for how the government deals with whistleblowers. We must stand up to the overcharging of Bradley Manning. His life and the safety of all whistleblowers depend on it. Can you call the Department of Defense, and urge Maj. Gen. Linnington to use his power to stop the over-zealous prosecution of Bradley Manning? Call the Department of Defense right now, leave a message for Maj. Gen. Linnington asking him to drop the "aiding the enemy" charges against Bradley Manning. Click here for a phone number and a sample script: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/manning-call No matter the Army's decision, Firedoglake will continue to report on this case and organize actions in pursuit of a fair trial and, ultimately, justice for Bradley Manning. In solidarity, Brian Sonenstein Director of Online Activism, Firedoglake.com PS: If you can't call, consider chipping in $5 to support Firedoglake's continuous coverage of the Bradley Manning case: https://secure.firedoglake.com/page/contribute/manning-general 1. All Charges Against Bradley Manning Referred to Court Martial, Kevin Gosztola, The Dissenter, 1/12/2011. 2. Manning Defense Files Motion Requesting Article 32 Officer Recuse Himself, Kevin Gosztola, The Dissenter, 12/16/2011. ________________________________ Firedoglake's community of 350,000 activists is supported by small donations from people like you. Can you chip in to keep us strong? Click here to contribute. 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