From: Pat Krommer [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2012 7:42 PM Subject: [Icujp-discuss] Nobel Prize Winners Say Bradley Manning Deserves Americans' Support for Military Whistleblowin "Much as when high-ranking officials in the <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usa> United States and Britain misled the public in 2003 by saying there was an imminent need to invade Iraq to stop them from using weapons of mass destruction...the world's most powerful elites have again insulted international opinion and the intelligence of many citizens by withholding facts regarding Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks...
"...If Bradley Manning released the documents attributed to him, we should express to him our gratitude for his efforts toward accountability in government, informed democracy and peace." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33056.htm Nobel Prize Winners Say Bradley Manning Deserves Americans' Support for Military Whistleblowing Thanks to WikiLeaks, US citizens are better informed about wars prosecuted in their name. We owe Manning honour, not jail time By Desmond Tutu, Mairead Corrigan-Maguire and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel November 16, 2012 " <http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/16/bradley-manning-america ns-support?CMP=twt_gu> The Guardian" - - -- Last week, PFC Bradley Manning offered to accept responsibility for releasing classified documents as an act of conscience not as charged by the US military. As people who have worked for decades against the increased militarization of societies and for international cooperation to end war, we have been deeply dismayed by his treatment. The military under the Obama administration has displayed a desire to over-prosecute whistleblowing with life-in-prison charges including espionage and "aiding the enemy", a disturbing decision which is no doubt intended to set an example. We have dedicated our lives to working for peace because we have seen many faces of armed conflict and violence, and we understand that no matter the cause of war, civilians always bear the brunt of the cost. With today's advanced military technology and the continued ability of business and political elites to filter what information is made public, there exists a great barrier to many citizens being fully aware of the realities and consequences of conflicts in which their country is engaged. Responsible governance requires fully informed citizens who can question their leadership. For those citizens worldwide who do not have direct, intimate knowledge of war, yet are still affected by rising international tensions and failing economies, WikiLeaks releases attributed to Bradley Manning have provided unparalleled access to important facts. Revealing covert crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and corporations' pervasive influence in governance, this window into the realities of modern international relations has changed the world for the better. While some of these documents may demonstrate how much work lies ahead in terms of securing international peace and justice, they also highlight the potential of the internet as a forum for citizens to participate more directly in civic discussion and creative government accountability projects. Questioning authority, as a soldier, is not easy. But it can, at times, be honorable. Words attributed to Bradley Manning reveal that he went through a profound moral struggle between the time he enlisted and when he became a whistleblower. Through his experience in Iraq, witnessing suffering of innocent civilians and soldiers alike, he became disturbed by top-level policy that undervalued human life. Like other courageous whistleblowers, he was driven foremost by a desire to reveal the truth. PFC Bradley Manning said in chat logs attributed to him that he hoped the <http://firedoglake.com/merged-manning-lamo-chat-logs/> releases would bring "debates, discussions and reform", and condemned the ways in which the "first world exploits the third." Much of the world regards PFC Manning as a hero for these efforts toward peace and transparency, and he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/nobelpeaceprize> as a result. Much as when high-ranking officials in the United States <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usa> and Britain misled the public in 2003 by saying there was an imminent need to invade Iraq to stop them from using weapons of mass destruction, however, the world's most powerful elites have again insulted international opinion and the intelligence of many citizens by withholding facts regarding Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks. The military prosecution has not presented evidence that, by releasing secret documents, PFC Manning injured anyone, and they have asserted in court that the charge of "aiding the enemy through indirect means" does not require them to. Nor have they denied that his motivations were conscientious; they have simply argued they are irrelevant. In ignoring this context, and recommending a much more severe punishment for Bradley Manning than is given to US soldiers guilty of murdering civilians, military leadership is sending a chilling warning to other soldiers who would feel compelled by conscience to reveal misdeeds. It is our belief that leaders who use fear to govern, rather than sharing wisdom born from facts, cannot be just. We Nobel Peace Prize laureates condemn the persecution Bradley Manning has suffered, including imprisonment in conditions declared "cruel, inhuman and degrading" by the United Nations <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/unitednations> , and call upon US citizens to stand up in support of this whistleblower who defended their democratic rights. In the conflict in Iraq alone, more than 110,000 people have died since 2003, millions have been displaced, and nearly 4,500 American soldiers have been killed. If someone needs to be held accountable for endangering Americans and civilians, let's first take the time to examine the evidence regarding high-level crimes already committed, and what lessons can be learned. If Bradley Manning released the documents attributed to him, we should express to him our gratitude for his efforts toward accountability in government, informed democracy and peace. For further information, visit the <http://www.bradleymanning.org/> Bradley Manning Support Network * * * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/gilad-sharon-israel-gaza-op-ed_n_21 55932.html Gilad Sharon, Son Of Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Writes Op-Ed: 'We Need To Flatten Entire Neighborhoods In Gaza', "The Americans didnt stop with Hiroshima the Japanese werent surrendering fast enough, so they hit Nagasaki, too." <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/gilad-sharon-israel-gaza-op-ed_n_2 155932.html?view=print&comm_ref=false> The Huffington Post | By <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-goldberg> Adam Goldberg <http://twitter.com/ajgoldberg> <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/gilad-sharon-israel-gaza-op-ed_n_2 155932.html#> Posted: 11/18/2012 6:57 pm EST Updated: 11/19/2012 "We need to flatten entire neighborhoods in Gaza. Flatten all of Gaza," states Sharon in The Jerusalem Post. The violence between Israel and Hamas this week <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/israeli-air-strike-palestinians-ga za-killed_n_2154535.html> has reportedly claimed the lives of 81 Palestinians, including 37 civilians, as well as 3 Israeli civilians. Current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that "the Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the operation." Sharon writes in his op-ed, <http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?ID=292466&R=R1&; utm_> entitled "A decisive conclusion is necessary," that "the residents of Gaza are not innocent, they elected Hamas. The Gazans arent hostages; they chose this freely, and must live with the consequences." After saying that Israel needs to "flatten all of Gaza," he goes on to say, "The Americans didnt stop with Hiroshima the Japanese werent surrendering fast enough, so they hit Nagasaki, too." He concludes his defense of Israel's actions with a hawkish message: "There is no middle path here either the Gazans and their infrastructure are made to pay the price, or we reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip. Otherwise there will be no decisive victory. And were running out of time we must achieve victory quickly. The Netanyahu government is on a short international leash. Soon the pressure will start and a million civilians cant live under fire for long. This needs to end quickly with a bang, not a whimper." A bio on the website for HarperCollins Publishers <http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/34867/Gilad_Sharon/index.aspx> describes Sharon as follows: Gilad Sharon is the youngest of former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharons sons. Gilad holds a masters degree in economics and writes a column for the prominent Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. A major in the Israel Defense Force reserves, he currently manages his familys farm in Israel. Sharon isn't alone in his militant tone. <http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/145581/LIVE-BLOG-DAY-4%3A- Operation-Pillar-Of-Defense-%5BUPDATED-7%3A43PM-IL%5D.html> Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai is reported by The Yeshiva World News <http://huff.to/Xohwj4> to have said, "We must blow Gaza back to the Middle Ages, destroying all the infrastructure including roads and water." Haaretz also reports <http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/live-blog-idf-prepares-for-gr ound-invasion-as-gaza-offensive-enters-fourth-day-1.478505> that Yishai stated, "The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages." President Barack Obama <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/obama-israel-gaza_n_2154008.html> said on Sunday that the United States is "fully supportive of Israel's right to defend itself." The violent conflict <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/israeli-air-strike-palestinians-ga za-killed_n_2154535.html> continued on Sunday as Palestinian militants fired more than 100 rockets into Israel, and one of Israel's missile strikes killed at least 11 civilians. _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2793 / Virus Database: 2629/5905 - Release Date: 11/19/12 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
