FA_Q2
Gold Member
So, in a recent thread, TASB pointed out the very real lack of anything here speaking about what Manning actually released and why there are no people answering for the revelations that were gained from the released data. As we all now know (or I hope we do) Manning received a pretty hefty sentencing for his crimes. Note that is not the discussion for this thread though (that one is located here: http://www.usmessageboard.com/politics/309036-bradley-manning-sentenced-to-35-years.html). The opint of this thread is to highlight that, AFAIK, no one has been taken to task for the events that have been revealed that look very much to me like war crimes. I will start off with the Collateral Murder as the first point of contention and my comment on the other thread:
I do not like the fact that there is little discourse on this and that Manning is hanging without some more bodies next to him. They deserve it FAR more than he. What say you?
PS further crimes and/or incidents that Manning released that you want to bring into the discussion would be MUCH appreciated. Thank you.
[MENTION=29021]TakeAStepBack[/MENTION]
In this very thread, it's been shown this not to be true. There are rules to war internationally that the US helped author, and we have been ignoring those rules with immunity. Covering up killing civilians, the video that was labeled "doctored", clearly show those soldiers shooting at people that came to the aid of the initial targets. That's a crime. And it doesn't end there. But it's not really relevant anymore. After that videos exposure, the military "investigated" the incident and found that no one was behaving "outside the rules of engagement". Even though they clearly fired upon unarmed aids to those wounded. Including children.
It takes a massive fuckin' display of willful ignorance in order to not deal that in violation of international law.
In the end, it really doesn't matter. We have our man, and that's all that counts.
Besides, any official who may have been exposed, can simply claim umbrella against the USoA, and not take any direct responsibility for their actions. Such as the Bush admin getting a pardon for their crimes under this same fashion via Obama.
SO, if we can admit that the government and military top officials have not only the ability, but the apparent right to be immune from the law, then at least we have that. We have honesty. Which might be the first step to any recovery.
That bolded part is still not sitting well with me. I know the Geneva conventions and LOAC and it is drilled into us extensively. I watched that entire video twice (I dont really see the doctoring by the way) and I dont think anything they did up until that point would be a war crime but I am thoroughly confused as to how the firing on that vehicle was authorized when it was clearly getting the wounded individual. The individual was unarmed as the video continually pointed out (through the soldiers comm).
The helicopter is not the guilty party here they asked for permission and they received it. The scary part is that it was established that they were following the ROE. How that was allowed under the ROE is confusing me. It is not sitting well .
I do not like the fact that there is little discourse on this and that Manning is hanging without some more bodies next to him. They deserve it FAR more than he. What say you?
PS further crimes and/or incidents that Manning released that you want to bring into the discussion would be MUCH appreciated. Thank you.
[MENTION=29021]TakeAStepBack[/MENTION]