Bradley Manning: Hero or Convict?
The Bradley Manning case is something that I had heard a few passing comments about but I was not familiar with the case facts at all. The hot headlines of the press are what I usually tend to avoid because it always seems like they twist and turn the facts just to get a hot hitting story. Also, this is a high profile case that there are no in between commentators for. There are two sides to this national scandal. First you are either all for Manning because you believe he is a hero and being punished to strictly or you think he is a terrible person and deserves everything he has gotten plus more. Manning is accused of sending more than 700,000 diplomatic and military secrets to the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks. So far this has been the largest lead in the United States of classified material. Many legal experts think this case could affect freedom of speech especially the internet and journalism. Freedom of speech is stated in the first amendment of the constitution of the United States. The first amendment remains very broad and sometimes some very debatable decisions have been made based on the freedom of speech. Included in the freedom of speech is the use of internet. It is given the same freedoms books, magazines, films, and journalism. The Bradley Manning case could possibly have a dramatic effect on freedom of speech as we know it.
Bradley Manning was a very young and naïve soldier who access to very powerful information. He never meant any harm to the United States national security or his fellow soldiers. However, after seeing such horrible crimes that were being held from public knowledge he felt it was his duty to inform the public about what was occurring. Manning thought it was his not only his moral duty but moral obligation to let the public in on this valuable information. It should be proven that the military is at fault for entrusting such valuable and enormous information with such a young soldier. We have a country that is built on the freedom of speech. Also, our country believes in government accountability and informed citizens. However, it does appear from the documents that leaked that our government found need not to inform us of much military activity. Also, if Mr. Manning is found guilty this could affect future journalists and whistleblowers. They would not come forward with needed information that we the people need and our government felt the need to keep us uninformedFreedom of speech, which covers freedom on the internet and in journalism, is an important part of our Constitution. There should not be a penalty for employees or servicemen that try to keep the world informed of such valuable and important information. If Manning is found guilty this will affect the Freedom of Speech in our country for countless years. Whistle blowers are needed since our government is so enormous and very secretive and non-transparent on military actions. Many people will be frightened to step forward with information that could valuable because they would be scared of being unjustly punished. This case is a relentless attack on free speech; therefore, Manning should not be found in this area to protect Americans freedom of speech for years to come.
Bradley Manning had a responsibility in the military to protect the national interest. When he went into the military, he took an oath of office. Nowhere in the oath was it stated to let the American people know what actually occurred within the military. Manning leaked sensitive documents without authorization. These classified documents got into the hands of the enemies of the United States; therefore, he aided the enemy. He disclosed the documents with full knowledge of knowing what he did. This not only caused significant damage to the United States military but the United States and each citizen. The government is still trying to repair some damage. He violated the law in the worst way by being a custodian of classified documents and then taking it upon himself to think world need to be informed of these situations. Many people on a day to day basis work with very personal and sensitive documents. Many times you sign a form stating work information stays at work. Also, a person has his or her ethical values they live by each and every day. They keep the sensitive information private. For instance, I work at a local CPA firm. During tax season, I e-filed or mailed many thousands of tax returns. Never would I dreams of dumping the information on the internet for the world to see because I want them to know how much money some rich people or how might use the tax codes to their advantage to pay less taxes. Bradley Manning knew exactly what he was doing and it is not a precedent that we as a nation should establish as the right thing to do. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Manning abused his first amendment freedom of speech. When I first started researching this case I did not know much about it, but what little bit I did know it was apparent he should prosecuted accordingly. However, upon research it bothers me what this will do to our freedom of speech in journalism and on the internet. In the future whistleblowers or inside sources could have the potential to be prosecuted for capital offenses. This is not what our Fist Amendment freedom of speech stands for.