Bradley Manning: Troubled Young American Hero

By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News

22 December 11

Reader Supported News | Perspective

here is no ignoring the fact that Bradley Manning is a troubled young man who needed help in the months leading up to his deployment, and during the time he was in Iraq. The government and the defense highlighted his outbursts during his Article 32 hearing. They also presented evidence that Manning had self-diagnosed himself as having a gender identity disorder.

The government is attempting to discredit Manning, while the defense is portraying the Army as negligent for allowing him continued access to classified material after several emotional outbursts. That is the kind of story the corporate media would like us to focus on. But, whether or not Manning was emotionally stable only serves as a distraction from the real story.

Did the US military commit atrocities in Iraq? Would Manning have been guilty of aiding in those atrocities if he had looked the other way? Is Bradley Manning a hero for exposing the abuses of our government and other countries?

We must not let Manning's personal flaws overshadow the results of his heroic action. The State Department cables he is accused of leaking were the spark for the Arab Spring, which has led to movements around the world for economic equality.

Manning's Article 32 hearings focused on the government's case. Historically, the defense only counters the evidence presented by the prosecution, and waits until trial to present its real defense. We should withhold judgment until we hear the true motivation for his actions.

The leaking of the "Collateral Damage" video had nothing to do with his sexual orientation. The leaking of the State Department cables had nothing to do with his mental stability. The real question is: Why didn't others blow the whistle on the crimes being committed in Iraq and other countries throughout the world?

Remember, when Nazis were tried for war crimes, following orders and honoring a security clearance were not valid defenses. Bradley Manning did the right thing; those who honored their clearances and remained silent are the real criminals.

I attended three days of Manning's Article 32 hearing, and not once did I hear anything about the criminal activities that Manning shed light on. Let us hope that if this case goes to a court martial we hear more about Manning's true motives and less about his emotional problems, problems that need treatment - not ridicule.

Bradley Manning is a hero, a hero with flaws. Like every other hero, he is only human.

Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.

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