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Forum Post: Manning Statement During Sentencing

Posted 10 years ago on Aug. 16, 2013, 4:49 p.m. EST by TropicalDepression (-45)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Here is Army Pfc. Bradley Manning's statement Wednesday during the sentencing phase of his court-martial for leaking classified information through WikiLeaks:

"First, your honor, I want to start off with an apology. I am sorry that my actions hurt people. I'm sorry that they hurt the United States.

At the time of my decisions, as you know, I was dealing with a lot of issues, issues that are ongoing and continuing to affect me. Although a considerable difficulty in my life, these issues are not an excuse for my actions.

I understood what I was doing, and decisions I made. However, I did not fully appreciate the broader effects of my actions. Those factors are clear to me now, through both self-refection during my confinement in various forms, and through the merits and sentencing testimony that I have seen here.

I am sorry for the unintended consequences of my actions. When I made these decisions I believed I was going to help people, not hurt people. The last few years have been a learning experience. I look back at my decisions and wonder how on earth could I, a junior analyst, possibly believe I could change the world for the better (unintelligible) on decisions of those with the proper authority.

In retrospect, I should have worked more aggressively inside the system, as we discussed during the provenance statement. I had options, and I should have used these options.

Unfortunately, I can't go back and change things. I can only go forward. I want to go forward. Before I can do that, I understand that I must pay a price for my decisions and actions.

Once I pay that price, I hope to one day live in a manner that I haven't been able to in the past. I want to be a better person, to go to college, to get a degree and to have a meaningful relationship with my sister, with my sister's family and my family.

I want to be a positive influence in their lives, just as my Aunt Debra has been to me. I have flaws and issues that I have to deal with, but I know that I can and will be a better person.

I hope that you can give me the opportunity to prove, not through words, but through conduct, that I am a good person and that I can return to a productive place in society. Thank you, your honor."

6 Comments

6 Comments


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[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 10 years ago

Torture a guy enough, and he'll say anything.

Bradley Manning really did not have to make any apologies; he did more to help the American people, and the rest of the people in this world by what he did, considering the trouble caused, crimes, and transgressions committed by the the U.S. armed forces. They really ought be apologizing to him.

By the way, what ever happened to those collateral murderers?

[-] 1 points by summerbummer (-33) 10 years ago

Shule, "torture a guy enough".....

that was my 1st impression. His statements gave me the creeps. Solitary, with the light bulb on and every hour wake up calls....Manning has been brainwashed and broken. Where is the UN on Human Rights been since Manning was jailed? AND, do you suppose his treatment will get any better?

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 10 years ago

Yeh, I'm afraid he'll be a zombie by the time they are through with him in thirty five years.

[-] 3 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

Petition for Manning Peace Prize

http://rt.com/usa/bradley-manning-nobel-prize-410/

One guy makes a stand for peace, and is ignored and thrown in jail. Another attacks Africa and is awarded prizes for peacefulness.

What a system.

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

Bradley Manning deserves The Peace Prize, whereas Obomber deserves the streak of piss prize !!!

Solidarity @ BM & : http://www.bradleymanning.org/ . By ANY margin Bradley Manning is a hero !!

Anyone who pokes the Military Industrial War Machine deserves respect ~ remember Eisenhower !

fiat lux, fiat pax, fiat justitia ...

[-] 3 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

While the bombs keep dropping, and we are now force feeding tortured prisoners without even trying to hide it anymore, other people who attempt to shine a light on this corruption are arrested and charged.

Why are we supporting these people again?

The bar of acceptance in the duopoly continues to plunge.