[tomder55]

Evidently Excon thinks it perfectly acceptable for a pfc to make the determination when it's OK to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice .

[excon]

Evidently Excon thinks it perfectly acceptable for a pfc to make the determination when it's ok to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice .

Hello tom:

You're exactly right.

Just like I'm able to read and understand the Constitution, I was able to read and understand the UCMJ. That didn't mean that I was supposed to countenance murder and keep my mouth shut, though. Was I able to distinguish murder from war? Yes, I was. Was this PFC able to make that same distinction? Yes, he was. Is it GOOD that he let us know what our military is doing in OUR names?? YES! Was it good that Daniel Ellsberg let us know what the government was doing in Vietnam?? YES!

excon

[tomder55]

It's not a pfc .who decided what is and what isn't 'classified ' or top-secret information .This type of release gives aid and comfort to the enemy;especially when handed over to hacks like Wikileaks who now evidently are sole arbiters of who an "innocent bystander" is in the middle of a battle(and a small portion of the battle field at that ).

The funny thing is the only reason he was caught was for releasing diplomatic exchanges between Evita and other world leaders .I guess that was OK too. Why not let specialist Manning run the Defense and State Depts too ?
He sees a small narrow part of the big picture and has no clue about the content of the stuff he released .

I hope his sense of patriotism is satisfied as he does 20 years hard labor . Maybe that will give him the time to contemplate how many American lives will be lost because of his actions .

[excon]

I hope his sense of patriotism is satisfied as he does 20 years hard labor . Maybe that will give him the time to contemplate how many American lives will be lost because of his actions .

Hello again, tom:

It's no surprise that we disagree. Ellsberg SAVED lives. So did this guy.

excon

[speechlesstx]

Until someone can point out exactly where the men in those helicopters weren't doing their job, there's nothing for this disgruntled pfc to leak. Reuters had already been allowed to view the video at the time their reporters were killed and have acknowledged it as “graphic evidence of the dangers involved in war journalism and the tragedies that can result.” Bad stuff happens in war, but where was the crime?

[tomder55]

Hello again, tom:

It's no surprise that we disagree. Ellsberg SAVED lives. So did this guy.

excon

How did he save lives ? There was nothing in the Pentagon Papers that was current. Much of it dated back to Ike! They would not have even made a dent in the debate over the war had Nixon not over-reacted to them.

Yes the Pentagon Papers showed that a bunch of war options were considered and planned throughout the history of the conflict , including the expansion of the war despite Johnson's denial during a Presidential campaign . [Remember Wilson's campaign in 1916 'He kept us out of the war " ? Politicians sometimes lie... duh ]

The sad part about the whole affair is that because of Nixon's illegal activities Ellsburg walked .

Ironically even Ellsburg had lines he wouldn't cross including the release of diplomatic exchanges . Mattingly needs to understand how dangerous and irresponsible that is . Under UCMJ there are proper avenues for him to take what he knows if he thinks something is wrong(including to Congress) . It is not up to him to decide what should or shouldn't be classified... end of story !

Ellsburg and Mattingly may think that by acting outside the rule of law that they are as noble as Thoreau .But Mattingly should pray every day that revised ROEs etc that come from such revelations don't cost any of his brothers in arm their lives . Save lives indeed !

They both undermine the legitimate protection our legal system affords to national security secrets and the elected officials who make that determination ;and sets up the leaker as the sole arbiter of the public's right to know.

[paraclete]

I hope his sense of patriotism is satisfied as he does 20 years hard labor . .

Ah patriotism, I think I have have heard that as the defense of a scoundrel