The Private Hell of Private Bradley Manning

By David Mixner -

On January 19, lawyers for Pfc Bradley Mannings ( of Wikileaks fame) filed an Article 138 which protests the treatment and care of Manning. There is no question that since his arrest over five months ago that the young soldier has been living in a total hell. Most likely those horrible living conditions have been intentionally created by the military even though the Private has not been convicted of a single charge.


Since Manning arrived at Quantico, he has been held in unbelievably horrible conditions that consist of isolation and round the clock intrusion of his privacy. Two forensic psychiatrists have declared that Private Manning is of no danger to himself, has committed no violent acts and has no violent tendencies. Nevertheless that has failed to release him from solitary confinement. His living conditions constitute complete psychological torture for the very young prisoner. Clearly the military is intent on 'breaking him.' The defense team writes of his current conditions:

"....he is held in solitary confinement. For 23 hours per day, he will sit in his cell. The guards will check on him every five minutes by asking him if he is okay. PFC Manning will be required to respond in some affirmative manner. At night, if the guards cannot see him clearly, because he has a blanket over his head or is curled up towards the wall, they will wake him in order to ensure that he is okay. He will receive each of his meals in his cell. He will not be allowed to have a pillow or sheets. He will not be allowed to have any personal items in his cell. He will only be allowed to have one book or one magazine at any given time to read. The book or magazine will be taken away from him at the end of the day before he goes to sleep. He will be prevented from exercising in his cell. If he attempts to do push-ups, sit-ups, or any other form of exercise he will be forced to stop. He will receive one hour of exercise outside of his cell daily. The guards will take him to an empty room and allow him to walk. He will usually just walk in figure eights around the room until his hour is complete. When he goes to sleep, he will be required to strip down to his underwear and surrender his clothing to the guards. "

from International Business Times -

Bradley Manning is a 23-year-old U.S. Army private who was working in Iraq as an army intelligence analyst when he was arrested in May this year. He was enlisted in the US Army in 2007. Half-British and half-American, he was born in a small town in Oklahoma. His parents divorced in 2001 and he went back to the UK with his mother where he attended secondary school in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
He posted on his Facebook page jokes about 'military intelligence' being an oxymoron. He also wrote: "Bradley Manning is not a piece of equipment." Manning is openly gay and has been active in gay rights movements.

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