TBD on Ning
A Few Good Men...
No, it is not Tom Curise, or for that matter, Demi Moore, and no, not as good looking in a uniform, is Brandley Manning. But that is the point, Manning, PFC Manning is in the Army and subject to the Code of Military Justice.
Manning is subject to that Code and this is not a civilian proceeding, it is a court martial, where the judge is an officer, Army Col. Denise Lind, who will render the verdict today, as to Manning's guilty on the charges, including aiding and abetting the enemy. This is not a civilian trial, and as such, dealing with the enemy is a very serious charge, and has very hash penalties, and has to as to military discipline and operations.
It is not an issue that PFC Manning is going to serve time in the stockade, that is already a given, as Manning has already admitted to ten charges, and will spend a lot of time regardless of what Col. Lind decides.
As to whether PFC Manning was a whistle blower is however, not pertinent to this case, what is pertinent is how the military works and how those in have to comply and comport themselves to their superiors and to the military. PFC Manning violated that Code and will and should get serious and harsh punishment. As to being fair, and doing a service to the country, that is another issue.
We have had such an example before, where the public benefit and military justice did in the end align, that was Lt. Calley and Mi Lai. The point of that trial was it brought home the Viet Nam War in a way most had never considered. As to PFC Manning, has he brought the War on Terror home, as to what the government was doing and how the military was executing that war, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And the question is,
Jessup(Nicholson): I'll answer the question. You want answers?
Kaffee(Cruise): I think I'm entitled!
Jessup: You want answers?!
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessup: You can't handle the truth!
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know, that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like "honor", "code", "loyalty". We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
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