P.J. Crowley: Bradley Manning Comments Caused 'No Regrets'

Former State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley said Monday that he felt "no regrets" over the comments that sparked his resignation.

Crowley, in his first public remarks since stepping down on March 13, told the BBC, "I thought the treatment of Bradley Manning was undermining what I considered to be a very legitimate prosecution of an individual who has profoundly affected US national security."

Manning, who is alleged to be WikiLeaks' source for the diplomatic cables that were released in 2010, has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest in May of 2010. The conditions of his detention, which Glenn Greenwald of Salon called "inhumane," have sparked protests by supporters and rights activists.

Crowley told the BBC that he didn't realize his comments would start such a firestorm. "Quite honestly I didn't necessarily think the controversy would go as far as it did but I don't regret saying what I said," the BBC quotes him as saying.

At the time, Crowley called the conditions in which Manning is being held, which include being being stripped naked and sleeping without a pillow or blanket, "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid," Foreign Policy confirmed at the time. "None the less Bradley Manning is in the right place," Crowley reportedly added at the lecture, which was organized by MIT's Center for Future Civic Media.

Days after the comments came to light, Crowley resigned from his position after pressure from the Obama administration. He issued a statement saying, "The unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a serious crime under U.S. law. My recent comments regarding the conditions of the pre-trial detention of Private First Class Bradley Manning were intended to highlight the broader, even strategic impact of discreet actions undertaken by national security agencies every day and their impact on our global standing and leadership."

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who insists he had never heard the name Bradley Manning until he "read it in a magazine," has called Manning a "political prisoner."

Comments

[bccmeteorites]

08:55 PM on 05/25/2011

affected US national security = affected US national lies, distortions and corruption.

[Wu Bing]

10:23 AM on 05/01/2011

http://www.coachoutletsstore.org

[Wu Bing]

10:22 AM on 05/01/2011

Coach outlet stores

[brux]

01:42 PM on 04/05/2011

It is clear that lots of nasty stuff is boing done and lied about by our government and private institutions. There is no "public" anything anymore, and pretty soon who knows what this society will morph into as children grow up with no real connection to our real history as a people, or connection to community and each other except for money and TV. We are being isolated so we can be even better cogs in the machine ... so whatever attacks that, reveals that, sheds the secrets of this machine, in my book is a big heroic plus.

The problem is with the santimonious, patriotic, holier than thou, leaders of out industry and country who have gotten us to this point and dehumanized so many people so they can pretend to be bit shots.

[cathleen]

01:28 PM on 03/30/2011

If we had a media that actually did their jobs before the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq and after..you know count the dead, injured, displaced in Iraq, showed the American people what their government was/is really doing. There would be no need for Bradley Manning, Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

Bradley Manning is a hero. Crowley told the truth and was canned

[gurukalehuru]

05:13 PM on 03/29/2011

How long does it take to give a guy a trial? What are they waiting for? More witnesses? More evidence? There is no excuse for this.

[brux]

01:44 PM on 04/05/2011

They are waiting for him to go crazy under the torturous pressure.

If they give him a trial just like the terrorists he has a platform to speak from, and they cannot stand that.

Our government really does need to be cut open and dissected for all to see.

[joebiteme]

05:00 PM on 03/29/2011

Typical state dept official they never have any skin in the game and then critique others. Good riddance

[Eris23]

12:49 PM on 03/29/2011

""I thought the treatment of Bradley Manning was undermining what I considered to be a very legitimate prosecution of an individual who has profoundly affected US national security.""

Now, perhaps I'm mistaken here. But, maybe this is a genius multi-dimensional chess move Obama is making specifically so Manning can't be convicted?

[JavaSavant]

04:18 PM on 03/29/2011

I gave up on that theory long ago. He has done the exact opposite of too many of his campaign promises, without a single "surprise reversal", for this to be the case.

The sad truth is that he really IS a conservative. He may be fairly centrist socially, but in everything else he is Bush squared.

Take a look at who he surrounds himself with. Goldman Sachs is everywhere, he hired the tax guru from GE, his deficit commission was _designed_ to reduce Social Security, Kagan is practically a presidential monarchist.

[owiseone]

12:14 PM on 03/29/2011

Crowley has the courage of his own convictions. Just because he worked for the State Department did not mean he had to sell his soul. Pity his words brought no change for Manning who is in a limbo of no trial, no conviction apparently, yet imprisoned indefinitely under the harshest conditions.

[jtabs]

12:10 PM on 03/29/2011

Why should he, "I said what I meant and I meant what I said"

[julescator]

11:40 AM on 03/29/2011

And you were undermining your Boss. Good riddance. Now you can get paid for your opinon. Any takers?

[Dr. Jonathan David Farley]

12:23 PM on 03/29/2011

I don't see how that undermines his boss, unless it's Obama stripping Manning every day.

[julescator]

01:13 PM on 03/29/2011

His Boss was Hillary Clinton. He worked for her and as a high ranking member of her administration, he is responsible for either answering the questions as per HER guidelines or abstaining from answsering. When you take a position such as his, you know the rules. We can't afford to have him speaking and saying something quite opposite of Sect. Clinton. It undermines her. If he is in total disagreement, he is free to resign, as he did.

[cityprof]

12:31 PM on 03/29/2011

No boss should be afraid of dissent from within the ranks. Unfortunately, too many bosses want only yes men and get rid of those who point out they aren't wearing anything.

[julescator]

01:16 PM on 03/29/2011

His boss was the Secretary of State of the United States. What she says and what he says reverberates around the world in a nano second. He can't utter statements that are in direct conflict with hers. National Security, pending Department of Justice cases etc. are affected. Unfortunately, it's the same in Corporate America if you go on the record saying something completely opposite of your CEO, espeicially if you are a high ranking executive - Not Prudent!

[GeorgeP922]

11:16 AM on 03/29/2011

God Bless you Mr Crowley.

You are an American hero who will live in our history books.
Standing up for not just American citizens, but our soldiers.

And you can thank Bradely Manning for spreading Democracy all over the middle east.

[iisguy]

11:37 AM on 03/29/2011

Dont think he will make in to the history books in Texas. He'll be wirtten out like civil rights.

[Dr. Jonathan David Farley]

12:25 PM on 03/29/2011

Um, he didn't really stand up for American citizens: he just called the treatment "counterproductive" and agrees with the prosecution.

[Patrick Shaw]

11:15 AM on 03/29/2011

I am for solitary confinement for anyone who hums to Lady Gaga while the music is NOT playing in the background or is coming outta their earbuds.

[progressiveconnie]

11:11 AM on 03/29/2011

GOOD MORNING!!! MY FELLOW HOMO SAPIENS WHICH MEANS THE SPECIES WHO IS WISE.
Any truthtellers or anyone standing for truth and justice in the Obama Administration will either be tortured, jailed without charges or trial or fired - so much for the rule of law!!