Bradley Manning Supports' Billboard Goes Up On Major D.C. Commuter Route

WASHINGTON -- Supporters of Army Pvt. Bradley Manning, who is facing a court martial for allegedly providing secret government documents to WikiLeaks, have put up a billboard on a busy commuter route in the nation's capital, traveled by many going between the District of Columbia and Fort Meade, Md., where the Oklahoma native faces a potential court martial.

The billboard, on New York Avenue NE, reads "Free Bradley Manning," followed by "Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime" and a website address for the Bradley Manning Support Network, which paid for the sign.

New York Avenue which carries U.S. Route 50 in and out of the nation's capital, connects downtown to highway routes heading to Annapolis, Baltimore and points father up the East Coast. During rush hour, the route experiences regular traffic backups, giving commuters greater exposure to the billboard's message.

Billboards are not allowed on the federally controlled Baltimore-Washington Parkway, a major commuter route adjacent to Fort Meade, home to the National Security Agency, the Defense Information School and other military facilities.

As The Washington Post reports, the sign costs $16,000 for the month.

Last year, as funds were being raised for the billboard, supporters could vote on proposed versions.

Manning, who attended pre-trial hearings last month at Fort Meade, could face life in prison if convicted. As the McClatchy newspapers reported on Dec. 22:

It's a near-certainty that Manning ... will next face a court-martial, but experts say that it's unclear whether the government will be able to prove its most serious charge against the former Army intelligence analyst -- that he aided the enemy.

A ruling is expected to come on Monday whether Manning will face a court martial.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[alloomis]

05:37 PM on 03/12/2012

'aiding the enemy' is a problem. but for the american government, and most others, the truth is the enemy and manning was indeed useful in assisting that enemy. guilty as charged.

the government of the usa is a blot on the face of humanity, but in general terms, it is representative of the quality of the american people: ignorant, vindictive, selfish, and quite unconcerned about the activities of its military on the people of foreign nations.

[eschew obfuscation]

11:06 PM on 01/11/2012

As a low ranking enlistee, Manning was in no position whatsoever to assess what potential damage could be done to US security interests by the willfull disclosure of classified State Department memos. The extent of the damage he's responsible for won't be fully known for decades. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is pretty clear when it comes to aiding an enemy of the United States. As a US Army Military Intelligence veteran who served in Vietnam, I hope they throw the book at this lowlife. He is absolutely a disgrace to the uniform and the oath he took when he enlisted.

[arabbit]

11:53 AM on 01/13/2012

So how do you feel about prosecuting the torturers? No doubt you support them.

[The Brain]

07:03 PM on 01/14/2012

And its torture because you say it is?

[logicanada]

01:45 PM on 02/20/2012

The Military Uniform Code of Justice is pretty clear about murdering unarmed civilians for sport. . .. even if they are not Vietnamese.

[Darth Cheney]

01:20 PM on 01/11/2012

There have been reports these releases have resulted in deaths.

He's a traitor and should get Life in prison. But..If deaths are confirmed he should get the same.

(my opinion is not required to have innocent until proven)

[Darrion Beckles]

03:46 PM on 01/11/2012

The man did an honorable thing.

[Darth Cheney]

04:07 PM on 01/11/2012

How is betraying an oath you took at all honorable?

If he felt a moral obligation to break an oath then we have whistleblower protections available through other avenues.

[ta2t2o]

03:54 PM on 01/11/2012

I agree 100% - I'm incredibly liberal. The sources and methods used to gather the intelligence he exposed could result in loss of lives as well as incredible cost associated with those intelligence gathering methods that are then no longer viable. You specifically sign documentation when you receive a clearance (and when you take the Oath upon enlistment/commissioning) that you will not do things like this - and if you do - you accept the consequences fully. The nature of what he disclosed is irrelevant. The fact that he disclosed it willfully and maliciously is what's at the core of the issue here.

[kizzie]

09:30 PM on 01/11/2012

Is it malicious to inform the public of wrongdoing that is going on in our country's name that leaves scars on our reputation? I think not.

[arabbit]

12:01 PM on 01/13/2012

Being slightly left of Ghengis Khan isn't liberal in my book.

[josh2082]

01:12 PM on 01/11/2012

"experts say that it's unclear whether the government will be able to prove its most serious charge against the former Army intelligence analyst -- that he aided the enemy."

From what I understand, they simply need to prove the intent of his actions, not the results. According to the Uniform Code of Justice (http://www.constitution.org/mil/ucmj19970615.htm):

"(c) A sentence of death may be adjudged by a court-martial for an offense under this section (article) only if the members unanimously find, beyond a reasonable doubt, one or more of the following aggravating factors:

(1) The accused has been convicted of another offense involving espionage or treason for which either a sentence of death or imprisonment for life was authorized by statute.

(2) In the commission of the offense, the accused knowingly created a grave risk of substantial damage to the national security.

(3) In the commission of the offense, the accused knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person.

(4) Any other factor that may be prescribed by the President by regulations under section 836 of this title (Article 36)."

The words in the law say created a a grave risk. Not that the risk produced any results, but that the actions taken were done in order to create situations where naitonal security was put at risk.

[neighborhoodmole]

12:25 PM on 01/12/2012

The intent of Manning's alleged actions is pretty clear from the chat logs, he wanted to do good, not harm. There was no indication in the chat logs of ill intent to the US. When prompted by Lamo, he even denied he wanted to profit from the information of give it to a US enemy. I will concede that harm could have come from this reckless release, but so far there is no actual evidence, the prosecution failed to producing anything but a lame propaganda video that simply denounced the US which they always do anyway.

[The Brain]

07:06 PM on 01/14/2012

Manning's intent or motivations are not relevant. Even if your intent was "good" you still may be executed. Additionally the rules do not require actual harm merely the grave possibility of one.

[Talk2PassiveActionVital]

01:06 PM on 01/11/2012

...and the picture of the billboard is...where?

Oh, here.

http://www.bradleymanning.org/news/supporters-erect-washington-billboard-ahead-of-pending-trial-announcement

[First Blast]

11:09 AM on 01/11/2012

If it is written in English, only 5-8% of the population here will able to read it.

[SportyJim]

11:48 AM on 01/11/2012

I'm pretty sure they know "Traitor"

[intellifran]

12:23 PM on 01/11/2012

F&F!!!!!

[Darrion Beckles]

03:48 PM on 01/11/2012

The only traitors are the media that cover up the truth and our politicians that sell us out for money and cheap favors.

This man is a hero.

[ta2t2o]

03:58 PM on 01/11/2012

Not sure of you're point there. Either you're indicating that the folks in DC are illiterate or you're indicating that there are a lot of non-English speaking people in DC. Considering that this is the city where most other countries have their embassies in the US - it serves to make your statement either totally insulting of the education level of those in DC (which happens to beone of the locations of the US with the highest average income per capita), or you're woefully ignorant in your own right (which I suspect) and don't really know much about your nation's capital or the educational background of the people there.

[l monroe]

08:34 PM on 01/11/2012

You obviously don't know sarcasm when you see it