After being delayed yesterday, the defense team for PFC Bradley Manning gave their closing arguments today in court. Defense attorney David Coombs focused most of his energy on poking holes in the prosecution’s case, accusing them of creating a story that was not based in truth to fit the charges that were levied against PFC Manning. “The government gave a diatribe yesterday, and a lot of it was not based in fact,” stated Coombs. In one moment, Coombs even referred to the government’s case as having “child logic.”
As has been the strategy for the entire trial, the defense focused on the reasoning behind Manning’s release of the footage and logs. Coombs played multiple clips from the “Collateral Murder” video at the center of the trial in an attempt to put the court in the state of mind of a young soldier seeing war crimes committed on video.
The defense also brought into question the comprehension of the rules in question by PFC Manning and his fellow soldiers. Coombs argued that “No one truly understood rules” of what was allowed around digital media or executable files that the soldiers had access to, after making the point that the war logs that were leaked contained events that were “observable by the enemy.”
For their final blow, the defense chose to poke holes in the credibility of one of the government’s witnesses who testified regarding how the information that PFC Manning released was valued. The defense argued that even though the prosecution’s witness Daniel Lewis testified about how the information was valued, he not only had no experience doing so, but testified without the court verifying him as an expert. This pokes holes in a lot of the government’s arguments around PFC Manning’s violations of the Espionage Act.
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Though there will be no verdict today or over the weekend, there is a verdict expected by July 31. As always, keep it locked to Queerty for details as they come in, and much thanks to our friends over at Firedoglake.com who’ve been doing amazing first-hand reporting on the case.
onyxsky
child logic is right. i think they don’t even believe the bullshit they have pulled out of their asses.
2eo
Of course they’re not based in fact, the facts prove unequivocally that nobody was harmed and the tacked on charges of anarchy and spying are outright fabrications, an objective look at the evidence proves this is absolutely correct.
To find him guilty is a death knell in the American empire, it shows the government treats it’s own citizens as enemies of the state, how long before it’s you.
BlogZilla
@2eo: Grow up. We didn’t sign a clause when we joined the military saying that any act of treason may be punishable by death or court martial like Bradley Manning did.
Fawkes
@BlogZilla: Clearly you know nothing about the military, so allow me to educate you. When one enlists in the United States military, one takes an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution, not the government and all its nasty little secrets. Defending the rule of law is precisely what Bradley Manning did, and it is a true testament as to how out of control this government is that they would prosecute him for breaking no law and putting no one in harm’s way.
2eo
@Fawkes: Do you notice that it’s always those of lesser intelligence that believe this drivel about traitors?, surprised he didn’t trot out the usual line of “nothing to hide, nothing to fear”.
Notice he’s into Homeopathy, which tells you what he and what he thinks is worth.
Defending the constitution and having a conscience are NOT crimes.
JT Hawkins
@BlogZilla: Do not feed the trolls.
2eo
@JT Hawkins: Calling Fawkes and myself trolls is a bit rich given your transphobic posts don’t you think?
JT Hawkins
@2eo: Transphobic? Just because you say something doesn’t mean that it is true. That was truly a troll thing to write. LOL!!!
JT Hawkins
@2eo: Do not feed the trolls.
BJ McFrisky
If the prosecutor’s case is, as the defense claims, filled with inaccuracies, then the jury will acquit. But, of course, that’s just lawyer-speak coming from Manning’s team, and this traitorous little whisp of human flesh is going away, and will wonder every day why he felt so compelled to commit an act of treason against his own countrymen that landed his ass in jail for eternity.
Let it be a lesson that if you hate your country, don’t try to fight it from within—just leave. I understand Europe is in need of more crazy liberals to run it into bankruptcy.
Kieran
This case hasn’t received anywhere near the same attention and scrutiny that the corrupt US newsmedia gave to the George-Trayvon shooting case. I wonder why?
miphill
@Fawkes, What you said is true to a point. When one joins the military one does take an oath to support and defend the Constitutions. Which is the same thing as saying you will defend the government by the way. My main point however is when you apply or are selected for certain jobs within the military you do sign an agreement stating what you cannot do with the information your are exposed too and what you will be charged with if you break that contractual promise. It is true not every member of the of the armed forces signs such agreements. I signed such a statement over 35 years ago and to my knowledge I have never disclosed to anyone the information I was exposed too… Do you honestly think our government did not track every phone call to and from the US to USSR and it’s satellites countries during the Cold War… Well at least after the technology allowed us to do so… I personally think this guy was bored and unhappy in the job he was assigned… But if memory serves me correctly we all hated our jobs back then, same ole thing boring, day in day out… But in all that boredom we never exposed our countries classified information to get attention…
I’m sorry if you feel the need to criticize me for having this position. For the record I’m gay married man who was discharged from the military for homosexuality because I was observed going into a gay bar in Norfolk VA (long before DADT)…Even though I have a reason to despise my government I will never betray it either. The person you are defending did betray our government and by extension the American people collectively. Real damage has been done by the release of the technology capabilities used and has put human assets in danger around the world.
onyxsky
@BJ McFrisky: “traitorous little whisp of human flesh”? how did he betray us? how did he aid the enemy? please explain.
2eo
@onyxsky: They will never, ever post any proof that he is a traitor, because it is literally impossible because none exists. Whereas 100% of the proof that this hasn’t happened exists everywhere and in all the documents released and all the expert and actual analysis shows this to be the case.
They think this kangaroo court that has already decided his guilt months ago will vindicate their right win lunacy. Milphil is the worst kind of soldier, one without conscience and a fundamentally inferior being who is only a cog and nothing else, expendable, useless bodies with a gun lacking dignity and respect.
miphill
@2eo… First of all I wasn’t a solider… but you felt in order to win your argument you needed to resort to questioning my character, stating that i am inferior human being even expendable…However not once did you comment or argue on my remarks, why because you can’t You do realize that as a gay person that is the exact same attitude i have faced all my life from those who feel gay people do not deserve basic human rights. Are you so certain in your believe of this kid who i would bet you have never even met and i would guess never would have heard of had he not discovered Wiki-leaks. For the record. I shot a 45 2 times in my military career. Also for the record I believe in the dignity and respect of all human being including you and myself…
miphill
@ BJ McFrisky, The greatest achievements of this country have been the result of liberal policies. The only conservative policy that had any success was Reagan’s policy to bankrupt the USSR by a massive military buildup. Unfortunately the legacy will always be that he almost bankrupted the US by his massive spending coupled with tax breaks for the rich and famous… I do agree with you that Manning is a Traitor but liberals are the only salvation this country has as we move forward. Lastly I hear Russia is becoming even more conservative and most likely in need of more crazy conservatives to run it into financial and moral bankruptcy.
2eo
@miphill: Not in the slightest, you claimed your military background as an appear to authority argument, I addressed your use as such and posed the counter that I do not respect those who drinbk the military kool-aid. I respect the fighters for our liberties like Bradley Manning and the hundreds of thousands of honest soldiers who fight with dignity and conscience.
The act of positing a hero as a villain is an old school tactic best used by Russia, this is a show trial, there is no dignity and the US government will jail him forever or just outright murder him, they might as well given the torture they’ve subjected him too.
You’ll get no respect from me, I only respect informed opinion, I don’t respect appeals to authority or appeals to infantilism, citing a military record did you no favours.
Manning is a prisoner because he chose to defend the constitution of the United States. The facts are what they are, there were no harmful messages, not one single person, regiment or person was put in harms way in any capacity, this has being independently verified and admitted by the military complex.
It is not a crime to fight for the liberty of your country.
Fawkes
@JT Hawkins: A bit of the pot calling the kettle black, eh?
Fawkes
@miphill: Absolutely incorrect. Defending the Constitution is NOT the same thing as defending the government. If you do not understand the distinction, you need only read the Declaration of Independence for clarification.
Fawkes
@2eo: Couldn’t agree more. You called Manning’s trial exactly what it is – a show trial. It is incrementalism, pure and simple. First, the Justice Department claimed that military personnel have no whistleblower rights, which, to be fair, in some circumstances (some very rare circumstances) they do not. However, after the public was forced to swallow that nasty piece of propaganda, the government is now trying to claim that private citizens have no whistleblower rights, either, and are trying to establish this through Snowden. But notice how all the big government trolls just keep lapping it up, as if they’re just begging for tyranny like this country’s never seen. But oh how they deserve a taste of their own medicine.
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: Do not feed the trolls.
Fawkes
@JT Hawkins: The adults are trying to have a discussion here, sweetie.
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: Anyone who uses the term “Sweetie,” is not an adult by definition. Do not feed the trolls.
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: Internet troll: A person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog), either accidentally or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. Wikipedia (citations omitted). Do not feed the trolls.
Fawkes
@JT Hawkins: Tsk tsk. Now you’ve gone and ruined a perfectly good discussion because you’ve chosen to stay up past your bedtime. Oh how the little ones get cranky when they’re tired.
tchuy03
Shame on Queerty to have this on there web site, PVT Manning divulged information that was not his to divulge. Manning threw a hizzy fit and decided to do out of spite and malice. For the fact that is gay is no reason to defend or make him out to be hero. I hope he is awarded the worst punishment available.
Fawkes
@tchuy03: Enough with the MSDNC/Faux News talking points. They’re really quite tedious. You’re correct in the sense that the information Bradley Manning released was not “his” information. It was OUR information. It is clear that this out-of-control government will not stop its own growth, and thus it requires the diligence and selflessness of whistle-blowing heroes like Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden to curtail the growing police state. The fact that you sit here and flail your tongue as if begging for a tyranny like this country has never seen is but a sign of the times. Sadly, there is no doubt in my mind that you people will get what you’re asking for as this country’s respect for the rule of law continues to erode.
onyxsky
@tchuy03: innocent people were killed for no reason. whose life was put at risk by him telling the truth?
2eo
@Fawkes: @onyxsky:
They will never post any proof or ever back up what they say.
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: If sarcasm were outlawed, you would have nothing in your repertoire. Do not feed the troll.
Fawkes
@JT Hawkins: Who knows, maybe sarcasm will be the next thing you big government trolls will try to outlaw.
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: You and 2eo need to move in together. Oh, wait, you already have since you are the same, old troll who has nothing better to do than personally attack other people.
Fawkes
@JT Hawkins: “Personally attack”? You’ve done nothing but call people who you disagree with trolls and you have the nerve to say I “personally attack” people? Man are you living in a backwards world. What a bunch of crybabies you big government advocates are.
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: Do not feed the troll.
Fawkes
@2eo: Is there a more effective way of dealing with the entity known as JT Hawkins? Like a cream or something?