Chelsea Manning Pardoned

[Charlize]

One of President Obama's last acts.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/us/politics/obama-commutes-bulk-of-chelsea-mannings-sentence.html?_r=0

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[VickySGV]

Duck, cover and hold!!  It is probably the best thing that could have happened in the case going forward.  I have never seen significant proof that what she leaked did in fact lead to any harm other than embarrassment to some people.  I do not like what she did in regard to her job and I hope she fades into the sunset and does not try to became a Trans* movement heroine like another athletic type has done.

[Jani]

In light of everything we've since learned I too believe this is a good step forward.  And yes she should take this as an opportunity to fade into obscurity.

Jani

[MaryEllen]

Yes, she needs to fade into the background.

[Bulldog1948]

I am glad that Obama commuted her sentence before she killed herself at Leavenworth it's a bad place. You think basic is hard try doing time in Leavenworth.

Obama commuted her sentence he did not pardon her. Commute.  means .  {time served]. her time of seven years counts for the 35 she was sentenced to do,

Pardon means that her slate would have been wiped clean with nothing on her record.

yeah, I hope that she fades away, but I doubt it.

Mike

[Guest]

My feelings as a veteran and transgender are mixed.  Many cis-gendered and military will be angry which could affect her personal safety. Being in the background would be to her advantage Just as any person could commit crimes so could a few in our groups.  Certainly  she didn't endear transgender people to the public.

Despite that she is still transgender and is suicidal and will be welcome in our suicide prevention chat rooms and in these forums.  I would hope we'd extend our love and support to her if needed.

 

Laura

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[Jani]

I am more bothered by General David Patreus divulging actual secrets about troop positions to his mistress and serving no time at all.  He just paid a fine which was well within his ability to pay.  Our justice system is not always fair or even handed in punishment.  I think Ms. Manning served enough time given all the circumstances of the case.    

 

[Tejana]

11 hours ago, Jani423 said:

I am more bothered by General David Patreus divulging actual secrets about troop positions to his mistress and serving no time at all.  He just paid a fine which was well within his ability to pay.  Our justice system is not always fair or even handed in punishment.  I think Ms. Manning served enough time given all the circumstances of the case.   

Hhmmm....I certainly concur, at least w/ re: to the sentence about the justice system, in the afore-quoted post.  Manning received 35 years for espionage; Patraeus was fined; and, Mrs. Clinton's actions never even made it to a justice system indictment....Go figure.

W/ re: to Ms. Manning and any chance that she shows up in the forum or the chat-room, I cannot imagine that anyone here would forget their manners and engage in any mistreatment of said individual.

Just as an aside, I'm thinking that if Mr. Assange keeps his promise and allows himself to be voluntarily extradited to the United States....I'm certain from the perspective of the outgoing POTUS, it would be considered a good trade (i.e., freeing Manning to get Assange).

[Cindy Truheart]

I'm with Laura on this one, as a veteran I have mixed feelings on issues such as these.

Chelsea Manning broke her oath of service, but she blew the lid off of a situation where our troops were very close to committing war crimes (or did they? can't remember...)

The thing about whistleblowers is that they are walking a fine line. On the one hand you have betrayed the oath or trust that you were given, but on the other hand they are bringing to light something that could be an overstepping by our government.

I think that there is a double standard in the system. One standard for those at the bottom and another standard for those at the top. They try to pretend that it doesn't exist, but we can all see it when we step back and look. I believe in consequences for actions, be it good or bad. I believe that if you break your oath or break a trust put in you, you should have a fitting punishment. But I also believe that it should be a standard, equal punishment between those low or high. And if anything, those who are high should expect a greater punishment because more is expected of them.

I think that Chelsea Manning should have had a bit more time behind bars, but at the same time I don't think she deserved 35 years. I think that Patreus skated out with a slap on the wrist and that he should have served time. I think that the Clinton's are the definition of what is wrong with the system and that technically they can't be brought up on charges, but where there is smoke, there is fire. And I think Snowden is a weasel of little man who couldn't own up to his actions and instead went running to our adversaries. Of all these recent examples of people who broke oaths or broke trust, I think Chelsea is the only one who actually paid her dues. Everyone else either used their influence, money, privilege, or ran from their responsibility.

[Sakura]

I am on the fence with it personally, while she was bound by an oath not to disclose "vital information" on the other hand the vast majority of intel she leaked  also breaks laws of international warfare and many are considered  war crimes in which she is also legally obligated to report or risk being aparty too. But report does not mean leak to a news outlet. From my understanding though, she did try to go at it via proper channels and was shut down. Whilste blowers are often times dealt the harshest punishments to deter any would be future do gooders from doing the same. It is why sexual abuse runs rampant in our armed services. It's why men and women usually ignore sexual harassment in the work place and why even good police officers may ignore crimes committed by fellow officers.

[MarcieMarie12]

Sad thing is, Patreaus, and Hillary violated and could have received jail time for mishandling classified or higher clearance information. What did they get? Double standard anyone? That she spent 7 years in prison is enough punishment.