Privacy and the State

[Mr Pee]

And your point (if any) is...?...

No point. Just a bit of fun.

Remember that?

[ahinton]

No point. Just a bit of fun.

Remember that?

Of course. Though not from your contributions.

[scottycelt]

Given how very much lighter Manning's sentence was than what some expected and others wanted - and given how soon he may be paroled - that day is already coming and may indeed come sooner than you think.

Wikileaks hailed the 35-year sentence as a 'strategic victory'. Which kind of shows the true level of concern it really has for Manning's personal welfare.

Manning's stated 'gender issues' do seem rather convenient under the circumstances. In today's USA he/she could hardly have planned a better diversionary tactic to cause confusion and automatic sympathy for his/her plight in some now quite powerful quarters. Quite remarkable.

Who knows, that funny Daily Mash headline may well come true. As we all know, fact can turn out to easily match fiction in the 'quite incredible' stakes.

[amateur51]

No point. Just a bit of fun.

Remember that?

Oh a human being in mental distress, what a side-slapping idea.

[amateur51]

Wikileaks hailed the 35-year sentence as a 'strategic victory'. Which kind of shows the true level of concern it really has for Manning's personal welfare.

Manning's stated 'gender issues' do seem rather convenient under the circumstances. In today's USA he/she could hardly have planned a better diversionary tactic to cause confusion and automatic sympathy for his/her plight in some now quite powerful quarters. Quite remarkable.

Who knows, that funny Daily Mash headline may well come true. As we all know, fact can turn out to easily match fiction in the 'quite incredible' stakes.

Bradley Manning raised his gender identity issues with his Army superiors in 2010, scotty so convenience does not come into it.

[Mr Pee]

Bradley Manning raised his gender identity issues with his Army superiors in 2010, scotty so convenience does not come into it.

He had been in custody since May 2010, so I rather think that it does.

[amateur51]

He had been in custody since May 2010, so I rather think that it does.

Well you don't know do you. I don't call waiting for three years to play your Ace of Trumps 'convenient'

Do you not realise that Bradley Manning is in psychological distress? Have you ever read his life story?

[zoomy]

The United States is in psychological distress when the people who did the shooting of children and passers by in that helicopter attack are walking free in the US and Manning is sentenced to 35 years jail for exposing it to the world. Whatever you might think of Manning, and remember that we are all weird to some extent, he spoke the truth.

[Mr Pee]

So you believe that a 35-year prison sentence is "if anything [getting] off lightly" for "one dysfunctional individual's moment of madness"?

If another dysfunctional individual had a moment of madness and murdered his neighbour, do think leniency should apply?

[french frank]

If another dysfunctional individual had a moment of madness and murdered his neighbour, do think leniency should apply?

Tricksy. How do you define 'leniency'? If the charge was reduced from murder' to 'manslaughter', you would expect 'leniency' in some degree. [And Manning was acquitted of the charge for which he faced the death penalty.]

Dan White got seven years, and served five, for 'voluntary manslaughter' (while suffering from depression) - the assassination of two San Francisco city officials with a shotgun in 1978. Times change, eh?

[amateur51]

Tricksy. How do you define 'leniency'? If the charge was reduced from murder' to 'manslaughter', you would expect 'leniency' in some degree. [And Manning was acquitted of the charge for which he faced the death penalty.]

Dan White got seven years, and served five, for 'voluntary manslaughter' (while suffering from depression) - the assassination of two San Francisco city officials with a shotgun in 1978. Times change, eh?

Example appreciated, french frank

[Mr Pee]

Example appreciated, french frank

Is that it? Nothing more to add?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If another dysfunctional individual had a moment of madness and murdered his neighbour, do think leniency should apply?

Yes.

Do you not?

[Mr Pee]

Yes.

Do you not?

No, I do not.

[amateur51]

No, I do not.

That sort of remark gives one pause about the whole concept of Universal Suffrage.