Voters For Peace: The power to end the war and prevent future wars of aggression

Stand With Military Whistleblower Bradley Manning

Those who oppose war and militarism need to stand with people like Bradley Manning, the 22-year old Army private who believed he saw war crimes being committed by the U.S. military. He shared the information so the American public could know what the U.S. military was doing. The most famous leak from Manning was the "Collateral Murder" video shared on the Wikileaks.org website. The video he reportedly leaked showed a U.S. military Apache helicopter attack killing a dozen civilians and wounding two children.

Now Manning is being held in custody in a prison in Kuwait, without access to private legal counsel and facing 52 years in prison. The video he allegedly released started a much-needed discussion about the horrible truth about the killings that U.S. wars entail. He is a national hero similar to whistle blowers like Daniel Ellsberg who exposed the truth of the Vietnam War. He deserves our support.

Take action now to write President Barack Obama with copies to Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates calling for the release of Private Manning and allowing him access to civilian legal counsel.

Subject:

Your Letter:

I am writing to you with copies to your Secretary of Defense and Attorney General about the case of Private Bradley Manning.

I have two requests:

1. Release Private Bradley Manning. During your campaign you promised an open and transparent government. Private Manning allegedly made public a video showing the killing of civilians by the U.S. military. Shouldn’t a transparent government let its citizens know about potential war crimes? We should not have the truth hidden from us. How can we be effective citizens if we are kept uninformed?

2. In the alternative, allow private attorneys to see Bradley Manning. Mr. Manning is facing 52 years in prison. Reportedly Wikileaks hired attorneys to assist him in his defense. The military has not allowed these attorneys to see Mr. Manning. What kind of justice is this? Denial of counsel is a violation of Mr. Manning’s rights. He should be granted access to counsel immediately.

When you recently replaced General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan, you restated the very important principle that civilians are in charge of the military. In our representative democracy civilians are in charge of elected officials. It is essential that voters be provided with all the information, short of the minimal secrets essential to protect national security, so that we are fully informed about what is being done in our name. The Apache helicopter attack which Private Manning allegedly shared with Wikileaks occurred in 2007. Releasing video of an event more than two years old is no threat to national security. Indeed, if the people involved in the killing of civilians and the ordering of the attack are held accountable it will improve U.S. security and prevent future similar actions.

Please release Private Manning and in the alternative provide him with private lawyers so he can defend himself adequately.

cc: Attorney General Eric Holder
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

President Barack Obama

Phone:(202) 456-1111

Fax:(202) 456-2461