Thanks to a shocking acquittal of Pfc. Bradley Manning, it appears that Julian Assange and Edward Snowden have company in the whistle-blowing business.
Manning, the man responsible for leaking sensitive government information to the anti-secrecy group, WikiLeaks, would be acquitted of aiding the enemy and found guilty on 20 counts of violating the Espionage Act.
In violating the Espionage Act, Manning could face a lengthy prison sentence.
A former intelligence analyst, the 25-year-old Manning would be deployed to Baghdad in 2009 and eventually disclose up to an estimated 700,000 military and diplomatic documents, cables and war logs.
While many libertarians see the Manning acquittal as an example of a man freely providing information and holding it’s own government accountable, other’s on the left and right—and even possible in the Tea Party—may see the Manning acquittal as the federal government and the Barack Obama administration looking inept and weak in bringing one of it’s own to justice effectively.
Depending on one’s own political leanings, this is either a victory over an over-reaching and intrusive American empire in decline, or a possible traitor in Manning being allowed to walk due to a law technicality.
With Manning now free–technically–the only question that remains to be answered in the realm of public opinion is whether Manning is a brave whistle-blower of truth, or a lowly idealistic coward seeking fame and attention?
Robert D. Cobb is the Founder/CEO/Senior Editor-In-Chief Of The Inscriber : Digital Magazine, for questions, comments and concerns email me at [email protected] follow me on Twitter @RC_TheInscriber and follow The Inscriber : Digital Magazine on Twitter at @TheInscriber
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