Presumed Guilty

Bradley Manning has been in jail for almost a year.  The vast majority of that time has been spent in solitary confinement.  He has not been allowed visitors, access to the internet, the chance to exercise, books or writing materials.

Bradley Manning: He should be freed immediately

Now, the government has moved him from Quantico to Leavenworth, he will be allowed some inter-reaction with other prisoners.  And all of us whiny liberals are supposed to be grateful and get off the government’s back.

But I’m not satisfied.  There is supposed to be a presumption of innocence.  If a person needs to be detained because the government is afraid they’ll do a runner, then the pre-trial detention should not be punitive.  Leaving aside the accusation of torture, there’s no reason for unnecessary inconvenience.  If a person hasn’t yet been tried and found guilty, there’s no reason on earth they should be denied visitors, gift packages, exercise, TV, the internet or even conjugal visits.

It’s not like it would have been difficult to allow these things.  He was being held on one of America’s largest military bases.  They have a library.  They have a gym.  I’m not going to look that up, but I’m pretty sure of it.

No, everything about Bradley Manning’s detention was punitive.  Even the amount of time is punitive.  Justice delayed is justice denied, and he’s been in there about a year.  That is a sentence.  What are they waiting for?  More evidence?  It is not forthcoming.

They have the word of one informant who says that Manning confessed to him in a private conversation.  That’s it.  If they can’t convict on that, then a conviction is not warranted.

Bradley Manning should be freed immediately, and the government should apologize.  For being assholes.