Thanking Bradley Manning, From Afghanistan

A few evenings ago, as the sky began to darken here in Kabul, Afghanistan, a small group of the Afghan Peace Volunteers, (APVs), gathered for an informal presentation about WikiLeaks, its chief editor Julian Assange, and its most prominent contributor, Bradley Manning. Basir Bita, a regular visitor to the APV household, began the evening’s discussion … Continue reading “Thanking Bradley Manning, From Afghanistan”

Bradley Manning’s Own Words: Blowing the Whistle on War Crimes

What would you do if you had evidence of war crimes? What would you do if ‘following orders’ meant participating in grave abuses that you opposed? Would you have the courage to risk everything – even your life – to do the right thing? Most of us would keep our mouths shut. Not Pfc. Bradley … Continue reading “Bradley Manning’s Own Words: Blowing the Whistle on War Crimes”

We Must Not Fail Wikileaks Whistleblower Bradley Manning

As I sat in court last Thursday at Fort Meade, watching Bradley Manning take responsibility as the Wikileaks whistleblower, two things struck me: (1) his thorough intelligence fueled by intellectual curiosity and (2) his empathy for other people when so many in war had lost their humanity. This was the second time I had heard … Continue reading “We Must Not Fail Wikileaks Whistleblower Bradley Manning”

Honor Bradley Manning

Bradley Manning has slipped off the media’s radar, and not because he isn’t newsworthy: his "trial"—which has now reached its 1000th day – has been conducted largely in secret, with motions classified and testimony not available to the general public. This underscores the significance of and motive behind Manning’s "crime," and highlights the fear his … Continue reading “Honor Bradley Manning”

Alternative to WikiLeaks Arises in Iceland

REYKJAVIK — With the imprisonment of Bradley Manning and detainment of Julian Assange, WikiLeaks is effectively on hold. But that does not mean that leaks and whistleblowing activities have stopped. GlobaLeaks lists a large number of leak sites, which are active to different degrees. Soon The Associated Whistleblowing Press (AWP) will be added to the … Continue reading “Alternative to WikiLeaks Arises in Iceland”

Assange Dodges Elite Media Darts

How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people? – Lennon/McCartney Media reaction to Julian Assange and his successful request for asylum in Ecuador has certainly been mixed. It ranges from outright incredulity and disdain, to euphoria over what appears to be Assange’s artful dodge from a suspiciously aggressive Swedish extradition attempt, and … Continue reading “Assange Dodges Elite Media Darts”

There Is Unity in Oppression; There Must Be Unity in Response

I am here today because I cannot be there with you today. But thank you for coming. Thank you for your resolve and your generosity of spirit. On Wednesday night, after a threat was sent to this embassy and the police descended on this building, you came out in the middle of the night to … Continue reading “There Is Unity in Oppression; There Must Be Unity in Response”

Assange’s Last Stand?

If there was ever a clear cut case of good versus evil, then surely it is the contest between Julian Assange and most of the world’s governments. They hate him because he exposed their lies, their manipulations, and their routine violations of the most elementary rules of human decency. By publishing virtually the entire corpus … Continue reading “Assange’s Last Stand?”

Assange and Correa: Marriage of Convenience?

Information activist Julian Assange shocked his fans and gave more grist to his haters last week by announcing he would flee Swedish extradition orders to seek asylum from the South American nation of Ecuador. “I had expected him to face the allegations. I am as surprised as anyone by this,” Tweeted socialite and activist Jemima … Continue reading “Assange and Correa: Marriage of Convenience?”

The Passion of Bradley Manning

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning — the man accused of blowing a whistle so loud it’s still reverberating through the world two years after the fact — will return before a judge for his court-martial proceedings this month. Manning, 24, faces 22 charges, including “aiding the enemy” and violating the 1917 Espionage Act, for allegedly transferring … Continue readingThe Passion of Bradley Manning