Manning trial to set precedent on what "aid to the enemy" means.

[Doktor Howl]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/30/19771789-bradley-manning-verdict-could-test-notion-of-aiding-enemy

[McGrupp]

This sounds like it would be used to close the door on any future inhouse whistleblowing from within the military. Be interesting to see how the judge rules. Though with the shenanigans already going on, secret evidence, MPs standing behind journalists with guns watching their computers, I'm not optimistic.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

Whatever the verdict is I am getting drunk off my ass tonight.

[Doktor Howl]

This sounds like it would be used to close the door on any future inhouse whistleblowing from within the military. Be interesting to see how the judge rules. Though with the shenanigans already going on, secret evidence, MPs standing behind journalists with guns watching their computers, I'm not optimistic.

Not just that.  It also means that we can redefine treason to mean "inconvenient to the administration".

[McGrupp]

This sounds like it would be used to close the door on any future inhouse whistleblowing from within the military. Be interesting to see how the judge rules. Though with the shenanigans already going on, secret evidence, MPs standing behind journalists with guns watching their computers, I'm not optimistic.

Not just that.  It also means that we can redefine treason to mean "inconvenient to the administration".

That would be a pretty big umbrella. Scary one too.

On the one hand I think that maybe a guilty verdict will be another step towards 'they've finally gone too far'

But on another hand, I've seen far too many 'ahah! they've gone and done it!' moments to know that this one too won't have that effect either. Well, other than make me feel like less of a paranoid crackpot. I miss being a paranoid crackpot.

[Doktor Howl]

On the one hand I think that maybe a guilty verdict will be another step towards 'they've finally gone too far'

There is no "too far".

[McGrupp]

On the one hand I think that maybe a guilty verdict will be another step towards 'they've finally gone too far'

There is no "too far".

  There is a tiny pocket of incredibly naive idealism that rests somewhere near my pancreas. Sometimes it tells me things like this.

[Junkenstein]

This sounds like it would be used to close the door on any future inhouse whistleblowing from within the military. Be interesting to see how the judge rules. Though with the shenanigans already going on, secret evidence, MPs standing behind journalists with guns watching their computers, I'm not optimistic.

Not just that.  It also means that we can redefine treason to mean "inconvenient to the administration".

Treason - The new popular crime. How can you prevent it in your neighbourhood! How to spot a traitor! All this and more at 11!

Seriously, regardless of the outcome here I'd guess you'll see a lot more people charged with treason over the next few decades. It's a great "snarl" word. Anyone defending it is already of suspect character.

How far do you think we really are from televised executions of traitors? I'm pretty sure we're a lot closer than we'd like to think we are.

[Doktor Howl]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/30/19776548-manning-acquitted-of-aiding-enemy-but-convicted-on-other-charges?lite

You may now return to your F5.

[Junkenstein]

It's almost a shame that the judge went this way.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Why?

[Left]

This way he gets a life sentence...
If they sentenced him to death? I think people would be more outraged.
Not that a life sentence isn't an outrage.

[Doktor Howl]

This way he gets a life sentence...
If they sentenced him to death? I think people would be more outraged.

Let's just think that through, shall we?

[Junkenstein]

Because I think a guilty count on that charge would actually get a reaction from the populace.

He's pled guilty to a lot of it, his only real hope is massive public support/protests about the injustice of a guilty count on that front.

Also, if he had been given the death sentence for that, it might actually get a real change on that front too. There seems to potentially be a lot of groups that would work with each other if this went really fucking wrong. As it is, it can just go away quietly.


It also shortcuts a lot of bullshit. That treason issue isn't going away. I'm sure that will be back in Patriot Act #2 - Electric Boogaloo. It's such a powerful tool for a government that now they've tasted the possibilities they WILL get it.

[Doktor Howl]

Also, if he had been given the death sentence for that, it might actually get a real change on that front too. There seems to potentially be a lot of groups that would work with each other if this went really fucking wrong.

You don't understand US military justice.  They wouldn't care, they'd just kill the kid.