In another America — where democracy reigns and government respects freedom of the press, protects privacy, and honors whistleblowers — Bradley Manning would receive a presidential pardon.
After campaigning for the presidency last year, I was asked by my supporters to set up an alternative administration, a shadow cabinet. Our mandate is to watchdog the federal government and to demonstrate what a government of the people – rather than of the lobbyists — would actually do in office.
As President of this Green Shadow Cabinet, I have the honor of pardoning Bradley Manning — on behalf of the other America that recognizes him as a hero.
Aiding the Enemy, an OtherWords cartoon by Khalil Bendib
My decision is at odds with the Obama administration, which has labeled Manning a traitorous criminal. But it’s clear that Manning was defending the highest principles of democracy by exposing U.S. war crimes and State Department deception.
Manning’s revelations of gut-wrenching slaughter by the American military — as in the “Collateral Murder” video — played a major role in the decision by the Iraqi government to end immunity for American troops, forcing President Obama to end the immoral, devastating, multi-trillion dollar war.Manning’s leaks revealed corruption and betrayal in repressive Middle East governments — including former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s secret deal with the U.S. government allowing drone strikes within his country and the shameful excesses of former Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali.
These disclosures helped trigger the democracy movements of the Arab Spring that echo the ideals of the American Revolution.
Though Manning has been accused of endangering national security, no actual harm was established in court hearings. State Department officials also acknowledged this in a secret testimony revealed by Reuters.
Bradley Manning has already spent three years in jail and months enduring solitary confinement and cruel, degrading treatment, according to the United Nations rapporteur on torture. Now Manning is facing up to 90 years in prison for doing what the press should have done, had they not been missing in action. That’s enough.
Bradley Manning is a hero for telling the truth to the American people — that our government was committing war crimes and betraying basic American values of honesty and respect for international law in routine State Department operations.
I therefore issue a presidential pardon to Bradley Manning from the Green Shadow Cabinet. I call on President Barack Obama to do the same, only to actual effect.
