Bradley Manning admits he is responsible for what'sconsidered the largest ever leak of secret US government documents. But hedenies that his actions aided the enemy, a charge that could see him in prisonfor life. The former US army intelligence analyst is accused of sendingclassified material to the Wikileaks website. It included 250,000 diplomaticcables and thousands of battlefield reports from Iraq and Afghanistan. Theyincluded this gunsight video of the US helicopter attack in Iraq. It shows Apachehelicopters killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007. At the hearing inFebruary, Manning compared the footage to children, torturing ants withmagnified glass.
In this slideshow, the prosecution showed what analleged quote from Manning, it read: if you had access to classified networks14 hours a day, 7 days a week for 8 plus months, what would you do? They wenton to say that his actions for what happens when arrogance meets access.
The Obama administration said the leaks compromisedvaluable military and diplomatic sources that will put real people at risk.
"It's taken 3 years for Bradley Manning's case toget to trial but that hasn't lessened the interest from around the world. 70news outlets are packed into the media room for a trial that’s due to lastaround three months .Because of its extreme sensitivity involved, a lot oftestimonies will be closed. There’ll be no access for the public and media.”
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange who is still in theEcuadorean Embassy in London where he first sought the refugee nearly a yearago, says the court martial is a show trial.
“Free Bradley Manning.”
A view shared by Manning supporters who see him as aheroic whistleblower. Bradley Manning has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22charges against him. That could mean a jail term of 20 years. If found guiltyin the remaining 11, he may never be released.
Amanda Walker, Sky news, Fort Meade, Maryland.
