“I believe that if the general public, especially the American public, had access to the information contained within [the releases] this could spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan.” - Bradley Manning, February 28, 2013.

Last week, Pfc. Bradley Manning delivered a historic, personal testimony to his motivation behind passing diplomatic cables and battlefield data to Wikileaks.

Manning explained that he had become deeply troubled by the reality of our asymmetric warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the cover-up of horrific battlefield crimes; he felt similar events could only be prevented by vigorous public debate.

It is more clear than ever that Bradley Manning was aiding Americans, not the enemy.

Maj. General Linnington is the presiding authority who will be asked to approve the outcome of Bradley's trial.

Call Maj. Gen. Linnington and tell him the "aiding the enemy" charge is an outrage and Bradley deserves to be free!

Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington 202-685-2807

Maj. Gen. Linnington:
202-685-2807

Once Maj. Gen. Linnington's voicemail box is full - you can also leave a message at the DOD: (703) 571-3343 - press "5" to leave a comment.

*If this mailbox is also full, leave the Department of Defense a written message.

One of the most moving aspect of Manning’s testimony was his explanation as to why he released the so-called “Collateral Murder” video, which shows the gunning down of two Reuters journalists and bystanders by apparently bloodthirsty and remorseless American soldiers in a US aircraft.

Manning described being deeply troubled by the video, especially the crew’s “lack of concern for human life” and lack of “concern for injured children at the scene.” Manning directly stated that he wanted the American public “to know that not all people were targets that needed to be neutralized” but “people living in the pressure cooker environment of asymmetrical warfare.”

Statements like these solidify what many of us had assumed for some time now: Pfc. Bradley Manning is an American hero who wanted to aid the public, not a traitor looking to 'aid the enemy.' That he risked his life to courageously expose this information and provoke a public debate to bring greater transparency to our foreign policy actions makes the insinuation that he ‘aided the enemy’ all the more absurd.

Please call Maj. General Linnington now!
202-685-2807

It is clear that Pfc. Manning exposed these documents at great personal risk for our benefit. The least we can do is continue to support him in any way we can. Thank you for continuing to do so.