Stripped naked every night, Bradley Manning tells of prison ordeal

[Better Believe It]

Stripped naked every night, Bradley Manning tells of prison ordeal.
'Stripping me of all of my clothing is without justification'
By Ed Pilkington in New York
March 11, 2011

In an 11-page legal letter released by his lawyer, David Coombs, Manning sets out in his own words how he has been "left to languish under the unduly harsh conditions of max custody" ever since he was brought from Kuwait to the military brig of Quantico marine base in Virginia in July last year. He describes how he was put on suicide watch in January, how he is currently being stripped naked every night, and how he is in general terms being subjected to what he calls "unlawful pre-trial punishment".

It is the first time Manning has spoken publicly about his treatment, having previously only been heard through the intermediaries of his lawyer and a friend. Details that have emerged up to now have inspired the UN to launch an inquiry into whether the conditions amount to torture, and have led to protests to the US government from Amnesty International.

The most graphic passage of the letter is Manning's description of how he was placed on suicide watch for three days from 18 January. "I was stripped of all clothing with the exception of my underwear. My prescription eyeglasses were taken away from me and I was forced to sit in essential blindness."

He also describes the experience of being stripped naked at night and made to stand for parade in the nude, a condition that continues to this day. "The guard told me to stand at parade rest, with my hands behind my back and my legs spaced shoulder-width apart. I stood at parade rest for about three minutes … The and the other guards walked past my cell. He looked at me, paused for a moment, then continued to the next cell. I was incredibly embarrassed at having all these people stare at me naked."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/stripped-naked-bradley-manning-prison

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. K & R

[Obamanaut]

2. Some hyperbole in the narrative. If one is essentially blind without

prescription lenses, how was enlistment possible? Surely there are limits to uncorrected vision issues. There certainly used to be.

"...My prescription eyeglasses were taken away from me and I was forced to sit in essential blindness...."

additional responses at this earlier thread -> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=609859

[Better Believe It]

3. Tell us what the lighting conditions are in his solitary confinement cell.

I'm listening.

[Obamanaut]

4. And the lighting conditions have what to do with "essential blindness"

without corrective lenses?

[Better Believe It]

5. I can't see without much light even with my glasses! Need to nit pick some more?

[Obamanaut]

8. If there is not enough light to see, then with or without corrective lenses there

would be no difference.

What is the level of lighting in the confinement area in question? Do you know? Have you seen the inside of confinement facilities (brigs, prisons, etc.)?

Have you yet addressed the question as to how a person can be 'essentially blind' without correction can enlist? Will this continue to be glossed over as you search for the answer to the question of how many lumens are available in a cell at night?

[Better Believe It]

9. So what punishment do you think Manning should receive for leaking embarrassing government info?

I take it you support the persecution of private Manning.

[Obamanaut]

10. I do not support exaggeration. That is what I have been addressing. nt

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Better Believe It]

14. And what else in your opinion has been exaggerated about Manning's treatment?

The forced nudity perhaps?

[Obamanaut]

15. Hard to say. That one statement re blindness stands out in the confinee's statement.

There may be others.

[EFerrari]

12. I can't believe how much people try to minimize this shit.

Literally, I can't believe it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Human rights are valuable...unless it's whistleblower who embarrasses the bosses.

[Robb]

7. Can't win. If there's any truth to the "suicidal" assessment

...and Manning manages to kill himself in his cell, the illiterati will claim he was murdered.

[EFerrari]

11. What assessment are you reterring to?

[rgbecker]

16. The guy has been charged with several Non-violent crimes.

He should be out on bail until his trial. He certainly is not a threat to the US or the Army or anyone and will not be allowed access to any classified material so what is the reason he is even being imprisoned? When the birther colonel who refused to go to Iraq because he thought Obama was not the president was charged was he imprisoned?

The whole premise of "America" is in question as far as I'm concerned.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. OTOH, Lt. William Calley had to spend one whole weekend in the stockade.

But, he only murdered a bunch of women and children.