[GaReb770]

<p>I find it interesting that with all the bruhaha going on about the wikileaks case, everyone from the Pentagon on down seem to be ignoring the large white elephant in the room.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is alleged that the person who leaked the U.S. documents to Wikileaks is a  U.S.soldier by the name of Bradley Manning.  It seems to me Bradley Manning is being glossed over even by the military as to his role in the release of these documents.</p>
<p>If Mr. Manning is indeed guilty of releasing secret documents while in the U.S. military  to an organization that can bring harm on his fellow soldiers as well as the U.S., this is a pretty strong case for treason.   And as we should remember from our U.S. Civics classes there is only one sentence upon conviction for treason, regardless of why Bradley Manning released those documents and of equal important regardless of his sexual orientation. </p>

 

[Mrtambalynman]

<p>Are you suggesting that gay soldiers shouldn't be tried for treason?</p>

 

[GaReb770]

<p>No.  I'm saying just the opposite.  Even Fox Faux News has danced all around this soldier's sexual orientation.  If he released classified documents that have caused harm to the U.S. and/or our military I have no qualms having him tried for treason and sentenced accordingly if found guilty.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[Grizzly]

<p>I agree that this guy (if it is him) needs to be held accountable.  What I want to know is?  Why now?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Iraq cables released, no big deal.</p>
<p>Afghanistan cables released, no big deal.</p>
<p>These emails released, the world ends.</p>
<p><br>
They weren't top secret, they probably weren't even confidential, (when 2.5 million people have access to them how confidential is that?) but they were priveleged.  I think that is why they are dilly-dallying on laying charges.  It might not be treason.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The BIG elephant on the table in addition to yours is - why do 2.5 million people have to know this and see it daily?  Surely there's a happy medium between sharing information and maintaining some "need to know" security.</p>

 

[Mrtambalynman]

<p><br>
  I was just pushing your buttons, I agree too.  But I don't see why its an issue at all unless his sexual orientation was related to the act of leaking the documents. <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>GaReb770</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71493/the-white-elephant-being-ignored-in-the-wikileaks-case#post_1967951"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>No.  I'm saying just the opposite.  Even Fox Faux News has danced all around this soldier's sexual orientation.  If he released classified documents that have caused harm to the U.S. and/or our military I have no qualms having him tried for treason and sentenced accordingly if found guilty.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[GaReb770]

<p><br>
Supposedly part of the reason(s) he released the documents was a spat with his lover and the discrimination against gays in the military.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>However, just as I oppose the Muslim soldier who killed several soldiers at Ft. Hood using a defense of discrimination (or feelings thereof) against Muslims as a reason to justify his actions so too do I oppose this soldier's attempts (should his attorneys attempt to use them) concerning his sexual orientation and feelings of discrimination against him and other gays in the military.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When someone freely chooses to join the military you have to live with the military as it is  and go about changing those things one thinks are wrong in more constructive ways.  Should someone commit a crime while in the military and then want to use as a defense their race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or other possibilities of discrimination I don't bye their argument(s). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let the punishment fall as the military court decides and hopefully as they would decide if any other soldier committed the same acts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Mrtambalynman</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71493/the-white-elephant-being-ignored-in-the-wikileaks-case#post_1967982"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p><br>
  I was just pushing your buttons, I agree too.  But I don't see why its an issue at all unless his sexual orientation was related to the act of leaking the documents. <br>
 </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[Ileneforward]

<p>Why is he a white elephant in the room, aren't elephants gray, and aren't they all about the same size?  Too big for most rooms?</p>

 

[GaReb770]

<p>Ok, you have a point.  Matter of fact, I've never really seen a white elephant. <span><img alt="cool.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/cool.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>

 

[Ileneforward]

<p>Me neither.  I think Mr. Manning should have all his access to secrets priviledges revoked. </p>

 

[Tech Tee]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Ileneforward</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71493/the-white-elephant-being-ignored-in-the-wikileaks-case#post_1967999"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Me neither.  I think Mr. Manning should have all his access to secrets priviledges revoked. </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p>I'm guessing, at the moment, Mr. Manning has no access to secrets.  Other than his own.</p>

 

[Mrtambalynman]

<p>I'm sure the waterboarding will shake those ones loose too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've never seen a white elephant either, but I have seen a white moose. <br><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Tech Tee</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71493/the-white-elephant-being-ignored-in-the-wikileaks-case#post_1968029"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Ileneforward</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71493/the-white-elephant-being-ignored-in-the-wikileaks-case#post_1967999"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Me neither.  I think Mr. Manning should have all his access to secrets priviledges revoked. </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p>I'm guessing, at the moment, Mr. Manning has no access to secrets.  Other than his own.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[kerfwango]

<p><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-this-case-must-not-obscure-what-wikileaks-has-told-us-2154109.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-this-case-must-not-obscure-what-wikileaks-has-told-us-2154109.html</a></p>

 

[Plugging Along]

<p>In India white elephants are rare and seen as precious things that must be pampered. One way to ruin a political or business opponent is to give them a white elephant as a gift. They will go broke giving it the expensive pampering tradition calls for.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think the poster was meaning to talk about the 800 Lb gorilla in the room.</p>

 

[GaReb770]

<p><br>
At my age, white elephants and  800 lb gorillas are all the same.  I'll be talking about monstrous pink rabbits before you know it. <span><img alt="icon_shaking2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_shaking2.gif" style="width:15px;height:15px;"></span> <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Plugging Along</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71493/the-white-elephant-being-ignored-in-the-wikileaks-case#post_1968248"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>In India white elephants are rare and seen as precious things that must be pampered. One way to ruin a political or business opponent is to give them a white elephant as a gift. They will go broke giving it the expensive pampering tradition calls for.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think the poster was meaning to talk about the 800 Lb gorilla in the room.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[kerfwango]

<p>I saw a monstrous pink rabbit once...back in college.</p>