There are truly times when I wish I didn’t see certain things coming. We shared here our assessment about Obama’s final commutations and pardons, and true to form, one of them came to fruition yesterday.
As reported by Fox News, “President Obama commuted the vast majority of former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning’s 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified documents, the White House announced Tuesday.
The White House said that Manning is one of 209 inmates whose sentences Obama is shortening. Obama is also pardoning 64 people, including retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during a probe into disclosure of classified information.
Manning is more than six years into a 35-year sentence at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for leaking classified government and military documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Her sentence is now set to expire May 17, 2017. Manning was known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. Manning accepted responsibility for leaking the material to WikiLeaks to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians, and has said she was confronting gender dysphoria at the time of the leaks while deployed in Iraq.
She attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers, citing her treatment at Leavenworth. Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, said the president’s action “quite literally save Chelsea’s life.” “We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many,” Stangio said in a statement.”
Just a few more points on Army Private Bradley Manning. CNN reported, “President Barack Obama on Tuesday overruled his secretary of defense to commute the sentence of former Army soldier Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of stealing and disseminating 750,000 pages of documents and videos to WikiLeaks.
The decision — which a senior defense official told CNN was made over the objections of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter — immediately touched off a controversy in the closing days of the Obama administration. A former intelligence official described being “shocked” to learn of Obama’s decision, adding that the “entire intelligence community is deflated by this inexplicable use of executive power.” The official said the move was “deeply hypocritical given Obama’s denunciation of WikiLeaks’ role in the hacking of the (Democratic National Committee).”
So, Barack Obama made the unilateral decision to commute the 35-year sentence, shaving off 29 years, of an individual who leaked classified documents.
I am sorry, but the Army charged, tried, and sentenced Private Bradley Manning. I for one will not acquiesce to this “Chelsea” story.
And here is why the military should not be in the business of accepting individuals suffering from the mental condition known as gender dysphoria. The Army was forced to surrender to the behavioral dysfunction of a traitor, a criminal. And let’s be very honest, if the stated condition and threats of suicide did not exist, would any other Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine have received such special presidential consideration?
Here are the words of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, “Inmate Manning was convicted of multiple acts of espionage against the United States and other serious military misconduct. These actions potentially put our country and fellow soldiers at serious risk. The President’s commutation of Manning’s sentence sends a terrible message to the world that the penalties for damaging our security can be swayed by politics.”
Chairman Thornberry has this dead right. This was all about an ideological agenda. This was all about politics and it sends a horrific message to our men and women in uniform who abide by the rules, regulations, and set standards regarding protection of our classified information.
What Barack Obama said with the commutation of Inmate Manning’s sentence is that his agenda is more important than the security of our troops in uniform. Obama has shown that gender dysphoria is more important than our national security.
Amazing that Obama would show more concern in this case than he does with the high rate of suicides of our veterans who’ve served with honor and distinction. Speaking of which, we can almost certainly expect a pardon for one Bowe Bergdahl, a deserter.
These individuals are indicative of the type of people Obama and the progressive socialist left revere. Sadly, young Army 1LT Clint Lorance will sit in Ft. Leavenworth and probably not receive any consideration for commutation and pardon. And yes, I would be shocked if Obama did do such for Clint, but I’m not holding my breath. Regardless, it doesn’t lessen the impact of what Obama did for Inmate Manning…1LT Lorance stood and fought the enemy, Manning’s action are the complete opposite.
The real story here is that we clearly see individuals “confronting gender dysphoria” pose a clear and present danger to our national security, as Inmate Manning stated. And we’re supposed to believe American taxpayers are on the hook to provide surgical procedures for those suffering with gender dysphoria? I would have to believe the American people would rather not have our aviation maintenance crews searching out museums and boneyards for spare parts for our combat aviation assets. It appears to me that the American taxpayer would rather not have our men and women in uniform buying their own personal gear. We now have definitive evidence that the case of one Army Private Bradley Manning, who suffered from the mental condition of gender dysphoria, is a readiness issue…as well as a security issue.
I suppose this will be another exhibit in Obama’s presidential library. But one thing’s for certain, this firmly proves that Barack Obama and the liberal progressive left are out of touch with the American people.
If Obama believes this is some decision that will draw praise, he is delusional. This commutation decision by Obama is appalling at a minimum, confounding and deplorable at the highest level. As Obama stated, he is president until January 20th, and he will do what he thinks is right. This is so far from being right that it’s unconscionable.
No Chase Strangio, we’re not all better off knowing Inmate Manning will walk out of prison. The lesson is that our national security means little to nothing. And Manning is not some champion who will make the world a better place. Then again, the liberal progressive left is all about making heroes out of those who are dishonorable…and turning the honorable into being despised. Bradley Manning is not a victim. He was a disturbed individual who placed the lives of others in jeopardy and danger. He is hardly a victim.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice is the victim in this case…and how do we maintain good order and discipline in our force? Simple, we NEVER elect another progressive socialist to the White House. This is beyond FUBAR…but for Obama it’s SNAFU.
