Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, center, is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, after a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case went on recess for the day. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, center, is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, after a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case went on recess for the day. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, center, is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, after a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case went on recess for the day. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, left, is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, after a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case went on recess for the day. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
In this courtroom sketch, Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, left, watches as his attorney, David Coombs, center, questions Sgt. Daniel Padgett, who served in the same unit with Manning, in Fort Meade, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011. A military hearing that will determine if Manning should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case is expected to wrap up Thursday. (AP Photo/William Hennessy) NO TV, NO ARCHIVE, NO SALES, LOCALS OUT
Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, center, is escorted into a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, for a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
FORT MEADE, Maryland (AP) ? Lawyers for the Army intelligence analyst blamed for the biggest national security leak in American history rested their case Wednesday, with closing arguments ahead before Pfc. Bradley Manning learns whether he will face a court-martial.
The 24-year-old is accused of illegally downloading hundreds of thousands of U.S. war and diplomatic cables and a classified military video of an American helicopter attack in Iraq that killed 11 men and sending the data to the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy website. The government says the breach rattled U.S. foreign relations and imperiled military and diplomatic sources.
The government wants Manning court-martialed on charges including aiding the enemy. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Closing arguments come Thursday.
Manning's defense Wednesday rested its case after calling only two witnesses: a sergeant who witnessed one of Manning's fits of rage in Baghdad and a captain whom the private served under in Iraq.
Manning was part of a three-soldier crew working the night shift in a restricted area with computers connected to the military's supposedly secure network for sharing classified information. But witnesses said soldiers routinely accessed music, movies and computer games as well.
"I remember thinking that was something we shouldn't be so liberal about," said Capt. Barclay Keay, who was in charge of a night shift Manning worked for a few weeks in late 2009.
Manning allegedly downloaded hundreds of thousands of State Department diplomatic cables onto a rewritable CD labeled "Lady Gaga," while lip-synching to her song, "Telephone."
Defense lawyers painted Manning as a troubled young man who shouldn't have had access to classified material.
Keay's impression of Manning was of a good soldier who "did good analytical work."
But Sgt. Daniel Padgett, another of Manning's supervisors, recalled an incident when he sat down with Manning for a "counseling session" after the soldier was late for work.
"His demeanor changed," Padgett testified. He said Manning stood up and overturned a table, spilling a radio and computer onto the floor. Padgett said he moved Manning away from a gun rack while someone else restrained him until he calmed down. Padgett said he didn't remember reporting the incident to his supervisors.
Prosecution witnesses said Manning was well trained in rules prohibiting release of classified information. Forensic computer experts testified that they had retraced his keyboard strokes as he downloaded secret State Department diplomatic cables and raw battlefield reports from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adrian Lamo, a convicted hacker, said Manning confided to him in May 2010 that he was the leaker. Lamo informed authorities.
After closing arguments, presiding officer Lt. Col. Paul Almanza will give his opinion of whether Manning should be court-martialed. Then, a senior military officer will make the final decision. The process could take several weeks.
Manning remained outwardly composed as witness after witness talked about his emotional problems, his homosexuality and his violent outbursts while still in the United States and during his tour of duty in Iraq from late 2009 to mid-2010.
Attorneys representing WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange observed the hearing, as did an Amnesty International representative.
Associated Pressbob knight bob knight lavar arrington hope solo dancing with the stars hope solo dancing with the stars jack wagner matt jones
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.