(Article changed on June 2, 2013 at 22:37)
201306FreeBrad35 by aktion-freiheitstattangst.org
201306FreeBrad35 by aktion-freiheitstattangst.org
"Men make history, not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. " - Harry S. Truman
This is a critical time in US History, when the US Government, desperate to cover up war crimes it is committing in the Middle East and Africa, are imposing the most cruel and illegal torture against members of the US military; the sons and daughters of this nation who stepped up to fight for what they believed to be wars for our freedom. The US Government lied to them then, just as the US population is being lied to now by our government, that these wars are anything other than a profit machine for a few rich men. But now we are waking up.
June third our American son Bradley Manning, after 4 years in prison, will be court martialled. That is military speak for, he will be tried and convicted for leaking war crimes perpetrated by the US military; crimes that he found to be so egregious, so disturbing in their injustice and violence, that he could not remain silent. He has been tortured, denied due process and was declared guilty by the President of the US, Barack Obama, before he ever stood in front of a jury of his peers.
Saturday, June 1, days before this trial is set to begin, Americans came from all over the US, to stand for Bradley Manning. One of the largest groups present were Veterans For Peace. These are our surviving veterans of the wars in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. These are former "boots on the ground"; the young and the old, soldiers and officers who know the full price of war, know the rules and how warfare is waged, know how to keep troops from harm"s way, and all believe that the only justice for Bradley Manning is to set him free.
Dave Hancock, Vietnam army veteran from N.J. arrived at Fort Meade with a group called The Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War. Dave said that he had lived at Fort Meade, so this was a little bit like coming home to him.
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