Image from a quicklink (Image by Unknown Owner) Details DMCA | 'The Manning prosecution has represented, in essence, a proxy war on watchdog journalism. Rather than targeting reporters -- for the moment -- the administration has focused on journalists' sources. Since Manning was indicted, other cases have been brought against sources and whistleblowers, and the surveillance of journalists from AP and Fox News has been uncovered. Double standards are evident in the fact that semi-sanctioned "leaks" from security sources, of material that shows the US military in a good light, happen daily. In principle, such disclosures are crimes equal in severity to those of Manning. Yet no one has been taken to court. The prosecution of Manning was intended to send a signal. If nothing else, it has done that. It has shown that when faced with evidence of its own wrongdoing, the current US administration focuses on punishing the messenger.' |