Obama Says Manning ‘Broke the Law’ Before Being Tried or Convicted

By jayurbzz on April 24, 2011 in News 46

As always, I’m not sure what’s worse: the fact that once again our president doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about and searches for above-average vocabulary to employ throughout his stumbling; or the fact that he’s talking about how we’re a “nation of laws” and the world works by following rules, and the fact that one was broken is more important than the war crimes it purportedly unveiled.

Obama, Politics, Video

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Steven Carter

The president is the highest law enforcement officer in the land. All law enforcement officers are required by their oath and the duties of their position to form an opinion about the innocence or guilt. It is on that basis that they chose to arrest a citizen or not. The prosecutor then determines whether or not to file charges and the judge, and in some instances the jury, decides guilt or innocence. It is not surprising that Obama, our top law enforcement officer, would have an opinion about the guilt of a person who has been arrested and who is in custody. Every cop in the nation has an opinion about the people in custody. The issue is whether or not Manning will get a fair trial, not what Obama thinks.
Steven

The president is the highest law enforcement officer in the land. All law enforcement officers are required by their oath and the duties of their position to form an opinion about the innocence or guilt. It is on that basis that they chose to arrest a citizen or not. The prosecutor then determines whether or not to file charges and the judge, and in some instances the jury, decides guilt or innocence. It is not surprising that Obama, our top law enforcement officer, would have an opinion about the guilt of a person who has been arrested and who is in custody. Every cop in the nation has an opinion about the people in custody. The issue is whether or not Manning will get a fair trial, not what Obama thinks.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EAPUJHWIYQJWKN7HUCSCVHKVTQ David Meadows
  
  I actually think that the highest ranking law enforcement officer is the US Attorney General. If i’m wrong someone correct me.
  - Anonymous
    
    The AG is the cabinet level position that advises the president on matters of law and takes orders from him. Since the AG acts on behalf of the president, the president is technically the highest ranking law enforcement officer.
    - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EAPUJHWIYQJWKN7HUCSCVHKVTQ David Meadows
      
      Good Point… anyone else… Bueller… Bueller…?
- Marklar_Prime
  
  When you break the laws you swore to uphold on a daily basis you are not a law enforcement agent of any kind but a nobody jackass thug with no right to an opinion on anything.
  
  The highest law enforcement position in the land is actually your local county sheriff.
- rtb61
  
  LIE and you are a LIAR. The standing principle of most democracies is the separation of powers, the legislative, the executive and the judicial http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers_under_the_United_States_Constitution. Obama just committed one of the gravest sins against justice that a politician especially a President can do, he used his position of power to influence the whole country in the guilt of a citizen prior to trial.
  How can any citizen hope for a fair trial when the leader of that country publicly states the guilt and implies an order that must be obeyed.
  Obama as a constitution lawyer should know full well the crime he has knowingly committed, how he has perverted the course of justice and how he has tainted any hope of a fair trial for Bradley Manning in the US.
  - Steven
    
    You make some good points about ensuring a fair trial but it’s difficult to perceive them when you start by calling me a name. I stated my understanding of the facts and my opinions honestly and openly. You apparently disagree with me. I didn’t lie about my own understanding and opinions and if I’m wrong about a fact, that makes me ignorant not dishonest. Ignorance can be corrected through education.
    
    I believe that Mr. Manning can still get a fair trial. The vast majority of Americans have no idea who he is or the accusations against him. Although this incident is important to those of us who visit this website, on a percentage basis almost no one knows it occurred. The highest ranked TV programs are rarely viewed by more than 15% of Americans. Even the last episode of Mash captured only 60.2% of households (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-watched_television_broadcasts#United_States). This clip will be significantly less popular and still leave millions of uncontaminated people available to serve on a jury if one is needed.
  - Brokenstar
    
    If manning’s criminal accusations were considered “founded” by his company commander he is legally considered guilty under the UCMJ and MCM. See below.
    
    Stop calling people a liar because you don’t agree. Thats not very grown up.
    - rtb61
      
      Again the same distortion from the same legal principle innocent until proven guilty and the intent of publicly predefining guilt, you also ignored the separation of powers, which is the specific boundary that Obama crossed and is considered an abuse of power “branches of the United States government are kept distinct in order to prevent abuse of power” and Obama as a university lecturer in constitutional law has no excuse for such a gross transgression, which taints any opportunity for a fair trial.
      - Brokenstar
        
        YOU are distorting the truth… Obama is not simply the executive branch under the UCMJ, he is considered the supreme commander of the military. After a small internal investigation any commander may find a suspects status as “founded” or guilty. This is military law, its always been this way, its been this way since the founders made the military justice system. The military defends democracy and the right to a fair trial, but, all military members forfeit certain rights during their service. Before, you were simply ignorant of the facts, and further distortions of what simply is…will be as you put it..a lie.
      - Brokenstar
        
        As I have said previously and you have ignored… you may download the MCM (manual of Courts martial), and Ar 15 (Army regulation on article 15 investigation), from the internet for free. These are government manuals available to any citizen for free, you may also write the Army publication office for free hard copies. These practices are not secret. In the past these laws were called the articles of war, Military law and its unique enforcement has existed since the beginning with Major Baron Von Herr the Grand provost marshal .If anything military law advances faster than civilian law, Military enforcement has been reading soldiers their rights since the 1950s before Miranda was even taken to the the supreme court (the origin of Miranda rights).
        
        … even before the United States existed soldiers were expected to live by a different standard in the western world..the first Provost Marshall existed in Europe at 1200 AD, long before civilian cops! I am surprised by your fear, These concepts are not new, or unique to western life, democracy or our social consciousness. Soldiers must be held to a higher and stricter standards to maintain their honor, lest the become the bullies they were in Rome.
      - rtb61
        
        The constitution is the basis upon which all a countries laws are founded, no law, absolutely no law, not in part or in whole or in interpretation may contravene the constitution. You are confusing a legal bluff with the law, suck it up. This is exactly why there are constitutional lawyers.
      - Brokenstar
        
        No, the articles of war are specifically allowed to exist per the U.S. Constintution, the judicial was only given limited power over military authority because our founders understood military discipline. The articles of war actually existed before the constitution was written and great pains were taken to make sure the constitution could not take from their authority. (SEE ARTICLE 8 US CONSTITUTION!) Inside the front cover of the manual of courts martial its lists the constitutional authority of the UCMJ (once again Article 8) I have clearly displayed why you are wrong, simply because you don’t like something can’t make it untrue…
        
        You have no argument, you as you say “bluff” instead of doing research or providing sources like I have. You are by definition a deceiver and a Liar and no longer cloaked in the innocence of ignorance. This is the law.
        
        Grow up and deal with it. If you don’t like the law do something to change it. Write congress or protest but don’t lie and say it doesn’t exist.
        
        See:
        Article 8 U.S. Constitution
        M.C.M (Manual of Courts Martial)
        UCMJ (Uniform code of Military justice)
        ARMY Regulation 15 (Article 15 which relates a commander may find someone guilty and give them a founded status without trail)
        Ar 600-20 (Army regulations)
  - Tuna Ghost
    
    uh hey guy, if we agree that it was Manning and not someone else that gave information away, then its pretty effing obvious that he violated military law. I’m not sure why you think this is a big deal.
http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

How unusual, a president of The People’s Republic of the United States saying something contrary to law and fact.
BuzzCoastin

How unusual, a president of The People’s Republic of the United States saying something contrary to law and fact.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EAPUJHWIYQJWKN7HUCSCVHKVTQ David Meadows

I actually think that the highest ranking law enforcement officer is the US Attorney General. If i’m wrong someone correct me.
Anonymous

The AG is the cabinet level position that advises the president on matters of law and takes orders from him. Since the AG acts on behalf of the president, the president is technically the highest ranking law enforcement officer.
Anonymous

The AG is the cabinet level position that advises the president on matters of law and takes orders from him. Since the AG acts on behalf of the president, the president is technically the highest ranking law enforcement officer.
paulie

Pot calling the kettle black.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EAPUJHWIYQJWKN7HUCSCVHKVTQ David Meadows

Good point, but why is it that everywhere I read, it says that the US AG is the top law enforcement officer.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EAPUJHWIYQJWKN7HUCSCVHKVTQ David Meadows

Good point, but why is it that everywhere I read, it says that the US AG is the top law enforcement officer.
paulie

Pot calling the kettle black.
Will

I think the President prejudiced any future jury in the technologically collected world. So; he should be taken to the jungles of New Guinea as in a change of venue and tried by people who have not been predisposed to find him guilty. With worldwide news coverage, of course.
Will

I think the President prejudiced any future jury in the technologically collected world. So; he should be taken to the jungles of New Guinea as in a change of venue and tried by people who have not been predisposed to find him guilty. With worldwide news coverage, of course.
http://twitter.com/Kounterfeit_Kam Kameren Neal

My opinion, I think Obama handled that pretty well. He allowed the other guy to speak, and called off the secret service when they moved to remove him. He was courteous and commented on the other guys courtesy. He also didn’t really say Manning was guilty. He said a hypothetical situation similar to Manning’s and said that this hypothetical guy would be guilty. Anyways, he was all in all a G (gangster in a positive way) about it. Kudjos to him, Manning, and the guy that asked the question. Shit for the person that wrote the BLURB caption about the video.
http://twitter.com/Kounterfeit_Kam Kameren Neal

My opinion, I think Obama handled that pretty well. He allowed the other guy to speak, and called off the secret service when they moved to remove him. He was courteous and commented on the other guys courtesy. He also didn’t really say Manning was guilty. He said a hypothetical situation similar to Manning’s and said that this hypothetical guy would be guilty. Anyways, he was all in all a G (gangster in a positive way) about it. Kudjos to him, Manning, and the guy that asked the question. Shit for the person that wrote the BLURB caption about the video.
http://twitter.com/Marklar_Prime Marklar Kronkite

When you break the laws you swore to uphold on a daily basis you are not a law enforcement agent of any kind but a nobody jackass thug with no right to an opinion on anything.

The highest law enforcement position in the land is actually your local county sheriff.
Anonymous

LIE and you are a LIAR. The standing principle of most democracies is the separation of powers, the legislative, the executive and the judicial http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers_under_the_United_States_Constitution. Obama just committed one of the gravest sins against justice that a politician especially a President can do, he used his position of power to influence the whole country in the guilt of a citizen prior to trial.
How can any citizen hope for a fair trial when the leader of that country publicly states the guilt and implies an order that must be obeyed.
Obama as a constitution lawyer should know full well the crime he has knowingly committed, how he has perverted the course of justice and how he has tainted any hope of a fair trial for Bradley Manning in the US.
Steven Carter

You make some good points about ensuring a fair trial but it’s difficult to perceive them when you start by calling me a name. I stated my understanding of the facts and my opinions honestly and openly. You apparently disagree with me. I didn’t lie about my own understanding and opinions and if I’m wrong about a fact, that makes me ignorant not dishonest. Ignorance can be corrected through education.

I believe that Mr. Manning can still get a fair trial. The vast majority of Americans have no idea who he is or the accusations against him. Although this incident is important to those of us who visit this website, on a percentage basis almost no one knows it occurred. The highest ranked TV programs are rarely viewed by more than 15% of Americans. Even the last episode of Mash captured only 60.2% of households (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-watched_television_broadcasts#United_States). This clip will be significantly less popular and still leave millions of uncontaminated people available to serve on a jury if one is needed.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

Leave poor Barry alone…we already know that no matter who sits in the office there will be no contradicting the interests of the established military industrial complex and their immediate goals…unless Barry feels like shooting his mouth off and threatening to buck at the reins…in which case he’ll be going down in a hail of bullets like everyone else who has ever threatened to take controversial action against specific financial interests in the US. He’s got a wife and two kids and probably wants to make it out of office and get old enough to treasure his eventual grandchildren…none of which will happen if he suddenly starts acting like he has the power to anything other than what he’s told. Manning is persona non grata…and Obama knows his role in the charade is to shut up and appear neutral but supportive of the military’s handling of it all.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

Leave poor Barry alone…we already know that no matter who sits in the office there will be no contradicting the interests of the established military industrial complex and their immediate goals…unless Barry feels like shooting his mouth off and threatening to buck at the reins…in which case he’ll be going down in a hail of bullets like everyone else who has ever threatened to take controversial action against specific financial interests in the US. He’s got a wife and two kids and probably wants to make it out of office and get old enough to treasure his eventual grandchildren…none of which will happen if he suddenly starts acting like he has the power to anything other than what he’s told. Manning is persona non grata…and Obama knows his role in the charade is to shut up and appear neutral but supportive of the military’s handling of it all.
Brokenstar

This article is misleading about Mannings rights. Manning is currently subject to the UCMJ.

The UCMJ is a completely different justice system. Under the UCMJ there are 3 different dispositions that equate to guilty. The lowest of these dispositions is called “founded”, a founded status can be declared by any investigating officer or company commander without a trial after a small local investigation called an article 15 investigation. Sometimes if the “founded” crime is punishable by a long enough sentence the investigation is handed over the military police (CID or MPI) or Military Intelligence, the investigation is then turned over to a the Jag prosecutor and article 32 hearing is held (which is like a grand jury.) This is not a violation of the Constitution, the authority to have separate military justice systems was specifically allowed by the founders.

I don’t feel sorry for Manning because he was military intel-enforcement. He knew this was coming.

Look up army regulations on Article 15 investigation, and the Manual of Courts Martial (MCM) for further anti-bullshit. These documents are free on the internet.
Brokenstar

This article is misleading about Mannings rights. Manning is currently subject to the UCMJ.

The UCMJ is a completely different justice system. Under the UCMJ there are 3 different dispositions that equate to guilty. The lowest of these dispositions is called “founded”, a founded status can be declared by any investigating officer or company commander without a trial after a small local investigation called an article 15 investigation. Sometimes if the “founded” crime is punishable by a long enough sentence the investigation is handed over the military police (CID or MPI) or Military Intelligence, the investigation is then turned over to a the Jag prosecutor and article 32 hearing is held (which is like a grand jury.) This is not a violation of the Constitution, the authority to have separate military justice systems was specifically allowed by the founders.

I don’t feel sorry for Manning because he was military intel-enforcement. He knew this was coming.

Look up army regulations on Article 15 investigation, and the Manual of Courts Martial (MCM) for further anti-bullshit. These documents are free on the internet.
Brokenstar

If manning’s criminal accusations were considered “founded” by his company commander he is legally considered guilty under the UCMJ and MCM. See below.

Stop calling people a liar because you don’t agree. Thats not very grown up.
Anonymous

Again the same distortion from the same legal principle innocent until proven guilty and the intent of publicly predefining guilt, you also ignored the separation of powers, which is the specific boundary that Obama crossed and is considered an abuse of power “branches of the United States government are kept distinct in order to prevent abuse of power” and Obama as a university lecturer in constitutional law has no excuse for such a gross transgression, which taints any opportunity for a fair trial.
Tuna Ghost

I think its pretty obvious at this point that Manning broke military law. Is anyone denying that it was him, not someone else, that gave information away? Is Manning even denying it? And we’re all aware that such actions are a gross violation of the oaths he took, regardless of his intentions? Is it really so outrageous to state something Manning himself admits?
Tuna Ghost

I think its pretty obvious at this point that Manning broke military law. Is anyone denying that it was him, not someone else, that gave information away? Is Manning even denying it? And we’re all aware that such actions are a gross violation of the oaths he took, regardless of his intentions? Is it really so outrageous to state something Manning himself admits?
Tuna Ghost

uh hey guy, if we agree that it was Manning and not someone else that gave information away, then its pretty effing obvious that he violated military law. I’m not sure why you think this is a big deal.
Brokenstar

YOU are distorting the truth… Obama is not simply the executive branch under the UCMJ, he is considered the supreme commander of the military. After a small internal investigation any commander may find a suspects status as “founded” or guilty. This is military law, its always been this way, its been this way since the founders made the military justice system. The military defends democracy and the right to a fair trial, but, all military members forfeit certain rights during their service. Before, you were simply ignorant of the facts, and further distortions of what simply is…will be as you put it..a lie.
Brokenstar

As I have said previously and you have ignored… you may download the MCM (manual of Courts martial), and Ar 15 (Army regulation on article 15 investigation), from the internet for free. These are government manuals available to any citizen for free, you may also write the Army publication office for free hard copies. These practices are not secret. In the past these laws were called the articles of war, Military law and its unique enforcement has existed since the beginning with Major Baron Von Herr the Grand provost marshal .If anything military law advances faster than civilian law, Military enforcement has been reading soldiers their rights since the 1950s before Miranda was even taken to the the supreme court (the origin of Miranda rights).

… even before the United States existed soldiers were expected to live by a different standard in the western world..the first Provost Marshall existed in Europe at 1200 AD, long before civilian cops! I am surprised by your fear, These concepts are not new, or unique to western life, democracy or our social consciousness. Soldiers must be held to a higher and stricter standards to maintain their honor, lest the become the bullies they were in Rome.
Anonymous

The constitution is the basis upon which all a countries laws are founded, no law, absolutely no law, not in part or in whole or in interpretation may contravene the constitution. You are confusing a legal bluff with the law, suck it up. This is exactly why there are constitutional lawyers.
Brokenstar

No, the articles of war are specifically allowed to exist per the U.S. Constintution, the judicial was only given limited power over military authority because our founders understood military discipline. The articles of war actually existed before the constitution was written and great pains were taken to make sure the constitution could not take from their authority. (SEE ARTICLE 8 US CONSTITUTION!) Inside the front cover of the manual of courts martial its lists the constitutional authority of the UCMJ (once again Article 8) I have clearly displayed why you are wrong, simply because you don’t like something can’t make it untrue…

You have no argument, you as you say “bluff” instead of doing research or providing sources like I have. You are by definition a deceiver and a Liar and no longer cloaked in the innocence of ignorance. This is the law.

Grow up and deal with it. If you don’t like the law do something to change it. Write congress or protest but don’t lie and say it doesn’t exist.

See:
Article 8 U.S. Constitution
M.C.M (Manual of Courts Martial)
UCMJ (Uniform code of Military justice)
ARMY Regulation 15 (Article 15 which relates a commander may find someone guilty and give them a founded status without trail)
Ar 600-20 (Army regulations)
Billary

What a stupid bitch, you been schooled rtb.. RIGHT TO BE BITCH!!!
Mr. Coffee

And he just fucked any military proceedings since he’s in the chain of command.

SPC Bradley Manning most certainly did break the law, but I’m a SPC too so I get to talk out of my ass.