(2 pm. – promoted by ek hornbeck)
Bradley Manning’s detention conditions got worse this week. He is now being held in total isolation in the brig at the Quantico, VA Marine Base. As has been reported by his friend David House, the only visitor he is allowed besides his lawyer, Manning’s mental and physical condition has been deteriorating steadily during his seven month long detention. Manning has no history violence or disciplinary infractions and that he is a pre-trial detainee not yet convicted of any offense.
Last Friday Jane Hamsher reported on Manning’s detention and a complaint that has been filed protesting his abuse:
For over five months, Bradley Manning has been held under Prevention of Injury (POI) watch at the Quantico Brig against the recommendations of three forensic psychiatrists. Manning’s attorney, David Coombs, has filed an Article 138 Complaint under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, asserting that this represents an abuse of Brig Commander James Averhart’s discretion.
Coombs’ complaint was filed after the Brig Commander placed Manning under “suicide risk” and MAX custody earlier this week, which made his conditions dramatically worse. Glenn Greenwald broke the story about the inhumane conditions of Manning’s pre-trial confinement last month, shortly before the New York Times reported that the Justice Department strategy regarding Wikileaks was to “persuade” Manning to testify against Julain Assange.. . . . .
Bradley Manning has not been convicted of anything. Abusing his mental health classification while attempting to “persuade” him to testify against Julian Assange has alarming echoes of the techniques used to elicit false confessions from terrorist suspects. It should alarm everyone that we could be watching pre-trial coersion becoming acceptable American shores. If so, we can all wave goodbye to “innocent until proven guilty.”
Today Jane, accompanied by David House, went to Quantico to visit Manning and deliver a protest petition to brig officials. Instead they were detained at the gate and harassed by the MP’s who readily admitted they were ordered to do so.
Between 1:00 – 1:30 MPs took their IDs and made them sign a form that they could not deviate to the brig or else they would be considered trespassing. At this time, one of the MPs asked for Hamsher’s auto insurance card. MP Gunnery Sgt. Foster informed Hamsher that her car would be towed after declining to accept a digital copy of Hamsher’s insurance card. House and Hamsher offered to drive off the base but were denied, despite being detained only ten feet inside the base’s perimeter. The MPs then took the Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses of House and Hamsher.
Around 1:40 the tow truck arrived and MPs instructed House and Hamsher to leave their vehicle, informing them that their vehicle would be searched. At 2:00 pm House observed military officers arriving and entering the MP outpost which oversaw their detainment. House expressed concern that he would miss Manning’s visiting hours but was told that he could neither exit nor move forward to the base. No explanation for House and Hamsher’s detainment was provided until, and they were held until 2:50 when they were informed they could leave the base. They were detained for two hours up until Manning’s visitation time period expired at 3:00 pm.
House and Jane have visited Manning in the past but not since Amnesty International filed a complaint to Defense Secretary Robert Gates calling for an investigation into the conditions of Manning’s confinement. The Amnesty International complaint came on the heals of the United Nations’ special rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Mendez, submitting a formal inquiry about the conditions of Manning’s detention. House was banned today from seeing Manning. One of the question now is will he be banned in the future because of his reports on Manning’s condition under these harsh conditions.
I look around at the reports about the resumption of the military commissions at Guantanamo and the new policies on the use of Miranda in terrorist interrogations and I wonder is this still the United States? What happened to our principles of justice, not that they ever favored the underprivileged? Is this country turning into the new Soviet Russia?
Up Date: A thank you from Jane
I just wanted to say a quick thank-you to everyone today for your support when David House and I were being detained at Quantico.
I don’t think any of this had anything to do with me, or frankly the 42,000 petition signatures. The only thing I did was provide housing and transportation to David House, because he’s just out of college and Glenn Greenwald told him he could stay with me when he comes to visit Manning.
Everyone but David has stopped coming to see Bradley, and it takes a lot of courage to do what David is doing. It’s a very intimidating situation. So I try to support him by giving him a place to stay and driving him to the base when he comes to town. That’s really my only involvement.
There is no doubt in my mind that the primary objective of everything that happened today was to keep Bradley Manning from having the company of his only remaining visitor. The MPs told us they were ordered to do this, the brass showed up to make sure that they did, and they held us until 2:50 by repeatedly asking for information they already had whenever we asked to leave.
(emphasis mine)
Up Date: Account of the events as they were happening from Jane Hamsher’s Twitter (read from the bottom up):
Jane Hamsher
uantico top brass made sure we were held until visiting hours were over & impossible 4 @DavidMHouse 2 see Manning. Message clear.
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Jane Hamsher
CRYSTAL clear @tominwindsor: Marine top brass showed up personally 2 make sure Bradley Manning got no visitor this week.
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weezmgk by janehamsher
@dgeary Yep. The rubbish USMC are pulling on @JaneHamsher is not going to play well for them in the press. Make them look fearful.
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Jane Hamsher
Quantico Marine brass showed up PERSONALLY 2 make sure @DavidMHouse never got 2 see Manning. Next visiting period: next week.
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Jane Hamsher
Tow truck driver says we also have to pay 4 time he had 2 wait for Quantico marines 2 release us: $300.
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Jane Hamsher
Marines now say House can’t walk to see House but can go off base, get a cab & come back on. But visitation over at 3pm.
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Jane Hamsher
Nobody knows why Marines are holding Bradley Manning who is in the Army anyway. Manning attorney unable to get an answers.
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Jane Hamsher
For those just catching up, here’s FDL’s Bradley Manning Wikileaks Timeline:
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Jane Hamsher
Talking with my attorney, wants 2 know what why being detained: “Either u have clearance 2 b on base or you don’t & they turn u away.”
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Jane Hamsher
On phone w Trevor Fitzgibbon @fitzgibbonmedia who is working w Bradley Manning supporters. @DavidMHouse calling Manning attorney.
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Jane Hamsher
For whatever reason, Quantico Marine brass don’t want Manning 2 have visitor now. Isolation & enforcement of solitary confinement complete.
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david houseby janehamsher
MPs looking for a reason to arrest us; brass arrives. The US government is like any animal: scare it and it will try to tear your face off.
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Jane Hamsher
Some officers have now entered the guard house & are talking 2 military police. @DavidMHouse & I detained w no explanation for 1 hr 20 min.
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Jane Hamsher
Some offers have now entered guard house.
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Jane Hamsher
Even though @DavidMHouse on approved list 2 see Bradley Manning, Quantico guards refusing 2 let him do so w no explanation. Still detained.
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Jane Hamsher
Still holding us, my car on tow truck but Quantico guards still won’t let us leave.
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Jane Hamsher
In tow truck, waiting 2 b escorted off Quantico base. No idea how @DavidMHouse & I get back to DC.
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Jane Hamsher
Me: “Can I go 2 store I can see fm here & print out insurance if u won’t accept electronic?” Foster: “No.” 15 min ago, could’ve had by now.
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Jane Hamsher
I called Lt Villard on Friday 2 say we were coming 2 Quantico, give courtesy head’s up we were coming. I guess I know he got the message.
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Jane Hamsher
Quantico Guard: “are u leaving anything in your car” Me: “I can’t check when they’re driving it on to tow truck.”
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Jane Hamsher
It’s 28 degrees, forcing us 2 stand outside.
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Jane Hamsher
Military police searching & impounding my car. Won’t let @DavidMHouse on 2 see Bradley Manning, won’t say why.
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Jane Hamsher
Now guards going 2 inventory vehicle.
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Jane Hamsher
Quantico guards didn’t give registration back 2 me, but demanding it again.
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Jane Hamsher
Forcing @DavidMHouse 2 go 2 court. Wouldn’t give ticket, gave him a summons 2 appear in court.
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Jane Hamsher
Me “you won’t accept electronic proof of insurance.” SGT: “has to be printed.” Me: “it was printed off that.” “Unless u have a printer.”
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Jane Hamsher
Escorting us off base, hooking my car up to tow truck now.
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Jane Hamsher
Gunny Foster towing my car bc they won’t accept my electronic proof of insurance, demanding paper.
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Jane Hamsher
We gave SS# @JavaJoeX . They still won’t let us leave OR allow @DavidMHouse 2 go 2 brig even though he is on visitor list 4 Bradley Manning
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Jane Hamsher
Question not whether we can get on base @FirstTeamTommy, that is their discretion. They won’t let us OFF & won’t say why.
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Jane Hamsher
We’re at the guard gate @SundevilSal, but question is whether they can arrest us 4 refusing to provide SS# rather than let us leave.
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Jane Hamsher
We’ve been coming 2 Quantico 4 months @chrisvcb, @DavidMHouse has official permission 2 visit Bradley Manning,
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Jane Hamsher
Now Military Police asking @DavidMHouse 4 his SS# AGAIN.
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Jane Hamsher
When Gunny Foster asked 4 my SS# I said “what if I refuse?” He said he’s Military Police & he can arrest me. Is that true?
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Jane Hamsher
We’re literally being detained without any explanation at Quantico 40 min now. Won’t let us leave. #Wikileaks
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Jane Hamsher
I go 2 McDonalds every time we come 2 Quantico while @davidmhouse visits Manning @TheTonyLee bc guards told me 2. Now “tresspassing.”
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Jane Hamsher
The guards absolutely knew we were coming @auerfeld & told to harass us. “This was what I was told to do” said Gunny Foster
.
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Jane Hamsher
I go 2 McDonalds every time we come 2 Quantico while @davidmhouse visits Manning @TheTonyLee bc guards told me 2. Now “tresspassing.”
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Jane Hamsher
Now Quantico guards want @davidmhouse driver’s license back for 2nd time.
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Jane Hamsher
Can’t leave base, can’t go 2 brig, can’t get my driver’s license, Gunt Foster threatening 2 arrest us. Haven’t done a thing.
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Jane Hamsher
Gunny Foster Military Police #1715 writing me ticket for not hving latest insurance card. Sorry to 42,000 people who signed Manning petition
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Jane Hamsher
Now been here at Quantico gate for 30 min. Will not let us leave base, holding us.
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Jane Hamsher
Quantico guards say I’ll be arrested if I go to McDonalds while @davidmhouse visits Manning. “That privilege has been withdrawn.”
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Jane Hamsher
Guess Lt Villiard better at reading FDL than returning phone calls. For first time, made us sign letter saying we won’t deliver any pkgs.
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Jane Hamsher
janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Demanding my social security number before they’ll let me on Quantico base, but won’t say why. Never happened before.»
Jane Hamsher
Called Lt Brian Villiard of Quantico on Friday and again today as courtesy to say we were coming re: Bradley Manning, never called me back.
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Jane Hamsher
At Quantico w @DavidMHouse to deliver 42,000 sigs 4 Bradley Maning to brig. Holding us at gate, never happened before: action.firedoglake.com/page/s/bradley…
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