Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Across the Pond: This week, Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, was released on bail from a London prison. Assange will remain under “mansion arrest” at the 600-acre estate of Vaughan Smith, a London restaurateur and former war correspondent. He plans to fight extradition to Sweden where he would face sex crimes allegations.
Back Here at Home: Bradley Manning, the 22-year-old U. S. Army intelligence specialist who has been accused of leaking classified documents to Wikileaks, has been held
in solitary confinement at the marine brig in Quantico, Virginia, for five months. Before being transferred to Quantico, Manning was held in a military jail in Kuwait for two months. Manning will face a court martial on charges that he provided Wikileaks with classified information in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Bradley Manning is being kept under constant surveillance and is “under a regimen of authority-administered anti-depressant drugs.” He is reportedly not permitted to have a pillow or sheets—and not permitted to exercise. He is allowed out of his cell for just one hour a day.
According to MSNBC, Manning is being held under harsher conditions than “Bryan Minkyu Martin, the naval intelligence specialist who allegedly tried to sell military secrets to an undercover FBI agent.” Minkyu, who is awaiting trial, is not being held in solitary confinement.
From Glenn Greenwald: “Just by itself, the type of prolonged solitary confinement to which Manning has been subjected for many months is widely viewed around the world as highly injurious, inhumane, punitive, and arguably even a form of torture.”
All this harsh treatment—and Manning hasn’t even been convicted of the crime for which he has been charged.
For further reading on a related topic: DOJ Says Pentagon Isn’t Properly Protecting Whistleblowers (Turley Blawg)
Sources:
The inhumane conditions of Bradley Manning’s detention by Glenn Greenwald (Salon)
Forgetting Bradley Manning by Laura Flanders (The Notion: The Nation’s Group Blog)
Bradley Manning’s Personal Hell (MSNBC)
Photo of Bradley Manning courtesy of the Bradley Manning Support Network
BBB
“If someone on suicide watch covers their head with a blanket, they are awakened and told to uncover their head. They do this because other detainees have killed themselves by shoving their blanket or sheets down their throats while covering their head.”
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According to Glenn Greenwald (see Elaine M.’s comment at 4:00 pm):
“(he is not and never has been on suicide watch)”
FFLEO: I agree, but good luck on that plan. They have no intention of allowing outside observers to see violations of constitutional rights, violation of the Uniform Code or violation of basic human rights. This is all about power and control. And about a scapegoat. I read a news account earlier today that the CIA has set aside five million dollars for the legal defense of anyone charged with torture or war crimes as a result of their “enhanced interrogations.” They are willing to spend almost any amount of money to CYA and protect their criminal behavior from legal scrutiny.
There need to be independent observers assigned to this “watch”. It could involve several government physicians or psychiatrics who must sign logs under penalty of perjury.
BBB: Sorry, this is not a suicide watch. And of course it is harassment. IT is designed that way and is a combination of punitive and a way to break him psychologically. This is beyond harassment, and transcends to torture. As for whether the detention staff finds it onerous, that is irrelevant. They can work in shifts. Manning has no choice–he is stuck there day after day, with his circadian cycle deliberately disrupted. The details of his confinement are probably being leaked as a deterrent and warning for anyone else that might be contemplating giving documents to WikiLeaks or news media.
If it were a suicide watch, they would be observing him but not interrupting his sleep. Lighting would be subdued and not excessively bright. Keep in mind they are also preventing him from exercising or reading. This is about breaking a man psychologically and physically, and they do not give a rat’s patoot if he eventually dies from the treatment or not, as long as he does not die before they get what they want.
Welcome to Dick Cheney’s America … Antonin Scalia will take your coat.
If someone on suicide watch covers their head with a blanket, they are awakened and told to uncover their head. They do this because other detainees have killed themselves by shoving their blanket or sheets down their throats while covering their head.
I think the part about asking him if he’s okay every 5 minutes was probably taken out of context or misunderstood. Not only because it would be considered harassment of Manning, but because the two guards watching him and the others in his block for eight hours at a time would get pretty sick of it too.
The effect of sleep deprivation is something I know quite a bit about, along with the effects of torture. I have hesitated to weigh in on this discussion until I read the account by Lottakaz, just above.
Whether one thinks PFC Manning is a hero or villain in immaterial in a country that claims to be civilized and claims to follow the rule of law. The notion of pressuring a defendant to this degree is unconscionable. The deliberate deprivation of sleep is a form of torture. It may not leave bruises or scars, but is as real as the rack. If we do an analysis of the effects of the sleep deprivation described above by Lottakatz, the following is to be expected:
* Day 2: Difficulty focusing eyes–things will seem to move in and out of focus. The first signs of astereognosis will appear; that is, he will begin having difficulty recognizing objects only by touch.
* Day 3: Moodiness will increase, specifically with the mood of melancholy and depression alternating with giddy or “high” feelings. The first signs of ataxia will appear. There will begin to be difficulty pronouncing some words, especially if they are polysyllabic.
* Day 4: Irritability and cranky attitude. Will begin to display oppositional and uncooperative attitude. There are increasing memory lapses and difficulty concentrating. Episodes of delusions may appear for the first time.
* Day 5: More hallucinations. They may see people that are not there, or the cell may begin to look like a forest glen.
* Day 6: Slow speech and difficulty pronouncing words getting more pronounced.
* Day 7 and 8: Irritability and crankiness getting worse. Speech and memory problems increasing.
* Day 9: Flights of ideas appear. Difficulty keeping thoughts organized. May start sentences but cannot finish them because he cannot remember what he started to say.
* Day 10: Paranoia beginning. This may incorporate delusions of irrational persecution, such as that his thoughts are being broadcast for all to hear, or that others are inserting thoughts into his head.
* Day 11: Flattened affect. That is, he has an expressionless appearance. Speech is slurred and without inflection or intonation. Becoming mute and it is hard to get him to talk or respond to questions. Memory significantly worse.
There will begin to be changes in organs by the first day or two, but more pronounced as time goes on. Permanent organ damage can occur. If sleep deprivation continues, death can ensue. There is a condition called fatal familial insomnia that is 100% fatal and always results in a horrible death due to lack of sleep.
Folks, we have here the making of a false confession. No more, no less. I just testified in a murder case to this effect and in that case the defendant was subjected to much less sleep deprivation than Private Manning.
From article posted by BBB: “The guards are required to check on PFC Manning every five minutes by asking him if he is okay. PFC Manning is required to respond in some affirmative manner. At night, if the guards cannot see PFC Manning clearly, because he has a blanket over his head or is curled up towards the wall, they will wake him in order to ensure he is okay.”
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There it is. That’s the way it’s done. Think about doing your reading, meditation, TV watching, letter writing, or whatever and being interrupted every 5 minutes. Made to be awake 15 hours a day and do a call and response every 5 minutes.
Being awakened every time he pulls a blanket over his head or curls up toward the wall or presumably obstructs a guards view of him in any way.
So they are using sleep disruption techniques and using a technique to require a response every 5 minutes to shatter his ability to concentrate or focus on a sustained thought. All for his own good of course.
That’s torture.
Sounds like a variant on the constant loud music and ever-lighted cells used on the prisoners in Abu Ghraib.
Elaine M.,
The “Benintn” story seems to coincide with the account of Col. Dave Lapan.
Much of what is being reported is spin. Like whether or not the lights are left on. The people asking the question already know the answer, and they want to spin it into something that it is not. The answer to the lights question is that some lights are left on. They are left on in order to permit those charged with his care to check on him. Manning remains on a suicide prevention watch. The amount of lighting is reduced, but it is not dark or anywhere close to it.
Much of Manning’s treatment is to protect him. In a military brig, Manning would be seen by others as being as vile as a child sex predator.
Blouise, “…and the frostbite of America’s Siberia will destroy his mind.”
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Daaaamn girl, that is a vivid image, strikingly painted. You wield a mighty metaphor Blouise; I like that a lot.
I have often thought that our government is beginning to resemble nothing so much as a mirror image of the Soviet Russian state during the cold war. Guantanamo and Bagram and the far flung hell-holes we ship prisoners of war to for the purpose of torture is no more than our gulag. It’s updated of course with the dirty work contracted out to allies, a nod to the corporate way of doing government with a veneer of deniability for the evil being done.
BBB,
Who is “Benintn?” The correction may be correct–but I always like to know the author of an article or a blog post when I’m citing the individual as a source.
Correcting Glenn Greenwald’s Claims Regarding Bradley Manning
“To clarify: Villiard noted that, while Manning is in a solitary cell (i.e., he doesn’t have a cellmate), it’s not like he is in a hole somewhere. Villiard stated that he had toured the facility where Manning and other detainees were being held. While he doesn’t have 24/7 access to the detainees, he was able to tour the space, talk with those directly responsible for his care and confinement, and see the cell where Manning is housed.
Villiard stated clearly to me that Manning has access to psychological, spiritual, and medical care. When I asked him if Manning would be able to access care during the 23 hours of his “solitary confinement,” if needed, Villiard gave an unambiguous confirmation that Manning’s access is not denied. Villiard added that he is able to speak with other cellmates in cells adjacent to him – i.e., while he’s in his own place, he is not isolated any more than others in the maximum custody area.”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/16/929505/-Correcting-Glenn-Greenwalds-Claims-Regarding-Bradley-Manning
“The Pentagon denies that Manning is being held in solitary confinement. True, a Pentagon spokesman says, Manning is being held alone in a cell. “But just being in a cell by yourself doesn’t constitute solitary confinement,” says Col. Dave Lapan.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/1217/Bradley-Manning-in-isolation-US-defends-treatment-of-WikiLeaks-suspect
Elaine M.,
I’m pretty sure it was the Pentagon who released a report subsequent to the article at salon.com in which it was clarified that, though Manning does not have a cellmate, he is not in solitary confinement. I’ll hunt it down and post a link.
Here’s another report:
http://www.armycourtmartialdefense.info/2010/12/typical-day-for-pfc-bradley-manning.html
“PFC Manning is currently being held in maximum custody. Since arriving at the Quantico Confinement Facility in July of 2010, he has been held under Prevention of Injury (POI) watch.
His cell is approximately six feet wide and twelve feet in length.
The cell has a bed, a drinking fountain, and a toilet.
The guards at the confinement facility are professional. At no time have they tried to bully, harass, or embarrass PFC Manning. Given the nature of their job, however, they do not engage in conversation with PFC Manning.
At 5:00 a.m. he is woken up (on weekends, he is allowed to sleep until 7:00 a.m.). Under the rules for the confinement facility, he is not allowed to sleep at anytime between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. If he attempts to sleep during those hours, he will be made to sit up or stand by the guards.
He is allowed to watch television during the day. The television stations are limited to the basic local stations. His access to the television ranges from 1 to 3 hours on weekdays to 3 to 6 hours on weekends.
He cannot see other inmates from his cell. He can occasionally hear other inmates talk. Due to being a pretrial confinement facility, inmates rarely stay at the facility for any length of time. Currently, there are no other inmates near his cell.
From 7:00 p.m. to 9:20 p.m., he is given correspondence time. He is given access to a pen and paper. He is allowed to write letters to family, friends, and his attorneys.
Each night, during his correspondence time, he is allowed to take a 15 to 20 minute shower.
On weekends and holidays, he is allowed to have approved visitors see him from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
He is allowed to receive letters from those on his approved list and from his legal counsel. If he receives a letter from someone not on his approved list, he must sign a rejection form. The letter is then either returned to the sender or destroyed.
He is allowed to have any combination of up to 15 books or magazines. He must request the book or magazine by name. Once the book or magazine has been reviewed by the literary board at the confinement facility, and approved, he is allowed to have someone on his approved list send it to him. The person sending the book or magazine to him must do so through a publisher or an approved distributor such as Amazon. They are not allowed to mail the book or magazine directly to PFC Manning.
Due to being held on Prevention of Injury (POI) watch:
PFC Manning is held in his cell for approximately 23 hours a day.
The guards are required to check on PFC Manning every five minutes by asking him if he is okay. PFC Manning is required to respond in some affirmative manner. At night, if the guards cannot see PFC Manning clearly, because he has a blanket over his head or is curled up towards the wall, they will wake him in order to ensure he is okay.
He receives each of his meals in his cell.
He is not allowed to have a pillow or sheets. However, he is given access to two blankets and has recently been given a new mattress that has a built-in pillow.
He is not allowed to have any personal items in his cell.
He is only allowed to have one book or one magazine at any given time to read in his cell. The book or magazine is taken away from him at the end of the day before he goes to sleep.
He is prevented from exercising in his cell. If he attempts to do push-ups, sit-ups, or any other form of exercise he will be forced to stop.
He does receive one hour of “exercise” outside of his cell daily. He is taken to an empty room and only allowed to walk. PFC Manning normally just walks figure eights in the room for the entire hour. If he indicates that he no long feels like walking, he is immediately returned to his cell.
When PFC Manning goes to sleep, he is required to strip down to his boxer shorts and surrender his clothing to the guards. His clothing is returned to him the next morning.”
Posted by Army Court-Martial Defense Specialist at 10:40 AM
BBB,
“I, Bradley Manning, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…”
This is one of those amazing and rare individuals that had the balls to keep his oath.
How many people did the lies that he shed light on – kill?
How many people did his own actions kill?
BBB,
Here are two excerpts from the article by Glenn Greenwald:
#1
From the beginning of his detention, Manning has been held in intensive solitary confinement. For 23 out of 24 hours every day — for seven straight months and counting — he sits completely alone in his cell. Even inside his cell, his activities are heavily restricted; he’s barred even from exercising and is under constant surveillance to enforce those restrictions. For reasons that appear completely punitive, he’s being denied many of the most basic attributes of civilized imprisonment, including even a pillow or sheets for his bed (he is not and never has been on suicide watch). For the one hour per day when he is freed from this isolation, he is barred from accessing any news or current events programs. Lt. Villiard protested that the conditions are not “like jail movies where someone gets thrown into the hole,” but confirmed that he is in solitary confinement, entirely alone in his cell except for the one hour per day he is taken out.
**********
#2
UPDATE: I was contacted by Lt. Villiard, who claims there is one factual inaccuracy in what I wrote: specifically, he claims that Manning is not restricted from accessing news or current events during the prescribed time he is permitted to watch television. That is squarely inconsistent with reports from those with first-hand knowledge of Manning’s detention, but it’s a fairly minor dispute in the scheme of things.
**********
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/14/manning/index.html
It is my understanding that Manning is not in solitary confinement. He is in a cell, by himself, but is not isolated from others.
Which marine do you want him to share a cell with? Would he not have reason to fear his cellmate(s)?
Let’s take a guy who released classified information, the release of which is said to put the lives of other service members in additional danger, and put him in a cell with a treined killer. I think the old adage of “be careful what you wish for” would be applicable here.
There is both good and bad to Mannings release of classified material. There is no way that he could have read through the plethora of information that he decided to release. For that, I consider him to have operated in reckless disregard of the negative and potentially life threatening effect it would have on innocent people. Releasing evidence of a crime that was being covered-up under the guise of being classified is one thing, but he went well beyond that.
A twenty two year old kid took advantage of a huge hole in the State Department’s security apparatus to reveal to the world who we really are and what we really do.
Our government, in its zeal to reassert its dominance and to cover its embarrassment has focused all its destructive, tough-guy power on this one kid. All by himself he took them down and by god, they’re going to grind him into dust.
Oh, we’ll see him one day but he’ll be nothing more than a walking vegetable unable to take part in his own defense or tell us why or how he did it. The Gulag has him and the frostbite of America’s Siberia will destroy his mind.
In spite of all the propaganda our State Department churns out … this is who we really are and this is what we really do. Bradley Manning will soon be nothing more than an inanimate exclamation mark.
Unless there is a group of Americans out there who stand up and yell loudly enough for the whole world to hear … “THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE; THIS IS NOT WHAT WE DO! And then fight to wrest Bradley Manning from the claws of the Gulag.
The government just seems to be trying to “break” Manning with the solitary confinement and the drugs. If they break him then his defense will be hampered and more “truths” cannot be disclosed in the trial,if they ever have one.
“under the Espionage Act. He claims not to know Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence private who is allegedly behind the leak of the trove of classified diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.”
What is this mission impossible?