Would you pardon Chelsea (Bradley) Manning

[nolesfan2011]

So with the Wikileaks leaker Chelsea (Bradley) Manning sentenced to 35 years, his attorney says he will ask Obama for a pardon.

If you were POTUS would you pardon Manning, make him serve the time sentenced, or pardon him at a later date after serving more time.

I would pardon him (yes).

[Peter the Lefty]

No doubt, yes.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Later date. I mean, he did break the law, so he should serve some time for that, but he had good intentions and didn't do anything morally wrong per se.

[windjammer]

No, a traitor.

[AkSaber]

No doubt, yes.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Yes (normal)

[Old Man Svensson]

No, a traitor.

You keep throwing that word around. I have a question for you: what, to you, is more important? Doing the right thing or remaining loyal to a tyrannical, imperialist nation that cares more about hunting down perceived "traitors" than it does hunting down the terrorists that attacked it in the first place?

[© tweed]

my first reaction upon hearing the 35 was "coulda been worse".  the psychology of living under happy dictatorship.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Yes, but I think he should serve some time (and by that, I mean two-three years, five at the most) for the leaks, which still were illegal. I have a hunch that he will be pardonned in the next ten years.

[windjammer]

No, a traitor.

You keep throwing that word around. I have a question for you: what, to you, is more important? Doing the right thing or remaining loyal to a tyrannical, imperialist nation that cares more about hunting down perceived "traitors" than it does hunting down the terrorists that attacked it in the first place?

If the USA were a tyranny, you would be completely right. But it's not the case. Secrets always exist, and I think they have to stay secret. Encouraging the traitors like Manning is NEVER a good thing because it would weaken us. World isn't heaven.
And, Wikileaks isn't a FF organization. But I suppose it's obvious.

[Donerail]

Immediately. Manning's a true FF. Murder (even if 'collateral') and torture should not be tolerated in any civilized country. His refusal to abandon his moral conscience in the face of deeply disturbing information means he's a hero.

[Lief 🗽]

No, of course not.

[Vosem]

No, I would not.

[Zioneer]

Yes, but I think he should serve some time (and by that, I mean two-three years, five at the most) for the leaks, which still were illegal. I have a hunch that he will be pardonned in the next ten years.

This, but give him the most cushy prison imaginable during those five years.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

No doubt, yes.

[Lief 🗽]

He'll probably be paroled in ten years or so, which would be an appropriate punishment. At the end of the day, things like this need to be illegal, or else the country can't really function at all.

[Miles]

No, a traitor.

[Niemeyerite]

Yes (communist).

[Marnetmar]

Absolutely.

[Maxwell]

Yes, but I think he should serve some time (and by that, I mean two-three years, five at the most) for the leaks, which still were illegal. I have a hunch that he will be pardonned in the next ten years.

This is probably where I fit in. Pardon after five years or something.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

No.  I could possibly see commuting his sentence to twenty years or so.

[H. Ross Peron]

No.  I could poibly see commuting his sentence to twenty years or so.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Of course (supports privacy rights)

[Supersonic]

No, a traitor.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Yes (not a war criminal)