P U L S E

Bradley Manning, the the 22-year-old U.S. Army Private accused of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks (he was handed over to the authorities by someone who pretended to be his friend and confidant) is reportedly living in torturous conditions.

Writes Glenn Greenwald:

Since his arrest in May, Manning has been a model detainee, without any episodes of violence or disciplinary problems.  He nonetheless was declared from the start to be a “Maximum Custody Detainee,” the highest and most repressive level of military detention, which then became the basis for the series of inhumane measures imposed on him.

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.

The sympathy and admiration we have for Manning will never be enough to ease the suffering he is being forced to endure for his brave and courageous deed. The most important way to support Manning right now is to donate to his legal defense fund. To find out how, click here.  Be sure to also join Manning’s online support networks on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates on his case.

Tagged: Adrian Lamo, Bradley Manning, Glenn Greenwald, WikiLeaks