President Obama Sides With Pentagon Torturers, Says Manning's Treatment Is "Meeting Basic Standards"

[Turborama]

Run time: 00:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ2cUk8tuTU   Posted on YouTube: March 11, 2011 By YouTube Member: FiredoglakeTV Views on YouTube: 13   Posted on DU: March 11, 2011 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 1444

 

By: Michael Whitney Friday March 11, 2011 10:34 am

In today’s press conference with President Obama, ABC Reporter Jake Tapper asked Obama about Hillary Clinton spokesman PJ Crowley’s condemnation of the Department of Defense’s mistreatment of Bradley Manning. Crowley said at a forum last night, “What is happening to Manning is ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid, and I don’t know why the DoD is doing it.”

Obama brushed off the question, saying that he had spoken to the Pentagon and was assured that Manning’s treatment is “meeting our basic standards.” As Marcy Wheeler noted, “Of COURSE Manning’s treatment meets DOD’s standards. Using nudity to force helplessness has been standard for 9 years now.”

Below is the full transcript of President Barack Obama taking ownership of the torture of Bradley Manning.

Tapper: The State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley said the treatment of Bradley Manning by the Pentagon is “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid,” and I’m wondering if you agree with that. Thank you sir.

Obama: With respect to Private Manning, I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are. I can’t go into details about some of their concerns, but some of this has to do with Private Manning’s safety as well.

Tapper: Do you disagree with PJ Crowley?

Obama: I think I gave you an answer to the substantive issue.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/03/11/president-obama-takes-ownership-of-torture-of-bradley-manning-video/

Related OPs...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4765563">Stripped naked every night, Bradley Manning tells of prison ordeal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x614798">US State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley: Bradley Manning's Treatment By US "Stupid"

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Perceptions are everything. I don't think it looks good that Obama approves

of stripping a prisoner down every evening. It just looks bad. If they're afraid he's going to commit suicide, put him in a jumper that he can't remove without assistance.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Could have put money on that.

If it's bad, he's for it.

[sarge43]

3. And in breaking news, the fox assured the President

that everything was calm and peaceful in the henhouse.

The hens could not be reached for a comment.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lamp_shade]

5. What the hell answer did Tapper expect? The President gave him a very good answer.

[libmom74]

7. Really??

Please tell me you just forgot the sarcasm thing, because if you think that is a good answer about the torture that Pfc. Manning is being subjected to on daily then you and the rest of the Obama can do no wrong crowd need to enter some kind of cult deprogramming program. It makes me physically ill to think about all of the hours I spent getting out the vote for Obama who I thought was opposed to Bush's torture policies and who now it turns out no longer opposes them but is just fine about using them on a US soldier turned whistleblower. :puke:

[lamp_shade]

15. Whistleblower?

[tpsbmam]

17. +1 nt

[Marblehead]

6. unfortunately

the pentagon can do whatever they want..no civilian oversight

[Divine Discontent]

8. if stripping down someone & saying you're their god is 'basic' American standards

we're not in an America to be proud of.

Manning said,

"As I tried to explain to him what had occurred, CWO4 Averhart stopped me and said “I am the commander” and that “no one could tell him what to do.” He also said that he was, for all practical purposes, “God.” I responded by saying “you still have to follow Brig procedures.” I also said “everyone has a boss that they have to answer to.” As soon as I said this, CWO4 Averhart ordered that I be placed in Suicide Risk Status."

This is the same crap that they used on the people in Guantanamo where they said they were their "god" now.



Shame is on our President. I personally despise warfare, abuse, and torture of any kind, and I hope the President someday realizes that this is not the America that he professed to believe in, and stops this systemic abuse of detainees.

He is in charge of this, even if he isn't physically saying or doing these actions to PFC Manning.

:(

[JJW]

9. You Lie!

Shame on you Barack Obama.

[avaistheone1]

11. TRUE!

[Charleston Chew]

10. related links

__________
COUNTDOWN w/ Keith Olbermann
December 15, 2010

Keith Olbermann talks with FBI whistle-blower Colleen Rowley about the details of Bradley Mannings incarceration, which were reported by Glenn Greenwald Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x560169
__________
Dylan Ratigan’s Monday mega-panel
December 20, 2010

Radio host Sam Seder The Nation's Ari Berman and Washington Examiner columnist Tim Carney discuss why PFC Bradley Manning should not be treated like a member of Al Qaeda.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x560172
__________
The Alyona Show
Mar 4, 2011

Jane Hamsher founder of Fire Dog Lake, The US Army has announced they're filing twenty-two additional charges against Bradley Manning, who is accused of leaking thousands of documents to WikiLeaks. And the most serious charge is "aiding the enemy," which is a capital offense but who exactly is the enemy that Manning is accused of aiding? Is Wikileaks now an enemy of the US?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x559654
__________

[JDPriestly]

12. Sounded like a memorized answer that he had been fed.

Note the little grin at the end. He is congratulating himself for having performed well and put down those who are asking this legitimate question.

Sneaky, sneaky, putting yet another one over on the American public. Not hard to do these days.

Wikileaks showed us how cynical the Obama administration really is. So we should not be surprised to see Obama's smug grin as he tells us this nonsense.

[dipsydoodle]

16. The grin that says

if you thought you can't fool all of the people all of the time then you're a mug.

I watched it live on Bloomberg News on satelllte tv and rewound a few times to make sure I'd heard what he said correctly.

[Turborama]

20. Looked like remembering the answer he had been fed, too

Screenshot from 24 seconds in...

[rhett o rick]

13. They are concerned with keeping him alive but not sane. This is disappointing. nm

[sasquuatch55]

14. Who is this man, Obama?

nt

[Jimalene]

18. Obama who I voted for wasn't in the WH for 5 minutes

before he did a 180. Me thinks he is a far fro center right conserative all along. No ones knife in the back hurt more than his. What Bush policies have changed? Hell what people around him changed?

[JoeyT]

19. Congress passed a bill to make him say it!!!!!111

Wait, wrong talking point?
Shit.

[blackspade]

21. The unreality if it all is stunning!

I now live in the distopian future that I used to see in science fiction movies.
The dark polluted corporate owned world of Blade Runner is looking more like reality every day.