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© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Obama shortens Manning's term, grants clemency to hundreds
By JOSH LEDERMAN and ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Penske Nievko
Good. Now let Snowden off the hook as well and don't pursue anything against Assange. These guys expose the corruption and backdoor dealings of governments and corporations. Truth is best to be heard. People shouldn't shield their eyes from this any longer and think their big daddy government really cares for them.
CrazyJoe
It is the right thing to do. Thank you Obama. Yep Thank God for a President with a heart and a mind, the new one clearly lacks both as does anyone who thinks that 35 years for this "crime" was even close to reasonable.
MrBum
I know that Snowden petitioned for Manning's pardon over his own. Others have come out strongly for Manning as well, mainly because she's been suicidal and probably wouldn't last much longer in prison.
Mirai Hayashi
Manning is a national hero. He let the American people know the crimes that America commits during war.
Madverts
Lostrune,
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/18/focus-turns-to-julian-assange-after-us-decision-to-free-chelsea-manning
Julian Assange ready for US extradition, one of his lawyers suggests
Hehehehe....
I asked earlier but no challengers. Any Assange lovers out there really think he's going to keep his word?
Wasn't the whole reason the radical left let him off the hook for his sex crime allegations was that he might be extradited to the US? And besides, the Americans will have to wait in line behind Sweden and the UK.
I don't agree with what Manning did, nor do I agree with the draconian sentence she received especially in light of her own vulnerability.
As I said earlier, a stellar move from President Obama. He's given the finger to all the unreasonable people involved here from left to right and dumped the problem of Assange in Trump's lair. And let us not forget that Trump called for the death penalty for not only Assange but for everyone in the Kremlin sponsored Wikileaks -heh, until Trump got orders from Putin that is.
bluenote1
These pardons by Obama will create a lot of emotional controversy - but there's another side which differs from the partisan aspect. Deep studies have shown that after 2.5 years of prison life a definite mental deterioration commences. Often these effects become so ingrained that a reversion is almost impossible. All aspects of the crime should be taken into account so that a sadistic punishment is not too destructive.
Wakarimasen
the US would be better served by him pardoning thousands of petty drug offenders who deserve clemency more than these high profile publicity getting names.
nath
What a great day with this news. Could not be happier for her.
lostrune2
Manning got what she asked for - she asked for a commutation, not a pardon
But seems Assange is chickening out:
https://francais.rt.com/international/32544-julian-assange-refuse-extradition-chelsea-manning-toujours-pas-libre
It's one thing to say something brave when it's not probable - it's another thing to tough it out and follow through when it actually happens
njca4
you know, in that picture she kinda looks like a guy
lostrune2
Assange promised to turn himself in for US extradition back in Sept and again last week if Obama does this:
https://www.rt.com/usa/374012-assange-extradition-manning-commutation/
We'll see whether he's a man of his word or he's going to run away again.
If Assange turns himself in for the US, it'd be interesting if Trump would prosecute him and WikiLeaks.
A lot of Democrat voters don't want to prosecute him, but a lot of Republican voters do.
Meanwhile, Snowden thanked Obama, but Obama can't do the same for him since, unlike Snowden, Manning faced due process and accepted responsibility for the consequences by not asking for a pardon but just a commutation.
US is quite leaky
Lukas Strautins
Great! Because with your new messiah, Trump, you'll DEFINITELY need people willing to leak government documents!
FizzBit
I don't recall reading about Assange and Obama coming to an agreement about this. If Obama did this on his own, Assange has nothing honor.
lostrune2
Obama didn't ask Assange to make that pledge neither - it was Assange doing it on his own.
Since Assange did the pledge on his own, then he has to stand by his pledge - on his own.
He has to honor his own pledge, which he did on his own volition, without anybody else's involvement.
Otherwise, his pledges are meaningless - so next time he makes a pledge in the future, nobody would believe that he would stand by his pledge.
arrestpaul
AFAIK, there are no U.S. government warrants pending for Assange. There have never been any U.S. government warrants for Assange. What would the U.S. government arrest the non-U.S. citizen Assange for? Illegally receiving stolen goods?
Only Assange, and his supporters, claim that the U.S. has warrant(s) for Assange arrest.
dcog9065
I can see how this may set a bad precedent and am curious to hear his reasoning when he explains his decision later tonight. He's also apparently planning more pardons tonight so hopefully he goes after the petty drug users who don't belong in jail
Bartholomew Harte
Good luck with that jive, Obama !-Live long & Prosper...
Blacklabel
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/along-with-chelsea-manning-here-are-the-other-people-who-received-pardons-and-commutations-from-obama/ar-AAlXRx0?li=AA4ZnC&ocid=spartandhp
The entire list. Cocaine, heroin, meth distributors. Other serious felonies, gun charges.. Yeah thanks Obama for putting all these convicted felons back on the streets. Im sure the policemen that risked their lives to arrest these people and the juries who decided to put them in prison for the benefit of others in society really appreciate this Obama.
Thunderbird2
The Swedish are after Assange, so whatever the US does has no bearing on that case.
elephant200
Will Donald Trump repeals their clemency?
Blacklabel
I guess Snowden and Assange put out the wrong kind of truth huh?
I am also interested in the rationale behind this decision. Expressed regret and served several years of her sentence (6 years of 35 I think)? There had better be more than that....
Madverts
Bah, Manning is no hero - young, screwed up and utterly naive. But commuting was think it was the right thing to do. The real fool was the cretin that got his hands on the data and leaked it all, knowing full well the dangers and compromises for people working in the intelligence communities, and not just North American..... Julian Assange.
Does anyone reckon Assange is about to put up his hands and step in the searchlight? Obama's a thinker and likes putting his enemies in an intellectual squeeze - you have to believe he knew he commuted Manning's sentence with the pledge of Assange in mind.
Heh, it's beautiful - the coward holed up in the embassy from sex crime allegations just had his bluff called. Your move, creep....
Blacklabel
Horrible decision. Do you think the whole LGBT/pay for my sex change thing might have had anything to do with it....? hmmmmm
bass4funk
Thanks to people like them and Snowden, we really dodged a bullet! Without them, Hillary could have wounded up being president. Thank God! I'm all for the pardons, they deserved it.
Mocheake
This one is a head-scratcher. Why pardon this traitor? Disagree completely with that move.
SuperLib
Manning should rot in prison forever. He's a traitor to the United States.
And yes, I know I can switch gears and say how awesome Obama is for pardoning him because it makes the right wingers angry, but yeah, I think I'll pass.