Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Explained

Published Date: 06 Oct 2017

INTRODUCTION

On the 9^th of September 2001, the United States of America was hit by one of the largest catastrophic events in the American History (Chossudovsky, 2012). The collapse of the twin towers and the loss of millions of lives led to the U.S taking numerous steps to prevent terrorism (Chossudovsky, 2012). It marked the launch of the “Global War on Terrorism”, leading to wars against Afghanistan and Iraq (Chossudovsky, 2012). As these wars progressed so did the death toll. In these lost lives, there were many civilian that were killed as well and falsely claimed as enemy killed in action (CNN Library, 2014). These inhumane acts came to light with Chelsea Manning and her heroic actions of whistle blowing.

Chelsea Manning, also known as Bradley Manning, was stationed in Iraq as an intelligence analyst and was responsible for leaking 750,000 documents on the war in Afghanistan and Iraq (CNN Library, 2014). Her acts brought to light numerous atrocities undertaken by the U.S military. This paper will shed light on their unethical conduct and will provide a detailed outline of her story and her fight for the greater good.

CASE BACKGROUND

UNETHICAL CONDUCT

The unethical conduct in this case involves numerous acts undertaken by the U.S government resulting in the deaths of large number of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The U.S military was responsible was concealing the deaths of 109,000 people between 2004 and 2009 in Iraq (BBC, 2010). These included as many as 66,081 civilian and 23,984 people who were classified as enemies (BBC, 2010). It also contained information that pointed evidence towards the violent torture of detainees including drilling machines and electrocution used to torture (BBC, 2010). The report clearly depicted that the U.S government was aware and had access to this information, however did not carry out any further investigations (BBC, 2010). The U.S government prior to the leak by Chelsea Manning denied that they kept any record of the death toll (BBC, 2010). The information was classified as the Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and contained a series of observations and events that took place in these war zones (BBC, 2010).

In addition to this Chelsea Manning’s leaks also contained a video on the Baghdad airstrike (CNN Library, 2014). The Apache Baghdad air strike took place on July 12, 2007 where two U.S military helicopters opened gun fire on the inhabitants of the new district of Baghdad (Cohen, 2010). It was undertaken in an attempt to aid the ground troops to clear insurgents from that area (Cohen, 2010). This resulted in the death of nine civilians including two reporters from Reuters and two Iraqi children (Cohen, 2010). The death of the civilians was not disclosed publicly and was claimed as collateral murder (Cohen, 2010).

Chelsea Manning came into access of numerous classified documents while her stationing in Iraq and was appalled by what she discovered (Press, 2013). She subsequently leaked those documents to a website that posts and advertises information that is provided by whistleblowers i.e. WikiLeaks (WikiLeaks, 2011).

WHISTLE BLOWER’S DISCOVERY OF THE WRONG-DOING

Chelsea Manning joined the army in 2007 and after a series of disciplinary problems was sent to Iraq as an intelligence agent (Zetter, 2011). In Iraq she had access to numerous classified documents which included the SPIRnet (Secret International Protocal Router Network) and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (Zetter, 2011). In these documents she discovered the abuse of power by the U.S military and the violent acts inflicted upon the war zone civilians.

STEPS TAKEN BY MANNING TO STOP THE UNETHICAL CONDUCT

Chelsea Manning’s discovery of the unethical conduct carried out by the U.S military forced him to take action against it. In 2010, Manning stumbled upon a case of unjust arrest against fifteen Iraqi civilians (Gosztola, 2013). The civilians were held in detention for publishing anti-Iraqi literature (Gosztola, 2013). However after thorough examination of the translated document Manning realized that it was mere scholarly writings from the prime minister and was not a just cause for the arrest (Gosztola, 2013). She tried to alert her chain of command, however they did not investigate the matter any further and dismissed it (Gosztola, 2013).

Manning subsequently realized that the Military was too close knit and would not intervene. She then downloaded the classified information on her CD-RW and labelled it as Lady Gaga in order to avoid suspicion (Zetter K. , 2011). Manning then subsequently contacted Julian Assanage, the founder of WikiLeaks and sent him the Baghdad air strike video in February 2010 (Zetter K. P., 2010). Following the leak Manning was demoted due to a disciplinary issue, however she did not lose her top security clearance (Zetter K. , 2011). In the following months of March and April she further leaked the war logs which were 90,000 documents containing the various other brutal acts carried out by the military forces that entailed descriptions of the slaying of pregnant women and children and wrongful killings (Zetter K. , 2011).

DIFFERENT FORMS OF DISSENT

Chelsea Manning’s case depicts two forms of dissent. The first type is protesting while remaining within the organization and performing her job. This can be observed from her efforts to alert the chain of command. The second and more serious form of dissent was covert obstruction which is defined as leaks and can be depicted from her disclosure of information to WikiLeaks.

UNSUCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE UNETHICAL CONDUCT

Chelsea Manning’s disclosure was intended to make a difference, however it failed to do so (Pikkington, 2013). Her sole purpose was to hold the military accountable for their actions and create wide spread awareness (Pikkington, 2013). However no investigations took place and she was deemed unsuccessful (Pikkington, 2013).

RESULT OF WHISTLEBLOWING

Chelsea communicated with Lamo who was an ex-hacker, claiming that she was responsible for the leaks (Morris, 2013). Lamo reported the information to the authorities and Chelsea was arrested and sentenced to 35 years in prison after the jury convicted him of espionage violations (Morris, 2013), (Chelsea J. Carter, 2013). She was asked to forfeit all her allowances and received a dishonorable discharge (Saenz, 2013).

The U.S government eventually withdrew troops out of Iraq in 2011, and is currently in the process of withdrawing from Afghanistan (Reuters, 2011), (Lander, 2014). However the government has or had its own reasons to do so and Chelsea Manning’s whistle blowing made no difference to the ongoing situation.

CORE ETHICAL ISSUES

Chelsea Manning’s case raised numerous issues. It raises questions on trust, and loyalty of the U.S military. The atrocious acts undertaken by the military provokes thought towards the institutional integrity and questions the extent of the abuse of power.

ETHICAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES AT STAKE

The values at stake in this case would be justice, freedom and more importantly a sense of humanity. It questions the concept of greater good for the greater number. Chelsea’s arrest questions the moral values and ethical principles that people uphold and the law that punishes not the guilty but the revealer of those acts.

PRINCIPLES OR VALUES THAT THE WHISTLEBLOWER TRIED TO UPHOLD

Chelsea believed that her acts would make a difference. She tried to ask for compassion and humanity for Iraqi and Afghani citizens. She was asking for responsibility and accountability from the U.S military. However above all justice to those who were harmed and a desperate cry to stop.

CONSLUSION

Chelsea’s disclosure of the war logs, led to a statement given by Obama’s national security advisor stating the allegations were false (Whittaker/Corbis, 2010).

Chelsea was sent to prison and was labeled by some a traitor. Any public organization in a democratic country such as the U.S is established to protect and uphold the values of its citizens. U.S grants people freedom and its constitution states that it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. However if a government such as that fails to grant the basic human rights, it questions the mere foundation of the institution. If a government punishes the whistleblower, it will discourage people from bringing to light wrong doings. Whistleblowers need to be protected and admired for their courageous acts. If governments continue to condemn them very few or none will remain questioning the mere right to speech and the principle of blinded trust.

References

BBC. (2010, October 23). Wikileaks: Iraq war logs 'reveal truth about conflict'. Retrieved from www.bbc.com: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11612731

Chelsea J. Carter, A. F. (2013, July 31). Bradley Manning acquitted of aiding the enemy but guilty of espionage violations. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/30/justice/manning-court-martial/: http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/30/justice/manning-court-martial/

Chossudovsky, P. M. (2012, September 11). The 9/11 reader. The September 11, 2001 Terror Attacks. Retrieved from www.globalresearch.ca: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-911-reader-the-september-11-2001-terror-attacks/5303012

CNN Library. (2014, April 23). WikiLeaks Fast Facts . Retrieved from www.cnn.com: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/03/world/wikileaks-fast-facts/

Cohen, T. (2010, April 7). Leaked video reveals chaos of Baghdad attack. Retrieved from www.cnn.com: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/04/06/iraq.journalists.killed/

Gosztola, K. (2013, March 20). Bradley Manning Tried to Warn Us About the Crisis In Iraq. Will We Listen to Him Now? Retrieved from www.thenation.com: http://www.thenation.com/article/173447/bradley-manning-tried-warn-us-about-crisis-iraq-will-we-listen-him-now#

Lander, M. (2014, May 27). U.S. Troops to Leave Afghanistan by End of 2016. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/world/asia/us-to-complete-afghan-pullout-by-end-of-2016-obama-to-say.html?_r=1

Morris, C. (2013, June 5). Bradley Manning Trial Update: Adrian Lamo, Wikileaks Hacker, Testifies About Info Leak. Retrieved from www.christianpost.com: http://www.christianpost.com/news/bradley-manning-trial-update-adrian-lamo-wikileaks-hacker-testifies-about-info-leak-97324/

Pikkington, E. (2013, July 26). Bradley Manning's 'sole purpose was to make a difference' lawyers insist. Retrieved from www.theguardian.com: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/26/bradley-manning-wikileaks-defence-lawyer

Press, T. A. (2013, August 21). Bradley Manning gets 35 years in U.S. WikiLeaks case. Retrieved from www.cbc.ca: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bradley-manning-gets-35-years-in-u-s-wikileaks-case-1.1301924

Reuters. (2011, December 15). Timeline: Invasion, surge, withdrawal; U.S. forces in Iraq. Retrieved from www.reuters.com: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/15/us-iraq-usa-pullout-idUSTRE7BE0EL20111215

Saenz, L. M. (2013, August 21). Bradley Manning Sentenced to 35 Years for Leaking Secrets. Retrieved from www.abcnews.go.com: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bradley-manning-sentenced-35-years-leaking-secrets/story?id=20021288

Whittaker/Corbis, M. (2010). Afghanistan war logs: as it happened. Retrieved from www.theguardian.com: http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2010/jul/26/afghanistan-war-logs-wikileaks

WikiLeaks. (2011, May 7). What is WikiLeaks. Retrieved from www.wikileaks.org: https://wikileaks.org/About.html

Zetter, K. (2011, January 27). Army Was Warned Not to Deploy Bradley Manning to Iraq. Retrieved from www.wired.com: http://www.wired.com/2011/01/army-warned-about-manning/

Zetter, K. P. (2010, June 6). U.S. Intelligence Analyst Arrested in Wikileaks Video Probe. Retrieved from www.wired.com: http://www.wired.com/2010/06/leak/