Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Patrick Semansky/AP/Press Association Images
The Daily PollPoll: Is Bradley Manning a whistleblower or a traitor?
What do you think?
US ARMY PRIVATE Bradley Manning will be sentenced today after being convicted on several counts of espionage related to his leaking of a huge trove of secret US diplomatic cables, government records, and military logs to the Wikileaks website.
Manning, 25, was found not guilty of the most serious charge – ‘aiding the enemy’ – but still faces a maximum of 136 years in prison.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said Manning’s conviction sets a “dangerous precedent” for whistleblowers and investigative journalists, and that there is no evidence that anyone had been harmed as a result of Manning’s disclosures.
However, advocates of Manning’s prosecution claim he is a traitor – and that the publication of the leaked material, particularly the diplomatic cables, attracted massive global attention and put US troops and diplomatic staff in danger.
What do you think: Is Bradley Manning a whistleblower or a traitor?
Poll Results:
Whistleblower (2939)
Traitor (2119)
Other (please explain in the comments below) (652)
have your say