Manning went to with his concerns to a commanding officer (as is protocol) and was told to shut the f*ck up. He went around his commanding officer to another superior and was told likewise, STFU. After enough denials, he decided (after a great debate with fellow computer hacker LAMO that you can read online) he would leak all of these practices to the media (thru WikiLeaks, since most mainstream media wouldn't have published it) so the world could see what it's leaders and military were really up to.
That's called "blowing the whistle" on immoral and illegal behavior by those in power. Whistle blowers are those who risk their lives to save the world from incredible malfeasance by those who were elected or put in power to be responsible. Is that treason? Thomas Jefferson would say "hell no." That's being the best patriot America could ask for.
I would've done the same.
The last time this happened was when the "Pentagon Papers" were leaked to Daniel Ellsberg and published by the New York Times in 1971. The Supreme Court ruled that since the government was lying to public about civilian deaths in Vietnam and military actions, the public had a right to know. It changed the course of the war.
Here's a significant difference: The Pentagon Papers were filed "TOP SECRET"...the government cables Bradley Manning leaked (allegedly) were only filed "CLASSIFIED". When President Obama claimed "This isn't the same as what Daniel Ellsberg did" he was right...but not the way he thought he was. Bradley Manning is another whistle blower...and he should be free.
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