By Debra Sweet

Thursday July 18, the judge presiding over Bradley Manning's court martial denied defense motions to drop the most serious charge against him, "aiding the enemy." This is the same judge who will announce her decision, soon, on Bradley's guilt in 21 charges. Closing arguments will probably come the week of July 22.

Drawing 7-18 by Deb Van Poolen at Ft. Meade

From Kevin Gosztola: Significance of Military Judge’s Decision to Not Acquit Bradley Manning of ‘Aiding the Enemy’:

Sharing any information with the press becomes “aiding the enemy.” According to [Ben] Wizner [of the ACLU], “any member of the military including the Pentagon press secretary” could be guilty of committing an offense because they would have known the information would get to the enemy.

After the verdict will come an extensive sentencing phase, possibly into mid August. It will be very important to keep filling the court with supporters. From the Bradley Manning Support Network:

Friday July 26 + Saturday July 27 International Call to  Defend Bradley Manning

Demonstration at Fort McNair Friday July 26, 3-5PM @4th and P Street, SW DC

Major General Jeffery S. Buchanan is the convening authority of the US government's case against WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning, and he has the power to reduce Bradley's sentence. The Bradley Manning Support Network will gather outside  the General's office at Fort McNair to demand: “General Buchanan, Do The Right Thing - FREE BRADLEY MANNING!”

More information on events around the world.

Add your name! “We are Bradley Manning” NY Times ad

Add your name alongside Alice Walker, Daniel Ellsberg, Russell Brand, Noam Chomsky, Joan Baez, Tom Morello and Graham Nash, in the Bradley Manning Support Network's full page ad in The New York Times! The ad states, in part:

In a time when we needed the truth, a young U.S. Army private became our champion for openness and responsibility. An Intelligence Analyst, Bradley Manning had access to some of America’s dirtiest secrets, such as U.S. support for Iraqi torture, and a video exposing American troops shooting children, civilians, and journalists from an Apache helicopter over Baghdad.  Bradley Manning acted on his conscience, with selfless courage and conviction, and gave these secrets to us, the American public.

“I believed that if the general public… had access to the information contained within the [Iraq and Afghan War Logs] this could spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan,” explained PFC Bradley Manning prior to his May 2010 arrest in Iraq.  

Continue reading and add your name here.