"I will stand by my principles" -- Gutsy Chelsea Manning
by Julia Conley via lex - CommonDreams Thursday, Mar 7 2019, 7:29pm
international / prose / post

Chelsea Manning Faces Contempt Hearing After Refusal to Answer Grand Jury Questions

Indeed, it is character, conviction and principle that have served Chelsea Manning throughout her tortuous ordeals at the hands of the most corrupt, mass murdering, criminal State in the world today, America. Anyone that has followed her case from the beginning could not help but admire this modern hero/heroine, her character and courage in this modern corrupt age are exceptional.

I recall an instance many years ago when my principles were tested. I was involved in a legal dispute with a corrupt city council which had forged documents -- they were obliged to inform surrounding property owners of any change to land zonings which could have a negative impact on adjoining properties, example, rural to industrial.

Objections had to be made within a time frame. However, Queensland local councils were notoriously corrupt at the time, and they backdated letters of advice, easily proven. So of course I took them straight to court. I recall discussing the case with a Queensland barrister, who wasn't able to convince me to 'deal,' as that is the legal professions' preferred means of dealing with matters; it makes it all very easy for lawyers when they convince clients to deal -- which client is usually sold out, be warned.

I refused to allow this corrupt council to succeed, no doubt they had taken money for this gross fraud. I stuck to my guns much to the amusement of my barrister, who said laughingly, "O, a man of principle," with a mocking, condescending tone. I replied, "indeed I am," and discharged him on the spot as well as the slimy, dealing solicitor.

Needless to say it was exceedingly difficult to locate representation that would honestly fight the case, as that is not how 'things' were done in Queensland Australia. In any event, and at great cost, I won the case and prevented industrial interests spoiling pristine natural and productive agricultural land simply because, 'I was a man of principle.' Well choke on it you corrupt bastards as my principles have, as they have with Chelsea Manning, enabled me to survive the arrows and attacks of many and become extremely successful during the course of my life.

You see dear readers, though it is a hard and rough course a person is nothing without principles that reinforce character and make one stronger. I seem to recall another person who stuck by their principles only to face crucifixion in the end. It would have been extremely easy for Jesus Christ to evade death by selling out his principles but of course he was showing many the heroic and winning way, death is meaningless when it comes to truth and conviction, as a man is worse than dead if he sells him/herself out.

That's my little real life intro which I hope inspires all, especially the sorry jellyfish of our time that lack a spine and all principles. So go for it Chelsea, people of principle, moral conviction and character support you, never forget it.

Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning expressed no regrets Thursday when she revealed that she faces a contempt hearing— and possible jail time—after declining to answer a grand jury's questions.

Manning appeared before a grand jury Wednesday after being subpoenaed, apparently to discuss her 2010 disclosure of government and military documents about the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to Wikileaks.

The subpoena came about three months after federal prosecutors in Virginia's Eastern District, where the former Army intelligence analyst was called to testify, inadvertently revealed that they had filed sealed charges against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

She said after the hearing that she had been offered immunity in exchange for testifying, but that she instead had answered each question with the following statement:

I object to the question and refuse to answer on the grounds that the question is in violation of my First, Fourth, and Sixth Amendment, and other statutory rights.

"In solidarity with many activists facing the odds, I will stand by my principles," Manning said after the hearing. "I will exhaust every legal remedy available. My legal team continues to challenge the secrecy of these proceedings, and I am prepared to face the consequences of my refusal."

Manning said the grand jury questioned her about her disclosure to Wikileaks, which was also the focus of her questioning in 2013 when she was court-martialed. Manning was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for her disclosure—which helped expose war crimes by the U.S.—but her sentence was commuted in 2017 by President Barack Obama.

The whistleblower now faces a contempt trial on Friday. She acknowledged as much in her statement, saying that, "The court may find me in contempt, and order me to jail."

Supporters of Manning applauded her steadfast refusal to help prosecutors to incriminate her and convict Assange and denounced the secretive grand jury hearing and the U.S. government's continued efforts to punish her.

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