> Snowden was motivated by "tremendous conscience" and Manning was motivated by petty revenge.
I put it to you that Snowden remained a free(ish) man who was able to communicate his story with the world whilst Manning was locked in isolation and was unable to make public appearances or give interviews. Therefore the 'message' (as the PR people think of it) during the critical time period following leaks and naming of the whistle-blower was controlled by the US government.
I put it to you that this may have influenced your and my and others opinions of them both.
From someone in Europe who don't follow mainline news, there was never any issues with what Manning did, at least not from me and the people i talked to. The amount of war crimes that were and are committed by individuals in the military and are covered up and almost encouraged are worse then a few undercover personnel in danger and some failed missions. I actually see that as a good outcome, if that actually happened.
That this trade agreement is classified as secret, is just a huge joke. I understand why they are trying to do so... The idea that Corp. Lawyer A is in a lawsuit today against Corp. Lawyer B, and with Corp. Lawyer C acting as judge (who yesterday was in a suit against Corp. Lawyer A).
Who even thinks of this?????? Was this a bet by a few drunk 0.1% guys to see if we are stupid enough to let it pass? Im amazed at the audacity of even trying to claim that this is even reasonable or needed. And that is just the process... With these rules, you could basically eliminate ANY worker rights, ANY nature protection law, and ANY laws that are created to keep corporations in check.
Its scary thinking of what legal BS could be added to these laws that we are not even allowed to see until 2 years after it has been completed.
> I'm not that familiar with the details, but at the time of the leaks, Manning identified as a "he", no?
Manning was certainly publicly identified that way at the time; as I understand Manning's gender identity disorder was diagnosed by a military psychologist either prior to or during the same time the leaks were occurring, and Manning also declared to a supervisor the fact that she self-identified as female during the same period in which the leaks were occurring, so, I don't think one can say that Manning identified as male at the time without substantial qualification.
I put it to you that Snowden remained a free(ish) man who was able to communicate his story with the world whilst Manning was locked in isolation and was unable to make public appearances or give interviews. Therefore the 'message' (as the PR people think of it) during the critical time period following leaks and naming of the whistle-blower was controlled by the US government.
I put it to you that this may have influenced your and my and others opinions of them both.