Wiki Leaker Letter

With news that supporters of US Army Pfc. Bradley Manning are being harassed - a supporter this week said FBI agents interrogated him and confiscated his laptop at O'Hare Airport in Chicago - I decided to write this letter to Manning, the alleged source of the voluminous documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq published by Wiki Leaks and the source of the Collateral Murder video. While I don't relish the possibility of opening myself up to being spied on our harassed by the government, I felt it was the least I could do given that Manning has been imprisoned indefinitely with no trial date.

11-10-10

Evan Goodenow

3001 Lakeshore Drive

Apt. 343

St. Joseph, MI. 49085

Pfc. Bradley Manning

c/o Courage To Resist

484 Lake Park Ave. #41

Oakland, CA. 94610

Dear Bradley,

I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I wanted you to know I salute your courage in letting the American people know what is being done by their military in their names and with their taxes.

It is ironic that the soldiers who killed and wounded Iraqis and journalists who posed no threat to them in the Collateral Murder video released by Wiki Leaks face no penalties while you have been imprisoned for allegedly leaking it. As disgusting as what the video shows, it is by all accounts of soldiers who have had the courage to speak out, typical of the shoot first, ask questions later procedure U.S. military commanders allow and encourage in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The fact that no one in the helicopter that opened fire in the video was ever disciplined is proof of that. Of course it is easy for me as a civilian to second guess, but even in war there are rules and that is what separates a soldier from a murderer. You don’t shoot people who pose no threat to you and expose innocent civilians to death because some of them might be armed.

If you are responsible for leaking the video and the Afghanistan War and Iraq War documents to Wiki Leaks, you should be praised rather than condemned and punished. You are a hero for letting Americans know what their military is doing. It is the people carrying out the torture and murder described in the documents who are the real criminals.

The real traitors are those that keep the truth secret and lie that revealing it would endanger soldiers and their allies. Secrecy corrodes democracy and covers up corruption, incompetence and evil. Any dangers the leaks pose are far less serious than the danger of secrecy.

I have enclosed a $20 donation to your legal defense fund. If I weren’t unemployed I would give more. It is sad that many Americans are in such denial about what our soldiers do in our name that they condemn you, but there are some of us who understand that what you are alleged to have done exemplifies what a true soldier and patriot is. One who resists illegal or immoral actions that defile the true American and human values of freedom, liberty and self-determination.

Be strong and be true to yourself.

Sincerely,

Evan Goodenow