Berkeley tables resolution to call suspected WikiLeaks soldier 'hero'
The Berkeley, California, City Council tabled a resolution Tuesday night that would have declared jailed Army Pfc. Bradley Manning a hero. Manning is accused of releasing documents to WikiLeaks, a website known for leaking official secrets. Manning is currently awaiting trial on charges of illegally downloading classified material and providing video of a 2007 helicopter attack in Iraq to WikiLeaks.
The vote was 8-0, with one abstention, said Mary Kay Clunies-Ross, spokeswoman for Berkeley's city manager's office.
Mayor Tom Bates said the council didn't have enough information to determine whether Manning is "a hero or traitor."
"We don't even know if he (leaked the files)," Bates said. "We're interested in not trying to make that determination. We are willing to watch it and to consider it in the future, and if we feel it's appropriate to us to make some statement, we'll bring it back to our council."
Bates said those present at the city council meeting had a "great discussion" about topics such as internet privacy, international security and national security.
"We had an hour of discussion where we heard from the public and we heard every conceivable issue related to Pfc. Bradley Manning," Bates said. "We heard everything from he was a hero to a traitor and everything in between."
Bates said the motion was brought to the council by the Peace and Justice Commission, a group of volunteers that includes council members' appointees.
"A lot of people were upset that it wasn't a very well thought out," Bates said. "There was some feeling among us at the city council of not wanting to add credence to that."
In response to critics of the city council even holding the vote, Bates said, "They said the same thing when we wanted to have gay rights and civil rights. We're one of the places in the world where ideas percolate. We're OK with our role. We think we did the right thing in this case, which is basically raise the issues."
Posted by Darey
on 6:32 AM. Filed under
AFRO DATE ORG//ADD US ON WHATSAPP +2348107906879
THE BEST CERTIFIED RELIABLE MATCH MAKING AGENCY COMPANY IN NIGERIA 2026
ARE YOU IN NEED OF A RICH WEALTHY SUGAR MUMMY/SUGAR DADDY/GAY AND LESBIAN PARTNER ANYWHERE IN NIGERIA, UK, USA, ASIA, SOUTH AFRICA, MALAYSIA, ZIMBABWE AND IVORY COAST, THEN CONTACT AFRO DATE AGENCY DATABASE ADMIN ON
(08107906879)BALOGUN JOSEPH
Are you seeking for sugar mummies, Sugar daddies ?Are you good in Bed ? Do you really need a rich sexy sugarmummies or sugardaddies that can change your life completely with money and influence, so get the opportunity to meet sugarmummies and sugardadies from all works of life, politicians, Bankers, Oil ladies, Directors, Gold dealers, Cash money ladies, Doctors, London Based willing to pay as much as 300k to 500k and get the best exclusive VP arrangement anywhere in Nigeria. LAGOS, ABUJA, CALABAR, DELTA, ANAMBRA, PORT, IBADAN, RIVER, JOS, BENIN, ONDO etc we have some rich sugar mummies and sugardaddies Available sugar mummies who are urgently looking for youngmen and sugar daddy also looking for youngladies to spend their Money on.Contact us via 08107906879 for more Details...