One of the things that bothers me most in our modern political discourse is the gratuitous use of the term 'traitor'.
According to our Constitution treason is strictly defined as aid and comfort to the enemy in wartime. 'Wartime' clearly implies a declared war. That's why Tokyo Rose rotted in prison after WWII, while Jane Fonda and John Kerry did not for their activities during the Vietnam era, which included meeting with the North Vietnamese in Paris during the war to plot political strategy to use at home to hamper the U.S. war effort.
Bradley Manning might be a despicable, disloyal little worm, but he is legally no traitor, which is exactly what the military judge, Col. Denise Lind, ruled in his trial over at Fort Meade.
However, he's by no means off the hook.
He was found guilty of a number of other charges including five espionage counts, five theft charges, a computer fraud charge and other military infractions that carry a potential sentence of over 100 years.
The sentencing phase of his trial begins tomorrow. I hope this creep gets the book thrown at him.
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