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Manning’s Profile

Interesting.

People who say they know Manning describe him as naturally adept at computers, smart and opinionated, even brash. Friends and acquaintances paint a picture of a person who, from a young age, couldn’t help but get involved when he perceived an injustice. It was a tendency that sometimes sparked confrontation with authority figures and those who disagreed with him, they say.

According to friends and his own writings on the internet, Manning is openly gay.

Judging by his Facebook page, the young soldier’s politics appear to be left-leaning, and he’s an ardent supporter of groups working to achieve full civil rights for gays. Manning listed on his page causes such as “Repeal the Ban - End Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and included links to “No on Prop 8,” a California ballot measure that eliminated the right to marry for same-sex couples, Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

It’s unclear, however, if those politics may have had any role in what authorities suspect him of doing: leaking military documents; or whether he was angry over the “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” that allows gays to serve in the armed forces as long as they are not open about their sexuality.

Posted by Owen at 0656 hrs
Law + Military + Politics + Politics - General

1. I missed this earlier.  If these disclosures are accurate, it is surprising that he was issued a TS clearance.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2010 at 1648 hrs
   
   
   

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