Patrick Semansky / AP file
Army Pfc. Bradley Manning steps out of a security vehicle as he is escorted into a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., on Nov. 29, 2012, for a pretrial hearing.
By Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube, NBC News
FORT MEADE, Md. ? After pleading not guilty to the most serious charge against him and guilty to 16 lesser counts, U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning told a military judge on Thursday that he released hundreds of thousands of classified government documents to the WikiLeaks website to ?spark domestic debate? on foreign policy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.?
In his first public explanation of his motives for leaking the documents, the 25-year-old Manning spent more than an hour at a pre-trial hearing reading from a 35-page prepared statement, detailing his thought processes and justification for releasing each of the documents and videos that he sent to WikiLeaks.?
Manning painted himself as a young man with an "insatiable thirst for geopolitical information"?and a desire for the world to know the truth about what was happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the?former Army intelligence analyst said he became increasingly disillusioned after being sent to Iraq by actions that "didn't seem characteristic" of the U.S., the leader of free world.
Manning said the first documents he sent to WikiLeaks in early 2012 , were the combined information data network exchanges for Iraq and Afghanistan, which Manning described as the daily journals of the "on-the-ground reality" of the conflicts in Iran and Afghanistan.?
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He said he sent the information while staying at his aunt's house in Potomac, Md., while on leave. He included a brief note calling the information the most significant documents of our time, and closing with, "Have a good day."?
He said he tried to send the information to the Washington Post and the New York Times before turning to WikiLeaks. ?He said he later sent information to WikiLeaks either other times from his personal laptop at Contingency Base Hammer in Iraq.?
Manning is facing 22 criminal charges that include "aiding the enemy" and could face a life sentence if convicted of the most serious charges.?
Manning said he decided to release the first batch information because he was depressed and frustrated, and felt "a sense of relief" when he returned to Iraq. He said he finally had a "clear conscience" because someone else knew what was happening.?
His most detailed explanation involved the release of aerial weapons team video showing airstrikes that killed some Iraqi civilians and several Reuters journalists.
?It was troubling to me" that the U.S. military in Iraq wouldn't release the video, he said. Also disturbing was the "seemingly delightful blood lust" exhibited when members of the air crew referred to the civilians as "dead bastards" and congratulated one another on their ability to kill large numbers of people. He said he was encouraged by the public response, that others were "as troubled" as he was.
Court was recessed after Manning read his statement, but was to resume Thursday afternoon when Col. Denise Lind, the military judge hearing his case, was expected to question him about the pleas he entered earlier in the hearing.
In addition to the charge of aiding the enemy, Manning pleaded not guilty to 16 counts alleging theft of U.S documents or videos -- including allegations that he stole the list of all of the emails and phone numbers of U.S. military and personnel in Iraq at the time -- unauthorized access of that information and downloading unauthorized software onto government computers.
The charges to which he sought to plead guilty were among the least-serious -- such as intentionally causing intelligence information to be published on the Internet, improper handling of classified information and nine counts of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
Manning was attempting to enter what the government calls a "naked plea" -- meaning there is no agreement between the government and the defense that would limit the sentence. If Lind determines Manning's pleas were made knowingly and voluntarily, she can accept the pleas on Thursday, but not before engaging Manning in a dialogue about each of them to make sure he fully understands the implications of his decisions.
Specifically, Manning acknowledged that he had unauthorized possession of information, that he willfully communicated it, and that he communicated it to an unauthorized person. However, he only acknowledged that for nine specific files or pieces of information, including:?
- Combat engagement video of a helicopter gunship;
- Two Army intelligence agency memos;
- Certain records of the combined information data network exchange Iraq (which tracks all significant acts and patrol reports);
- Combined information data network exchange Afghanistan records;
- Some SOUTHCOM files dealing with Guantanamo Bay;
- An investigation into an incident in a village in Farah, Afghanistan;?
- Some Department of State cables.
Each of the nine files carry a maximum sentence of two years (along with dishonorable discharge), meaning Manning could face a maximum of 18 years in prison if the judge accepts his plea to those charges. He will plead not guilty to stealing the the global address list (all of the emails and phone numbers of US military and personnel in Iraq at the time) and six other files.
If the judge determines Manning's pleas were made knowingly and voluntarily, she can accept the pleas Thursday, but not before the two will have a long dialogue about each of them to make sure Manning fully understands the implications of his decisions.
Related story: WikiLeaks case: Bradley Manning seeks first public statement on motive
Manning?s court martial is set to begin June 3.
Manning?s defense is expected to argue that he considered himself a "whistleblower" and released the documents with "no malicious intent" or the intent to do "any harm to anyone."? The government contends the release of the documents put some lives at risks, including the names of Afghans who were working with the U.S. military and intelligence.
Jim Miklaszewski is NBC News? Chief Pentagon Correspondent and Courtney Kube is NBC News? National Security Producer. ?
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This story was originally published on Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:00 AM EST
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