CNN Touts Psychiatrist Who Labels PFC Manning Confinement 'Torture'
On Wednesday's Newsroom, CNN hyped the concerns of psychiatrist Terry Kupers over the imprisonment of Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning. Kupers labeled Manning's months-long solitary confinement "cruel or inhumane treatment, and by international standards, they constitute torture." The guest also claimed that "nobody has been accused of crimes like Bradley Manning's."
Anchor Carol Costello noted in her introduction to her interview of Kupers (which aired 47 minutes into the 10 am Eastern hour) that "Manning, the man accused of giving Wikileaks classified documents, spent most of the last nine months in solitary confinement. One psychiatrist tells CNN that amounted to torture, and it could have done more harm than good." An on-screen graphic trumpeted this charge: "Wikileaks Suspect 'Tortured': Doc: Months of solitary does permanent damage."
Once she greeted her guest, the CNN personality stated that "Private Manning is no longer in solitary confinement, I understand. They- he has one hour a day where he's out, and for most of the day he can communicate with other prisoners. So is that better?" Kupers, a part-time member of the faculty at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, replied that "social contact is better....He has been entirely deprived for a very long time, seven or eight months, and that is known to cause mental illness, and the prevalence of suicide in those kind of conditions is extremely high. So for those reasons, it's a very stressful situation for him."
Costello then noted that "the threat of suicide was there. That's why he was forced to sleep naked because he was trying to kill himself with his clothes," and asked, "So, what do you do?" The psychiatrist made his first hint that Manning's rights had been trampled upon: "If he is truly suicidal, then what he needs is to be removed from conditions that are known to cause suicide, such as solitary confinement, and to be put in treatment. It isn't okay to strip him of his clothes. The Constitution guarantees humane conditions for people, and this was a violation."
Kupers finally specifically accused the military of torture after Costello followed up by bringing up the armed services' separate system of justice:
COSTELLO: But this is a military prison. It's not like a prison that normal people go to when they commit crimes in the United States. Many people would argue that this man is a traitor to his country, and he's being treated accordingly.
KUPERS: Well, always, there's some rationale for human rights abuses for torture, and that's what the military is claiming here. They're claiming they're preventing suicide when actually they're putting him in the precise conditions that cause suicide, and they're depriving him of rights that United States citizens have even if they're in the military. The Constitution still applies.
Near the end of the interview, the psychiatrist tried to set Manning apart as he continued to accuse the military of wrongdoing:
COSTELLO: So, what do you suggest? Should he be treated differently than other prisoners who have been accused of similar crimes?
KUPERS: Well, nobody has been accused of crimes like Bradley Manning's. He has not turned information over to any foreign government. Rather, he has released documents. A lot of people are saying he's a whistleblower. This is something that needs to be determined in court. He is pre-trial. But he is being put into conditions that are considered an Eighth Amendment violation, that is, they constitute cruel or inhumane treatment, and by international standards, they constitute torture. This is not okay. He hasn't been convicted of anything.
COSTELLO: Well, I'm sure military personnel would beg to differ. But thank you for your perspective. Terry Kupers is live from Berkeley today. Thank you.
Actually, the guest is making a distinction without a difference. While the private allegedly didn't disclose the classified information to a foreign government, he is still accused of "communicating, transmitting and delivering national defense information to an unauthorized source." It doesn't matter whether that "unauthorized source" is a foreign government or unaffiliated organization.
CNN let Kupers expound on his take in a column which they posted on a their website on Wednesday. He went much further in his condemnation of the military than he did during his interview with Costello:
Clearly, Manning's treatment violates these constitutional guarantees and international prohibitions against torture. Why? Have we permitted our government, under the cloak of security precautions, to set up a secret gulag where conditions known to cause severe psychiatric damage prevail? As a concerned psychiatrist, I strenuously object to this callousness about conditions of confinement that predictably cause such severe harm.
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Comments
Prisoner Activist
Submitted by libBuster on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 7:50pm.
Costello might have told us that Manning is an activist who believes all administrative segregation units are cruel and inhuman. See Prison Punishment Exacerbates Inmates' Psychiatric Illness or US Prisons Prove Maddening.
Do you mean Krupers is an
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 9:21pm.
Do you mean Krupers is an activist?Yes Krupers
Submitted by libBuster on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 9:40pm.
Yes Krupers. Manning is a different kind of activist.Aw....that's sad.
Submitted by NeoKong on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 7:57pm.
Poor Bradley. I will send him some milk and cookies as soon as finish this six pack I'm drinking or maybe I will just wait for his birthday because ...you know, it just seems more special that way.Hey, shoot the little son of a bitch....that's not torture,
Submitted by nonncom on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:50pm.
that's justice....And Democrats in Illinois just abolished the Death Penalty.
Submitted by Ashrak on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:13pm.
What is it the progressives want?
We can't execute the scum of the earth child rapists and killers. We can't execute those who commit outright treason. We can't even put them in jail for life, in actual jail where they are locked up 24 hours a day, because that is "torture".
Can things get any more ridiculous than they are?
Stop. Voting. For. Democrats.
Stop. Voting. For. Republicans. Who. Act. Like. Democrats.
Hell, know what you mean.
Submitted by BD on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 9:17am.
Hell, know what you mean. The Army currently has three guys on death row who were convicted in the 1980's for murder. And for some reason we just can't whack em because the libs keep and endless stream of abusive lawsuits preventing it. If I was God I would fiat a law that the same attourneys who keep filing these abusisive lawsuits would be forced to move in with and support the families of these guys victims - or be given the option to whack the bastards themselves. But we all know they do not have it in them...... File a lawsuit to prevent the execution of Dwight Loving? Fine, you now owe the entire extended families of his victims housing, food, transportation - ohhhh, and pay their taxes. These ACLU attourneys would be lining up to purchase boxes of 9mm...the good PFC is a traitor-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:22pm.
and a sissy-he is being protected from himself- i say get him dressed put into population and see how that works out. child molesters/rapist/traitors or alleged for you nitpickers- are targets in the "yard" have the good PHD-write up his release-watch him die and then explain to his family/ Doc-i'm sure you are an educated man-you have nothing than classroom to form such opinions. Liberal Twit!!!!!!!!!NB, you ought to start
Submitted by jdhawk on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:23pm.
NB, you ought to start posting the advertisers for liberal shows. Once published, the network will think twice when their advertisers run from them when they put on a segment about a treasonous cure in hopes of winning sympathy from their viewers. In the dictionary , sympathy is between shit and syphyilis.define torture*
Submitted by cajun2 on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:30pm.
Torture for me is to get my news from moronic hypocritical useful idiots.
Torture for me
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:44pm.
is, dimwits believe it.I guess we don't kill people
Submitted by Thoreau on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:39pm.
I guess we don't kill people for high treason anymore. Hope and change.Then put Manning in with the general population
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 8:50pm.
:-)
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Torture...
Submitted by saintknowitall on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 9:22pm.
..... is listening to his tortured logic. Does he know know how people are laughing at him? Self important elitist.By this account the
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 9:37pm.
By this account the uni-bomber should be released from the super-max facilty along with all the other terrorists. The las line says is it all, "Terry Kupers is live from Berkeley today".Poor Bwadley...
Submitted by Dan Diego on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 9:39pm.
The traitorous POS probably wishes he was at Club Gitmo with internet, PS3, work out time with the big sweaty fellas, aroma candle therapy and "Culturally Sensitive" meals... Peach Flambe anyone?Maybe Bradley would prefer torture at Abu Ghraib, Iraq
Submitted by Red Jeep on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 9:47pm.
He could wear panties over his head.come on Jeep
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:58pm.
He already does this for funOh, yeah.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 11:23pm.
Forgot. Abu Ghraib would have be a turn onDouble post. sorry.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 11:24pm.
Double post. sorry.It did more harm than good?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:12pm.
Oh Lordy, this may set the little bastard's rehabilitation back years.
How can he ever assume his rightful place in society and/or secure a slot at CNN or MSNBC?
Set back?
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 11:00pm.
The jerk can hardy afford another one.Months of solitary
Submitted by JPTSO3 on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:40pm.
Months of solitary confinement does permanent damage? Manning is a pathetic jackass who complained of being picked upon while growing up. According to him he was misunderstood because he’s gay. His entire existence, from mid-teens through his enlistment in the Army revolved around “getting back at the man”. Manning didn’t get along with anyone in authority – ever. Manning is one of those guys who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room, and when the rest of room doesn’t ( and didn’t) agree, little jackass has a temper-tantrum. He resented being told what to do by officers. He assaulted an officer, and frequently argued with superiors… why he was allowed access to classified documents is the real crime.
I don’t give a damn that Manning’s gay. I don’t give a damn that he’s housed away from the rest of the criminal population. I don’t give a damn that he doesn’t get to wear his Barney Frank jammies at night. Manning is a criminal who joined the Army to make trouble and he managed to do just that. The documents that piece of crap leaked almost certainly resulted in an innocent losing his life. You see, many of the documents discuss informants or “friendlies” who aided American or coalition forces. Even if names are not used, all the bad guys needed to do is put the puzzle pieces together. As an example one leaked document speaks of a tribal elder in a certain part of Afghanistan whose son died a certain way at a certain time and date. All the bad guys need do is go through a process of elimination, and that elder will be marked for death. Months of solitary confinement does permanent damage? How about the people who got whacked because of this piece of shit? Death is kinda permanent, you jackass psychobabbler.
I hope the Army puts two and two together and tries this punk for treason. Nonetheless, don’t execute him. Please. Leave him in Fort Leavenworth for the rest of his miserable life. He doesn’t deserve a quick end. He deserves to spend the next 60 years of a miserable, rock breaking life, getting old, and being told when and where to go; and not by officers but by enlisted prison guards, who won’t give a damn how smart Manning thinks he is. Yeah the rest of his miserable life in military prison -that’s kinda permanent too. Robert Redford won't come to your rescue you, piece of dog poo.
But, once convicted, give him back his BF jammies. If the mood strikes him, 40 years from now, he can hang himself wearing nothing but Barney jammies as a necktie...
you are quite right about much....
Submitted by Paarl on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 8:22am.
I spent time in a military 'cooler' but for very different reasons...i used military property for personal financial gain...IE I was black marketing American bourbon during the sanctions period in Rhodesia. I used military trucks to transport the booty....I also had an issue with following orders but eventually 'learned' (ouch !!!) I was let out and not prosecuted when I aggreed to distribute the goods for free amongst the troopies )and officers of course) but the point is that when you are brigged in a military jail...you are guilty and treated as guilty. I was scared 25 yo and treated like a POS for those 4 weeks...afterwards the MPs became best of friends.....Amazing what a little of quality hooch will do. ;>) This is serious stuff that Manning has done..that being said in this world of 24/7 news etc.....a smoother incarceration prior to trial will be to the advantage of us who want to see him on a rock pile for 60 years after guilt is found. Paarl of Rhodesiaya can't fix stupid!
Submitted by Injest on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:49pm.
The guest also claimed that "nobody has been accused of crimes like Bradley Manning's."
This is almost true! Starting with Benedict Arnold who defected to the British and tried to surrender West Point to the British. Had we captured him he would have been tried and executed cuz that’s what happens to those who commit treason by helping the enemy, like Bradley Manning allegedly has done.
If/when Bradley Manning is convicted he should expect either life in prison (and life means life) or 52 years in prison (and 52 years means 52 years).
There are reasons those who serve do not commit treason, the price is extremely high, treason is a capital crime, Bradley Manning could be facing the death penalty.
Lets be honest, they got Bradley Manning dead to rights, seven ways from Sunday, he's guilty.
He will never be a free man, his last breath will be in prison, today is ground hog day for Bradley Manning tomorrow will be the same as will everyday, till he is dead.
Bradley Manning mental state is irrelevant, who cares, he will never be free.
"and they're depriving him of rights that United States citizens have even if they're in the military. The Constitution still applies."
Sorry doc, you would lose on that point. Boot camp violates just about every “ Constitutional right” one has.
True people have volunteered for the military so they can't (and don't) complain.
Same is true for Bradley Manning, he volunteered for the military AND he volunteered to commit treason.
Bradley Manning has thrown his life away for nothing.
As they say, “ya can't fix stupid!”
I bet the Marines
Submitted by johnsonl on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 7:01am.
at the Quantico Brig are just thrilled to have the prettiest little Princess they ever saw!I wonder if Jer has concluded
Submitted by BD on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 9:21am.
I wonder if Jer has concluded that Manning is guilty like OJ and Capone yet?Ah, justice
Submitted by concerned citizen on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 9:45am.
So the Obama administration now engages in torture?Sign the dotted line
Submitted by texusmc on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 10:23am.
and you sign your life away. That means you "voluntarily" give up certain rights. But other rights you do get and fall under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And if you happen to get into an MOS that you get any type of clearance above 'Secret', you sign MORE paperwork that clearly states there are certain things you CAN and CAN'T do or say or you will spen the REST of your life in jail. And according to the UCMJ here is what this little traitor is in pre-trial confinement for "809. ART. 9. IMPOSITION OF RESTRAINT (a) Arrest is the restraint of a person by an order, not imposed as a punishment for an offense, directing him to remain within certain specified limits. Confinement is the physical restraint of a person. (b) An enlisted member may be ordered into arrest or confinement by any commissioned officer by an order, oral or written, delivered in person or through other persons subject to this chapter. A commanding officer may authorize warrant officers, petty officers, or noncommissioned officers to order enlisted members of his command or subject to his authority into arrest or confinement. (c)A commissioned officer, a warrant officer, or a civilian subject to this chapter or to trial thereunder may be ordered into arrest or confinement only by a commanding officer to whose authority he is subject, by an order, oral or written, delivered in person or by another commissioned officer. The authority to order such persons into arrest or confinement may not be delegated. (d) No person may be ordered into arrest or confinement except for probable cause. (e) Nothing in this article limits the authority of person s authorized to apprehend offenders to secure the custody of an alleged offender until proper authority may be notified. 830. ART. 30. CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS (a) Charges and specifications shall be signed by a person subject to this chapter under oath before a commissioned officer of the armed forces authorized to administer oaths and shall state-- (1) that the signer has personal knowledge of, or has investigated, the matters set forth therein; and (2) that they are true in fact to the best of his knowledge and belief. (b) Upon the preferring of charges, the proper authority shall take immediate steps to determine what disposition should be made thereof in the interest of justice and discipline, and the person accused shall be informed of the charges against him as soon as practicable. " Here are some probable Punitive articles that little bradley can be charged with "ART. 81. CONSPIRACY Any person subject to this chapter who conspires with any other person to commit an offense under this chapter shall, if one or more of the conspirators does an act to effect the object of the conspiracy, be punished as a court-martial may direct. ART. 89 DISRESPECT TOWARD SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. 809. ART. 90. ASSAULTING OR WILLFULLY DISOBEYING SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER. Any person subject to this chapter who-- (1) strikes his superior commissioned officer or draws or lifts up any weapon or offers any violence against him while he is in the execution of his officer; or (2) willfully disobeys a lawful command of his superior commissioned officer; shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, and if the offense is committed at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct. ART. 92. FAILURE TO OBEY ORDER OR REGULATION Any person subject to this chapter who-- (1) violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation; (2) having knowledge of any other lawful order issued by any member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order; or (3) is derelict in the performance of his duties; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. ART. 99. MISBEHAVIOR BEFORE THE ENEMY Any person subject to this chapter who before or in the presence of the enemy-- (1) runs away; (2) shamefully abandons, surrenders, or delivers up any command, unit, place, or military property which it is his duty to defend; (3) through disobedience, neglect, or intentional misconduct endangers the safety of any such command, unit, place, or military property; (4) casts away his arms or ammunition; (5) is guilty of cowardly conduct; (6) quits his place of duty to plunder or pillage; (7) causes false alarms in any command, unit, or place under control of the armed forces; (8) willfully fails to do his utmost to encounter, engage, capture, or destroy any enemy troops, combatants, vessels, aircraft, or any other thing, which it is his duty so to encounter, engage, capture, or destroy; or (9) does not afford all practicable relief and assistance to any troops, combatants, vessels, or aircraft of the armed forces belonging to the United States or their allies when engaged in battle; shall be punished by death or such punishment as a court- martial may direct. ART. 104. AIDING THE ENEMY Any person who-- (1) aids, or attempts to aid, the enemy with arms, ammunition, supplies, money, or other things; or (2) without proper authority, knowingly harbors or [protects or gives intelligence to or communicates or corresponds with or holds any intercourse with the enemy, either directly or indirectly; shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct ART. 106a. ESPIONAGE (A) (1) Any person subject to this chapter who, with intent or reason to believe that it is to be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, communicates, delivers, or transmits, or attempts to communicate, deliver, or transmit, to any entity described in paragraph (2), either directly or indirectly, any thing described in paragraph (3) shall be punished as a court-martial may direct, except that if the accused is found guilty of an offense that directly concerns (A) nuclear weaponry, military spacecraft or satellites, early warning systems, or other means of defense or retaliation against large scale attack, (B) war plans, (C) communications intelligence or cryptographic information, or (D) any other major weapons system or major element of defense strategy, the accused shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court- martial may direct. (2) An entity referred to in paragraph (1) is-- (A) a foreign government; (B) a faction or party or military force within a foreign country, whether recognized or unrecognized by the United States (C) a representative, officer, agent, employee, subject, or citizen of such government, faction, party, or force. (3) A thing refereed to in paragraph (1) is a document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, note, instrument, appliance or information relating to the national defense. (b) (1) No person may be sentenced by court-martial to suffer death for an offense under this section (article) unless-- (A) the members of the court-martial unanimously find at least one of the aggravating factors set out in subsection (c); and (B) the members unanimously determine that any extenuating or mitigating circumstances are substantially outweighed by any aggravating circumstances, including the aggravating factors set out under subsection (c). (2) Findings under this subsection may be based on-- (A) evidence introduced on the issue of guilt or innocence; (B) evidence introduced during the sentencing proceeding; or (C) all such evidence. (3) The accused shall be given broad latitude to present matters in extenuation and mitigation. (c) A sentence of death may be adjudged by a court-martial for an offense under this section (article) only if the members unanimously find, beyond a reasonable doubt, one or more of the following aggravating factors: (1) The accused has been convicted of another offense involving espionage or treason for which either a sentence of death or imprisonment for life was authorized by statute. (2) In the commission of the offense, the accused knowingly created a grave risk of substantial damage to the national security. (3) In the commission of the offense, the accused knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person. (4) Any other factor that may be prescribed by the President by regulations under section 836 of this title (Article 36). " Now Article 104 (2) and 106(2B) are, in my opinion what this punk is going to be charged with. They (U.S. MIlitary) do have to prove it. Isn't hard since they have the documentation. So guess what Bradley, DEATH to you traitor. So you elitist's out there, this is for you. Do a little research before you open you fricken pie holes you jackwagon's.This is Torture
Submitted by Lee.Metford on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 10:53pm.
Knowing there are people like psychiatrist Terry Kupers trying to set public policy in this country is torture. Knowing when someone utters "fellow countrymen", that residents of Berkeley, CA are include, is torture. Knowing there at least one person who thinks that giving psychiatrist Terry Kupers a soapbox is a good idea, is torture. Hey psychiatrist Terry Kupers, I don't hear you crying about the people you are torturing with your nonsense.