Bradley Manning was recently sentenced to 35 years in prison for his divulging of classified secret government documents. What did the Army know about this man before he was assigned to the intelligence service to be trained as an intelligence analyst.
Let’s start with the period after Manning enlisted in the Army. Let us further assume that the Army did not know, or maybe never investigated his background.
After all, the Army has had difficulty filling their hiring quota so some rather questionable characters are allowed to enlist.
Manning was sent to Fort Leonard Wood for basic training. He was bullied (he is only 5’ 1” and weighs 105 pounds), had a breakdown and was sent to the Army Discharge Unit.
Ultimately the Army decided to let him try basic training once more which he completed. He was then sent to be trained as an intelligence analyst with access to “top secret compartmented information.”
Can you believe the Army’s choice of someone to handle secrets?
But even if the Army’s background check was superficial or likely non existent when he enlisted, one would think that before assigning someone to such a sensitive position they would take the precaution of investigating his/her background in detail. Here is some of what they would have discovered.
Mother, Susan Fox was ill and an alcoholic.
• Parents were divorced.
• Bradley lived with his
mother in Wales, U.K.
• Bullied in school there.
• Went to live with father in
Oklahoma City.
• Took a job. Was fired after
four months.
• First time openly admitted
being gay.
• Asked by police to move out
of house.
• Went to live in Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
• Went to live with his father’s
sister in Maryland.
• Failed an exam and left
college.
• Joined the Army.
Who decided that Manning was qualified to deal with such sensitive information?
Is there a report in the files? If so, where is the report?
Has anyone been at least reprimanded for this? Demoted?
In Government, embarrassing incidents are most frequently, quietly swept under the rug.
Theodore Theodorsen
Manhasset
