WikiLeaks: The Army Takes Away Private Manning’s Underwear

We haven’t seen this type of logic since the glorious days of Guantanamo.

In a decision by the Pentagon, Bradley Manning, the soldier waiting to go on trial for leaking documents to WikiLeaks, now has to hand over his underwear every night.

It is a “precautionary measure” to prevent him from harming himself, explained the spokesperson from the military prison at Quantico (Virginia) where the soldier has been held since July 2010.

The Army refused to specify what incident (if any) has forced the soldier to surrender his underwear every evening.

“To discuss the details would be a violation of Manning’s privacy,” Lt. Brian Villiard explained to The New York Times.

He is allowed to have two blankets. He sleeps under constant video surveillance. Every morning he, like the other inmates, is required to stand outside his cell for a morning inspection. Still without his underwear.

Why this added humiliation? Because returning his underwear before roll call would mean waking him up early, the spokesperson indicated. And the Army doesn’t practice this type of cruelty.