Americas...:Manning’s Apologizes to US for Actions in Testim...

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Manning’s Apologizes to US for Actions in Testimony

Local Editor

Bradley Manning personally delivered a statement as his trial, which could see him convicted for up to 90 years in prison, nears its end. He defended leaking 700,000 US diplomatic cables as an act of conscience and apologized for the damage he caused.

Manning, who spoke for two brief minutes, has not made a statement since a pre-trial hearing back in February.

"First, your honor, I want to start off with an apology," he said. "I'm sorry that my actions hurt people and I'm sorry that it hurt the United States. I understood what I was doing and the decision that I made. I'm sorry for the unintended consequences of my actions...When I made these decisions I believed I was going to help people, not hurt people."

Moreover, Manning reiterated that he had been experiencing personal problems during his deployment and understands he will have to pay a price for his decisions and actions.

"How on Earth could I, a junior analyst, possibly believe I could change the world for the better over those with the proper authority?" he added.

As for WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group to which Manning leaked the cables, battlefield reports and a combat video, it issued a statement on Wednesday in response to Manning's statement.

"Mr. Manning's forced decision to apologize to the US government in the hope of shaving a decade or more off of his sentence must be regarded with compassion and understanding," the statement mentioned.

"Mr. Manning's apology is a statement extorted from him under the overbearing weight of the US military justice system. It took three years and millions of dollars to extract two minutes of tactical remorse from this brave soldier," the statement continued.

Manning was arrested in May 2010, and presiding Judge Lind has reduced his sentence by 112 days for the harsh treatment meted out upon his detention.

Source: News Agencies, edited by website team