At Last! A British Voice in Support of Bradley Manning

Bradley Manning, the one-time welsh resident and U.S. service man being shamefully mal-treated in custody in the U.S., has had his case highlighted by British MP Ann Clwyd. Manning is being held in disgraceful conditions in a military prison where his treatment has been described as torture. He is awaiting trial, having been charged with treason for allegedly passing classified information to the Wikileaks website.

Manning showing the effects of torture in U.S. custody

Today's Guardian newspaper reports the intervention of Ann Clwyd, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on human rights.

Britain risks losing its moral authority if it fails to officially challenge the US government on its "cruel and unnecessary" treatment of the US soldier Bradley Manning, parliament is to be told. Ann Clwyd will say on Monday evening that the UK's credibility in "places where human rights are not nearly so well observed" is at risk.

"Manning's case is important because of the message it sends out to the rest of the world about what kind of treatment the United States thinks is acceptable for people in detention. And, for us, it is important what we say – or what we don't say – because of the message that it sends out about what kind of treatment we in the United Kingdom and in the UK government think is acceptable."

Ann Clwyd - prepared to speak up

Thank goodness that someone is prepared to speak up for Manning. There are few voices being raised in the U.S., but that does not mean that we in the UK should turn a blind eye. The UK claims to have a special relationship with the U.S. - which places a responsibility on this country to challenge practices that basically amount to torture. Neither the U.S. nor the U.K. can claim the moral high ground and preach to nations across the world, if it is prepared to tolerate such disgraceful treatment of a man who has yet to stand trial. Well done, Ann Clwyd. Your efforts deserve to be taken seriously by both governments, though I seriously doubt whether the U.S will take any notice at all.