re: #140 Charles Johnson

The only real argument for keeping Manning in jail for a long time is the effect on military discipline and morale if he were released early. He’s not a threat to anyone. He was a pawn.

I’m not really down with punishing people just for revenge, but I understand the effect on the military if he gets early release.

I can see some sense with punishing people as an act of revenge if they did something really revenge-worthy, like, say, blowing up the Twin Towers; but in Manning’s case, he was just a dumbass. Give him his fair punishment, but no need to hold him just to hold him.