Pfc. Bradley Manning, who in May 2010 was detained for leaking classified combat videoes to WikiLeaks, including a U.S. helicopter gunship attack, began his trial Monday at Maryland's Fort Meade, CNN reported. In February, the 25-year-old Manning pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges against him and faces up to decades in jail. He did not plead guilty to aiding United States' enemies, which carries the potential for a life sentence.
During the proceedings on Monday, Manning spent more than an hour reading a statement detailing how and why he sent classified material to WikiLeaks, the group led by Jullian Assange, which facilitates the anonymous leaking of secret government information through its website.
Manning said that he passed on information that both "upset" or "disturbed" him but reiterated that he did not give anything he thought would harm the United States if it were made public.
"I believed if the public was aware of the data, it would start a public debate of the wars," he told the court.
Adrian Lamo, a former hacker turned in Manning, when he learned about the leaking of record. In the statement to the court, Manning said he initially contacted newspapers The Washington Post and The New York Times to provide information. When he was unable to speak to anyone directly, he then gave the material to Wikileaks.
While some deemed Manning as a traitor, even a threat to U.S. national security, he is also seen as a hero, many of whom rallied for him outside Fort Meade on Monday.
"People came from great distances to stand with a true American hero. From Bradley's demeanor in court, it's clear he takes strength from the outpouring of support," Jeff Paterson, director of the Bradly Manning Support Network said.
Some see him as necessary whistle-blower to confront the U.S. military's apparatus, including Daniel Ellsberg, who in 1971 leaked what became known as the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times. Those papers documented the government's systematic misleading of the public about American involvement in the Vietnam War.
"The future of truth-telling is at stake," Ellsberg said of Manning. "A young man's selfless, heroic act of patriotism deserves our support."
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