We at Firedoglake stand with supporters of Bradley Manning and human rights advocates and call on President Obama to either come clean on their objective in treating Manning in this cruel and unusual way, or move to end such treatment immediately. Anything less is an abdication of duty and an annulment of every Americans’ constitutional rights.

Last night anonymous military officials admitted to NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski that Quantico Brig Commander James Averhart placed Bradley Manning on suicide watch as a way to punish him for failure to obey an order.

The admission comes after Manning’s friend David House was detained by military police and prevented from visiting him at Quantico last weekend. Jake Tapper of ABC News asked Robert Gibbs about the incident yesterday during a White House press briefing, and if the administration is concerned about the way Manning is being treated. Gibbs referred him to “the authorities that are holding him [Manning].”

Military officials admitted today that Quantico Brig Commander James Averhart improperly classified Bradley Manning as a “suicide risk” in order to impose harsh conditions on him as punishment for failure to follow orders. Averhart’s order overruled the opinion of three brig psychiatrists who said Manning was not at risk.

The statement comes one day after David House, Manning’s only regular visitor, was detained for two hours by military police and prevented from seeing Manning until visiting hours were over.

I’ll be driving down to Quantico tomorrow with Bradley’s friend David House, who will deliver the petition to the brig.

I know that it has been extremely meaningful to Bradley to know that he has the support of so many people.

Can you sign the petition and forward it to your friends?

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Stop the Inhumane Treatment of Bradley Manning Add your name to our letter urging the humane treatment of Bradley Manning by lifting unnecessary restrictions on his sleep, exercise, and communication. » Read the whole letter and add your name. Sign the letter to the Commanding Officer of Bradley Manning’s brig urging for Bradley’s unnecessary POI [...]