Comment Re:What crime (Score 0) 144
That sounds exactly like what a journalist should be doing
That's philosophy, not law. Also ignores the fact that while a journalist could receive that information if it's simply given to him, when he asks for it and provides aid in accessing/exfiltrating it, he becomes an accessory to the crime committed. The first amendment provides that congress may not abridge the freedom of speech or the press, it does not provide immunity from consequence for being part of a conspiracy to break into government systems.
esp. in hindsight since we now know manning exposed war crimes comitted by US troops in Iraq.
Did he really? I assume you are referring to the "collateral murder" video? If so, what "war crimes" are you asserting are present in that video? Firing on someone who is holding a device that is reasonably mistaken for a shoulder mounted weapon while you're in the middle of a firefight is not a war crime. Firing on a vehicle picking up combatants (even wounded ones) is not a war crime when the vehicle is not marked with a red cross or similar markings identifying it as an ambulance and protected from attack.
"I don't like what the country did" is not a license to break the law.