Manning’s treachery has likely already cost the lives of intelligence operatives we recruited, as well as compromised the cover of our agents in the field. He also endangered people who were working confidentially for us to shape the culture and the political environment in ways favorable to our national interests and the advancement of democratic ideals.
Beyond that, a true hero acts for selfless and honorable reasons. Manning is a gender-confused train wreck of an utterly insignificant invertebrate who sought his fifteen minutes of fame by committing treason against the country he swore an oath to defend. He deserves a long drop and a sudden stop. The only ‘benefit’ in this whole affair will be realized when there is a complete revamping of security procedures so that toads like him will never again have such access to classified information or that need-to-know is once again enforced among those with security clearances.
The Honorable Congressman can’t differentiate between a traitor and a hero and deserves the political exile he is earning for himself. The fact that he, like a broken clock, is correct twice a day does not alter the fact that he is a leaping, screaming loon who should never be allowed access to the levers and switches of political executive power.
He is not, nor should anyone here delude themselves in believing that Paul is the defender of the Constitution and our natural rights that we all seek.
I agree with your characterization of Manning as a “gender-confused train-wreck.” But, beyond that, we don’t know his motivations yet.
While we had operatives trying to shape the political environment “in ways favorable to our national interests,” it is not our place to attempt to impose by force democratic ideals on them.