Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Manning was mentally unstable: report
Bradley Manning, U.S. military intelligence officer charged with leaking confidential government documents to WikiLeaks, the online whistleblower website, was deployed in Iraq despite warnings from evaluators that he was not mentally stable and a risk to himself and others, an investigation has revealed.
A detailed report and video published by The Guardian newspaper showed that Mr. Manning was not only given a negative report by his commanding officers here, but was also noted by his colleagues as displaying signs buckling under enormous stress. Yet, in October 2009, Mr. Manning was sent to Forward Operating Base Hammer, near Baghdad.
The extensive investigation by The Guardian suggested that even by that point Mr. Manning had faced much bullying within the army and was also possibly distressed owing to his partner, Tyler Watkins, ending their relationship in late 2009. It was clear that he had been under much pressure when one officer said to The Guardian, “He was harassed so much that he once [urinated] in his sweatpants.”
Mr. Manning's demotion and ultimate discharge from the military came after May 7, 2010, when, according to a soldier who had been deployed to FOB Hammer alongside Mr. Manning said Mr. Manning started “blowing up and punching this chick in the face.”
It was shortly after this point, while he was still awaiting discharge for “adjustment disorder,” that he communicated with former hacker-turned-informant, Adrian Lamo. Within 24 hours of revealing to Mr. Lamo that he had possibly copied and transmitted to “WL” a vast tranche of confidential government data when he was at FOB Hammer, Mr. Lamo reported him to U.S. authorities.
Since his arrest in May 2010 evaluators have continued to assess Mr. Manning's mental health, officials confirmed, and earlier reports suggested that he might be considered to be at risk of self-harm.
However the controversial conditions of Mr. Manning's incarceration also threatened to become a major embarrassment to the administration when it became evident that he was being forced to strip down to a smock every night and was being held in solitary confinement.
While he was transferred to a lower-security prison in April 2011, his prior time in the military brig in Quantico, Virginia, saw top officials and civil society groups voicing strong protest to the treatment meted out to him by jail officers there.
In particular, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley had to resign after he described Mr. Manning's treatment as “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” Further
A group of 250 legal experts including a former professor of President Barack Obama wrote a letter condemning the U.S.' describing the harsh conditions of Mr. Manning's time in jail as “illegal and immoral.”
Labels: Bradley Manning, cablegate, Philip Crowley, U.S. State Department spokesman, whistleblower, Wikileaks
Monday, August 30, 2010
U.S. condemns extreme remarks by Rabbi
From The Hindu
The United States State Department has condemned extreme remarks made by a rabbi in Israel on the cusp of direct peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
Reacting to the offending statements by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who called for Palestinians to "perish from this world", U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said, "We regret and condemn the inflammatory statements by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef."
He added that the U.S. duly noted an official Israeli statement that the Rabbi’s comments did not reflect the views of the Prime Minister.
According to reports the Rabbi was also quoted as alluding to Palestinians as "evil, bitter enemies of Israel", during his speech on Saturday.
Mr. Crowley said, “These remarks are not only deeply offensive, but incitement such as this hurts the cause of peace. As we move forward to re-launch peace negotiations, it is important that actions by people on all sides help to advance our effort, not hinder it."
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the U.S. would be hosting talks between the leaders of Palestine and Israel in Washington in September. Prospects for peace ground to a halt in March this year when, even as Vice-President Joe Biden was in the region to facilitate direct talks, Israel’s Interior Ministry announced that permission had been granted for 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.
At the time, a war of words ensued between Israel and the U.S., with Mr. Biden saying, "I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem."
Labels: Israel Palestine relations, Philip Crowley, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, U.S.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
U.S. ascertaining facts
From The Hindu
The United States expressed deep regret for the loss of life and injuries sustained by those involved in the flotilla of aid-laden ships heading for Gaza, after the wake of the ships being stormed by Israeli commandos on Monday.
Striking a cautious note, however, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Public Affairs, Philip Crowley, said in a statement that the U.S. was “working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.”
Mr. Crowley noted the U.S. continued to be “deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza,” and would seek to expand the range of goods that were allowed to enter Gaza to address the full range of the population's humanitarian and recovery needs. This would require engaging with the Israelis on a “daily basis,” he added.
The State Department however made a distinction between the Palestine Authority and Hamas. It clarified that while it would work closely with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to provide humanitarian goods and reconstruction materials, “while bearing in mind” the “Government of Israel's legitimate security concerns… Hamas' interference with international assistance shipments… and its use and endorsement of violence, complicates efforts in Gaza.”
Mr. Crowley noted that mechanisms did exist for the transfer of humanitarian assistance to Gaza by governments and other groups and these should be used for the benefit of all those in Gaza.
The United States expressed deep regret for the loss of life and injuries sustained by those involved in the flotilla of aid-laden ships heading for Gaza, after the wake of the ships being stormed by Israeli commandos on Monday.
Striking a cautious note, however, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Public Affairs, Philip Crowley, said in a statement that the U.S. was “working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.”
Mr. Crowley noted the U.S. continued to be “deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza,” and would seek to expand the range of goods that were allowed to enter Gaza to address the full range of the population's humanitarian and recovery needs. This would require engaging with the Israelis on a “daily basis,” he added.
The State Department however made a distinction between the Palestine Authority and Hamas. It clarified that while it would work closely with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to provide humanitarian goods and reconstruction materials, “while bearing in mind” the “Government of Israel's legitimate security concerns… Hamas' interference with international assistance shipments… and its use and endorsement of violence, complicates efforts in Gaza.”
Mr. Crowley noted that mechanisms did exist for the transfer of humanitarian assistance to Gaza by governments and other groups and these should be used for the benefit of all those in Gaza.
Labels: flotilla attack, Hamas, Israeli commandos, Palestine Authority, Philip Crowley
Sunday, May 23, 2010
U.S. confirms Pakistan arrests
From The Hindu
The State Department on Friday confirmed that arrests had been made in Pakistan relating to the case of Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square bomber currently in custody in the United States.
“There have been some arrests in Pakistan,” Philip Crowley, State Department spokesman, said, in response to a question on the arrest of an army general in Pakistan. The general was allegedly arrested on the charge of withholding information regarding Mr. Shahzad from the authorities.
At a briefing Mr. Crowley also noted, “We just had a high-level visit to Pakistan by General Jones, the National Security Advisor, and Leon Panetta, the CIA Director. We are satisfied with the cooperation that we are receiving with Pakistan in this investigation.”
However he added that regarding the specifics of any arrests that took place, he would have to defer to the Government of Pakistan. In particular Mr. Crowley remained non-committal about recent news that the U.S. embassy in Pakistan sent out about avoiding a local catering company that might have ties to the Taliban.
Labels: catering company, Faisal Shahzad, Hanif Rajput catering, Leon Panetta, Philip Crowley, Taliban, Times Square bomb plot
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
123 agreement reflects “deepening relationship”
From The Hindu, with PTI
Following the completion of negotiations surrounding the question of reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, the United States on Wednesday said it considers the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement a “reflection of the deepening of our relationship.”
At a press briefing at the State Department, Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley said the 123 Agreement is in the interest of both the U.S. and India, and has broader impact as well. “It was an agreement that required some follow-up, some detail… and some brilliant diplomacy,” Mr. Crowley said.
On the implications for a “broader, deeper, and expanded” U.S.-India relationship, he said, “I think anytime that you not only reach an agreement but then can see it begin to be enacted, that develops trust and confidence on both sides.”
He added that to conclude the negotiations on reprocessing, the administration had advised Congress on the deal and likewise, the Indian Government worked through the issues.
PTI reports:
Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Ellen Tauscher, pointed to the significant and prized relationship between the two countries.
“We’re very happy to see that this agreement is moving forward, and the reprocessing agreement is one piece of a very large 123 Agreement, and we’re happy to see that it’s moved forward,” Tauscher said.
Later in the day, the State Department released the text of the arrangements and procedures agreed between India and the United States.
The advanced consent agreement, the third such pact ever undertaken by the U.S. with another country, grants India advance consent to reprocess spent fuel of U.S. origin and fuel burned in U.S. reactors.
Following the completion of negotiations surrounding the question of reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, the United States on Wednesday said it considers the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement a “reflection of the deepening of our relationship.”
At a press briefing at the State Department, Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley said the 123 Agreement is in the interest of both the U.S. and India, and has broader impact as well. “It was an agreement that required some follow-up, some detail… and some brilliant diplomacy,” Mr. Crowley said.
On the implications for a “broader, deeper, and expanded” U.S.-India relationship, he said, “I think anytime that you not only reach an agreement but then can see it begin to be enacted, that develops trust and confidence on both sides.”
He added that to conclude the negotiations on reprocessing, the administration had advised Congress on the deal and likewise, the Indian Government worked through the issues.
PTI reports:
Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Ellen Tauscher, pointed to the significant and prized relationship between the two countries.
“We’re very happy to see that this agreement is moving forward, and the reprocessing agreement is one piece of a very large 123 Agreement, and we’re happy to see that it’s moved forward,” Tauscher said.
Later in the day, the State Department released the text of the arrangements and procedures agreed between India and the United States.
The advanced consent agreement, the third such pact ever undertaken by the U.S. with another country, grants India advance consent to reprocess spent fuel of U.S. origin and fuel burned in U.S. reactors.
Labels: 123 agreement, Philip Crowley, spent nuclear fuel
Saturday, March 13, 2010
U.S. “concerned” about Iran Baha’i persecution
From The Hindu
The United States is increasingly concerned about Iran's ongoing persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, Philip Crowley, said on Friday.
Citing the detention of at least 25 Baha’is by Iranian authorities in recent weeks, Mr. Crowley added that there have been more than 45 new incidents of detention of Baha’is in the last four months alone, and currently 60 Baha’is are imprisoned in Iran solely on the basis of their religious beliefs.
The authorities “also detained more than a dozen Christians, some of whom are being held in custody without substantiated charges,” Mr. Crowley said. He further said that the U.S. remains concerned that seven Baha’i leaders on trial for espionage were denied access to lawyers, emphasising that their trial did not meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Referring to Iran’s pledge to abide by international law at the UN Human Rights Council in February 2010, Mr. Crowley said “We are deeply disappointed that the Iranian government rejected a Universal Periodic Review recommendation to end discrimination against its Baha’i religious minority.”
The United States is increasingly concerned about Iran's ongoing persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, Philip Crowley, said on Friday.
Citing the detention of at least 25 Baha’is by Iranian authorities in recent weeks, Mr. Crowley added that there have been more than 45 new incidents of detention of Baha’is in the last four months alone, and currently 60 Baha’is are imprisoned in Iran solely on the basis of their religious beliefs.
The authorities “also detained more than a dozen Christians, some of whom are being held in custody without substantiated charges,” Mr. Crowley said. He further said that the U.S. remains concerned that seven Baha’i leaders on trial for espionage were denied access to lawyers, emphasising that their trial did not meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Referring to Iran’s pledge to abide by international law at the UN Human Rights Council in February 2010, Mr. Crowley said “We are deeply disappointed that the Iranian government rejected a Universal Periodic Review recommendation to end discrimination against its Baha’i religious minority.”
Labels: Baha’i, Iran, Philip Crowley, religious minority
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