Army PFC Bradley Manning’s treatment has caused a US State Department spokesperson to resign/be fired. Independent NGOs such as Amnesty International have suggested that his treatment may violate fundamental international human rights standards as well as US Constitutional rights. Now, it appears that a UN torture investigator has been denied an unmonitored visit with Bradley Manning. Torture Alleged Army PFC Manning is suspected of being the source for WikiLeaks on the exhaustive cables primarily involving the US State Department and various diplomatic outposts. He has been imprisoned outside of Washington at a military base, Quantico, Virginia. Mr. Manning is being held in solitary confinement under most testing of conditions including stripped naked and sleep deprived. His lawyers have limited access and have themselves reported feeling intimidated as they have attempted to raise awareness of the conditions and substance of Mr. Bradley’s detention. It is not clear as to what offense Mr. Bradley has been charged if at all. Is he being held as perhaps a material witness in a potential prosecution of Julian Assange? US Government Denting and/or Frustrating Access Despite International Obligations The UN investigator, Mr. Juan Mendez issued a statement that the US Government “has not been receptive to confidential meeting” with Mr. Bradley. The obligation of the US Government under international law would appear to be mandatory, if presumably torture is suspected. We await further information. However, from personal experience I can attest that the US Government, in particular the State Department, has acted to frustrate access and under “confidential” conditions, to individuals in custody or effectively under its control. China & Russia Claim Hypocrisy This report from the UN torture investigator comes at an especially uncomfortable time. China issued its own human rights report – mimicking that of the US State Department Annual Global Human Rights Report. China has focused on alleged US hypocrisy and US Government abuses. The Chinese report, which is in effect a rebuttal to that of the State Department, criticized the US Government on civilian casualties in war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, homelessness, crime, and corrupt politics. China particularly highlighted the apparent US push for web freedom in third countries while on the other hand waging a determined effort against WikiLeaks and those associated with it, presumably including Bradley Manning. Russia also reacted to the US State Department assessment of human rights globally by accusing the US of double standards. The Russian response referred to many of the same issues as China and highlighted Guantanamo and Bagram (Afghanistan) prisons. Washing Dirty Laundry by Exposing Soiled Record of the Other! Unfortunately for those who believe in the freedom of the media and the web as an extension, this is not a progressive strategy. Washing one’s dirty laundry by exposing the soiled record of another, especially an ideological adversary, does not leave anyone cleaner even if by comparison. By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book find us at “Diplomatically Incorrect.” Twitter – DiplomaticallyX ---“WikiLeaks-How Far? Part 2-Conversation with Carne Ross of ‘Independent Diplomat’” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/wikileakshow-far-part-2independent-diplomats-carne-ross/23489 ---“WikiLeaks-How Far? Part 3 (effect at UN) - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/wikileaksshow-far-at-un-part-3idependent-diplomats-carne-ross/23490 ---“OK to Spy at UN?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/ok-to-spy-at-un-by-mo-spying-or-intimidationblackmail/16892