WikiLeaks

Army Ignored Warnings about Manning

Was deemed unfit for combat; sent to Iraq anyway.

Could the WikiLeaks case expose the sad state of mental-health coverage in the military? A mental-health specialist recommended the Army not to deploy WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning to Iraq, but the Army ignored the warning and sent him anyway. The recommendation came after Manning enlisted and received a security clearance. "Something happened in his personal life after he joined the Army," an official tells The Washington Post. One source tells the Post Manning sought help after a difficult personal relationship. He then showed many signs of mental trouble: At Fort Drum, he screamed at a higher-ranking soldier; In Iraq, Manning’s lawyer says an officer dismantled Manning’s weapon he was so concerned about his stability; and he was demoted in Iraq for assaulting another soldier.