(Image Source: Fox News)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

After a year and a half of imprisonment, alleged whistle blower Pfc. Bradley Manning is in a military courtroom for pretrial hearings—which almost immediately went to recess. Here’s CNN with the details.

Brian Todd, CNN Correspondent: “The attorney for Bradley Manning, David Coombs, basically came out with guns blazing and accused the investigating officer, who is essentially acting as a judge in this Article 32 hearing, accusing that investigating officer of being prejudiced and asking him to recuse himself. That officer is now taking it under advisement, hearing from the prosecutors, so they're taking a break. Very aggressive move by Bradley Manning’s attorney.”

Manning is sitting in an Article 32 hearing—the military equivalent to a civilian grand jury hearing. The presiding investigating officer will decide whether there is enough evidence to have Manning court-martialed. Both the prosecution and defense will call and cross-examine witnesses. (Video: MSNBC)

Manning made international headlines after being charged with passing on classified information to whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks. Wired notes article 32 hearings could last hours to even a couple of days, but in Manning’s case, it could be longer.

“...the military has indicated that Manning’s hearing could run five days or more … depending on the number of witnesses called and motions raised — giving the proceedings an odd and sudden sense of urgency considering the lengthy time Manning has been confined.”

Manning’s trial is taking place at an army base in Maryland. The Guardian’s report focuses on the rigid security on location.

“Security was exceptionally – some say bizarrely – tight at the opening on Friday of Manning's pre-trial hearing at Fort Meade in Maryland. Though a small number of seats in the military courtroom were reserved for members of the public, rigid reporting restrictions remained in place that prevent any live coverage of the proceedings.”

Following an Associated Press report, the Atlantic Wire notes the base’s suspiciously close location to a super-secure National Security Agency compound—and that’s not even the first so-called ‘unsettling detail’ about Manning’s trial.

“Manning will be tried as a soldier rather than a civilian and could face life behind bars for leaking a quarter million diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks. ... Manning was held for 17 months ... -- sometimes held in solitary confinement and forced to strip naked -- before being tried. Is it all a plot to scare the rest of us Americans to silence so we'd never even think about becoming a whistleblower? Who knows.”

Meanwhile, Politico reports on the lack of transparency in Manning’s case. Under the Freedom of Information Act, the political website requested the full set of the Army’s filings on the case back in April—it was rejected, on the grounds that Manning was subject to an ongoing law proceeding.

“Aside from two charge sheets listing the preliminary allegations against the Army intelligence analyst, the Army has refused to release any of the legal filings exchanged between the defense and the prosecution ... One notable irony: while Manning is now charged with aiding the enemy through his alleged leaks, there would be far more information placed on the official public record about his case if he actually were the enemy.”

Manning is looking at a possible life sentence for 22 charges of violating military code. He is accused of leaking 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables and footage of U.S. air strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan.