Bradley Manning's proposed plea OK'd by judge

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, center, is escorted to a security vehicle outside of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, after attending a pretrial hearing. / AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

FORT MEADE, Md. A military judge on Thursday accepted the terms under which an Army private would plead guilty to seven charges for sending classified documents to Wikileaks.

Col. Denise Lind ruled during the third day of a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade for Pfc. Bradley Manning.

The ruling doesn't mean the pleas have been formally accepted. That could happen in December.

But Lind approved the language of the offenses to which Manning would admit.

She said those offenses carry a total maximum prison term of 16 years.

• Bradley Manning's lawyers: He's been punished enough
• Bradley Manning offers lesser guilty pleas

Manning made the offer as a way of accepting responsibility for the leak. Government officials have not said whether they would continue prosecuting him for the other 15 counts he faces, including aiding the enemy. That offense carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Under the proposal, Manning would admit to willfully sending the following material: a battlefield video file, some classified memos, more than 20 Iraq war logs, more than 20 Afghanistan war logs and other classified materials. He would also plead guilty to wrongfully storing classified information.

Meanwhile, Manning's lawyers are arguing that the charges against the soldier should be dismissed because of what they call needlessly harsh treatment during Manning's nine months of confinement in a Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Va.

Manning remains on the list of prospective witnesses. Others include a military psychiatrist who examined Manning at Quantico, and the former commander of the confinement facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to which Manning was later moved.

[Rodeo_Joe]

"Character means that the person derives his rules of conduct from himself and from the dignity of humanity" - KANT

[stopkillingourwilderness]

When your government is lying to you, you need heroes like Bradley Manning to tell you the truth. The freedom to know what your government does in your name is called "democracy" but the people on this thread seem to think a corporate totalitarian regime is better for America. Not me. He should get a medal, not a sentence.

[GhostCoyote]

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. It also applies the other way around, however, too.

[7for1]

He is no hero. He betrayed his oath.

[StopCBSnews]

16 years would be a light sentence given the magnitude of the crime. He took an oath when he joined the Army. Breaking the rules have consequences.

[MrsHippy]

Manning is a TRAITOR. He deserves the DEATH PENALTY for knowingly and willingly committing treasonous acts against his country!

[imnho]

I would take issuse with his lawyers contention that nine months in jail is adequate punishment. Treason comes with a very tough sentance. He may have ment well, but he did serious damage to the interest of the nation. They may let him plead out to avoid a trial where more classified information could be exposed.

What he did was not a good idea and made operations in the middle east more dangerious for his follow servicemen.

[PurpleMango]

It's more than just nine months in jail. It was his treatment and isolation during that time. He was confined to a 6x8 foot cell for 23 to 24 hours at a time, banned from lying down or even leaning against a wall to support himself when he wasn't sleeping.

He was forced to remain awake from 5AM to 10PM. Despite not being ruled a suicide risk, he wasn't allowed clothing. Despite not being a flight risk, he was forced to wear shackles on his hands and legs when let out of his cell, even when escorted by multiple guards. He was often strip searched, despite not having access to any material possessions - especially after his lawyers complained on his behalf.

The man was punished without a trial and is currently receiving a show trial. This is how they treated him BEFORE he was found guilty, mind you.