Accused soldier seen as hero or traitor

By DAVID DISHNEAU
Associated Press

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — The man who leaked the Pentagon Papers says Bradley Manning is a hero if he leaked classified material to WikiLeaks. But one congressman has called for Manning's execution for alleged treason.

Contrasting images of the 23-year-old Army private will be showcased starting Friday at a hearing to determine if the military will court-martial him.

The case will be heard at Fort Meade, a military post between Baltimore and Washington.

Convictions could bring life imprisonment.

In online chats the soldier purportedly initiated last year with a man who turned him into the U.S. government, the man the military has identified as Manning wondered whether people will see him as him as an activist or a leaker.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)