Crowley Suddenly Quits as State Department Spokesman

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P.J. Crowley suddenly resigned
Sunday as State Department
spokesman over questionable
comments he made about the
Bradley Manning case.

Sources close to the situation
stated the resignation, first
reported by CNN, came under
fire from the White House,
where officials were not happy
about his suggestion that the
Obama administration is
mistreating Bradley Manning,
Army private who is being held
in solitary confinement in
Quantico, Virginia, under
suspicion that he leaked highly
classified State Department cables
to the web site WikiLeaks.

Crowley was asked by a small group
at MIT last week about allegations
that Manning is being tortured and
his answer was, what is being done
to Manning by Defense Department
officials "is ridiculous and
counter-productive and stupid,"
started a back-lash.

"The unauthorized disclosure of
classified information is a
serious crime under U.S. law,"
Crowley explained in a statement
Sunday. "My recent comments
regarding the conditions of the
pre-trial detention of Private
First Class Bradley Manning were
intended to highlight the broader,
even strategic impact of discreet
actions undertaken by national
security agencies every day and
their impact on our global standing
and leadership.

"The exercise of power in today's
challenging times and relentless
media environment must be prudent
and consistent with our laws and
values," Crowley continued. "Given
the impact of my remarks, for which
I take full responsibility, I have
submitted my resignation."

Crowley shared with friends that
he's concerned that mistreatment
of Manning could undermine the
legitimate prosecution. Crowley
clarified that he has the Obama
administration's best interests
at heart because he thinks any
mistreatment of Manning could be
damaging around the world to
President Obama, who has tried
to end the perception that the
United States tortures prisoners.

Manning recently had to sleep in
the nude because defense officials
thought there was a suicide threat
and decided to take away his boxer
shorts, Manning's lawyer.

He leaves with "great admiration and
affection" for his colleagues, Crowley.