[mariorossi666]

> It would certainly be stealing if she deleted the documents in the server afterwards, which she did not

Again, not a lawyer, not trying to counter you personally, but if someone clones my credit card and take money from it, it is stealing, even if the card is still in my pocket.

If someone use my bank's password to transfer funds to his account, it is stealing, even if my account is still in my possess.

> "The military court claims that she stole classified documents and betrayed her country that she swore to protect"

That translates to "technically she stole classified documents and betrayed her country that she swore to protect."

because that's what a court does, it establish the facts, unless we prove the court-martial framed Mannings for something she did not do.

If I'm sentenced by a court for fraud, it means I committed fraud, unless I prove the court is wrong.

Saying "the court says that X did that" and "X did that" it's the same thing.

> which is to unfairly punish whistle-blowers and give lighter punishments to war criminals

I agree it is unfair, but the military know how it is, it's not something special to Mannings's case.

[dependenttypes]

> it is stealing

I would disagree (although it is closer to the definition of thieft than stealing data is as you lose the ability to withdraw the money).

> That translates to "technically she stole classified documents and betrayed her country that she swore to protect."

No, it doesn't. The "court" could as well say "the sun rotates around earth and the moon is made out of cheese", it would not make it correct.

> unless we prove the court-martial framed Mannings for something she did not do.

Guilty until proven innocent, eh?

> Saying "the court says that X did that" and "X did that" it's the same thing.

You seem to be putting a lot of trust to the authority of the court. To me the court does not hold any more credibility than anyone else.

> it's not something special to Mannings's case

Not claiming otherwise.

[mariorossi666]

First of all, sorry, but I'm Italian and I don;t get all the nuances.

The difference between stealing and theft was unknown to me.

Secondly: no, it's not guilty until proven innocent, Manning has been proven guilty, she never denied of illegally obtaining those documents.

third: in this case Manning confessed. There's no much debate we can do about it.

fourth: no, I don't put any particular fate on courts, is just how the system works.

I'm not a sex offender until a court says so.

And after that people would say "he's a sex offender" not "the court said he's a sex offender".

Unfortunately I don't make the rules.

[dependenttypes]

> The difference between stealing and theft was unknown to me.

Feel free to read it as "I would disagree (although it is closer to the definition of stealing than 'stealing data' is as you lose the ability to withdraw the money)." -- I was not implying that there are differences between stealing and theft.

> Manning has been proven guilty, she never denied of illegally obtaining those documents.

> third: in this case Manning confessed. There's no much debate we can do about it.

I was talking about the general case, not specifically about Manning

> is just how the system works

I did not know that the courts can magically bend the laws of nature at will.

> And after that people would say "he's a sex offender" not "the court said he's a sex offender".

Well, the people would be wrong.

[Semaphor]

> but if someone clones my credit card

no

> and take money from it

Now it’s stealing, but not your card, but your money has been stolen.

[mariorossi666]

> Now it’s stealing, but not your card, but your money has been stolen.

If you copy a secret document you steal the informations in it.

What's the difference?

[kempbellt]

If you really want to split hairs, I would argue that copying information that is considered secret to it's owner, is stealing in the sense that you are stealing the fact that is is secret from it's owner. It's no longer secret at this point, and you have taken that away from the original owner.

In the context of stealing secret documents from the government - the question is, did the government have a legal right to keep those documents "secret" from its people. Did those documents contain evidence of illegal activities by the government that it was attempting to keep hidden?

Whether or not it's stealing in this case, is irrelevant, imo. If the information being hidden is of detriment to the people and your intent is to share the info with the people it is harming, then I would argue that it's entirely reasonable to share the information.