There you go, over the top again and now using profanity to boot. I have tried to logically, tactfully, and respectfully present my point of view and address what I believed are valid concerns.
I’ve done this without making disparaging remarks concerning Manning’s sexual orientation, or interjecting my opinion regarding his guilt or innocence. It appears that there is no place on this commentary for opposing viewpoints.

Accordingly I guess we’re done. Quite frankly I don’t have time for you and the rest of the whiners here.

You’re entitled to not give a damn all you want. And thank you for your service. I would remind you that all of this over the top, emotional, alarmist stuff “I don’t give a damn that the Marine Corps “does things their own way.” really detracts from the real issues. That’s what most here seem to fail to grasp.

As a veteran, you should be aware that the “Base PR person” doesn’t coordinate security or authorize visitors aboard the base. That is done by the Base Provost Marshall’s Office.

I am a retired Marine. While I do not have a dog in the fight regarding the Bradley Manning case, and have done my best here to keep my opinions regarding his actions to myself, I am, however, concerned about the fact that these recent events have painted the Marine Corps in a less than positive light.

The Marine Corps does things their own way. Not saying it’s right or wrong, just saying they do things their own way. Most large organizations do. They have set policies in place. You have no idea what else might have been going on at the base that might have altered the security posture on the day in question. You are aware that the helicopters that fly the president are kept there? It seems as though most here expect the authorities at Quantico to drop everything when Bradley gets a visitor. Just guessing that in the grand scheme of things, the commanding officer will lose very little sleep when he finds out that someone who is confined in the brig didn’t get to see their visitors.
Posting a bunch of whiny leftover hippie 1960s sounding comments does little to further your cause with “the establishment.” Write a letter to the commanding officer that unemotionally depicts the circumstances of the attempted access for the visit, and ask for an explanation for how you were treated. Don’t “demand” anything-be polite and ask instead.

Yes I did read them.

There is nothing that says they can’t as for drivers licenses, SSNs or car registration. Really.
The tone of the majority of the comments left here is alarmist in nature. Maybe the situation would be taken more seriously with a more grown up, lest whiny approach.

Harass? Were they handcuffed? Gagged? Waterboarded? Harass seems to be a wee bit alarmist, don’t you think?

As for your “uproar” that the Marine Corps has allegedly created, I’m just not seeing it.

You’ve missed the point completely. Some here appear to be convinced that the order “came from the top.” The point is that when discussing military chain of command, the “top” can be the guy senior to the guy at the gate interacting with those who have requested access. So far, we have identified that the senior man at the gate was a Gunnery Sergeant. The order could have come to the Gunny from his lieutenant, captain, major or colonel. A Gunny is not very senior in the grand scheme of things, especially at a place like Quantico.
Point is that this isn’t necessarily some huge conspiracy being orchestrated at the DoD/general officer level aimed at keeping Manning’s visitors away from him. I know it’s hard for some here to grasp that possibility, especially when it is so much more fun to sit here and become intertwined in discussion regarding some probably nonexistent conspiracy.

Your opinion.

True, but I would still bet it was from within his immediate chain of command, and below the general officer level.

True but again remember that to a 19 year old Marine on the gate, “on high” could be a sergeant or a lieutenant.

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but if I were stopped and asked for proof of insurance, I would be able to furnish it. The state where I live requires a paper insurance card to be carried in the vehicle and presented with the registration. It’s pretty Jack n Jill simple. So my guess is that my car wouldn’t be towed, and accordingly, I wouldn’t be pissed off at all.

Look, all I am trying to say here is that if these two would have had everything with the car in order and up to date, they probably would have been allowed into the base. Again, take some accountability and responsibility for why things happened the way they did. Nobody here has even remotely admitted that the foregoing might have been the reason for the denial of access. Guess it’s easier to get all worked up, flap your arms and beat your chests like a bunch of kids who had their milk money stolen by a bully on the playground. Enough already. Had the car registration been up to date and a valid PAPER insurance card been present, and they were still detained/denied access, then you would in fact have a valid complaint. As it is, this chest beating and whining is nothing but cheap entertainment.

To a checkpoint guard, “on high” could mean a 22 year old corporal.

There has been no verification that those orders came from “THE TOP.” The fact still remains they gave the MPs reasonable grounds for denial of access to the base and for being detained, in accordance with established security policies. The lesson here should be self-evident.

You can demand, yell and scream, “tear the wall down” etc., all you want. Fact is this isn’t 1967 and you aren’t Abbie Hoffman, so get over it.

At Quantico, that yelling and screaming and tearing the wall down will probably just get you apprehended for disorderly conduct.