Some ways to take comfort here: 1) This is not the final word on Bradley Manning's fate. His supporters, who have already raised over $300,000 in his defense t

Some ways to take comfort here: 1) This is not the final word on Bradley Manning's fate. His supporters, who have already raised over $300,000 in his defense thus far, will not stop here. 2) 35 years is bad, but not as bad as it could have been. At least his defense successfully got rid of the "aiding the enemy" charge. 3) This will be appealed something like this, IIRC: (a) Appeal to the convening authority (a military officer who has the power to reduce the sentence or overturn the conviction all together). This is the method that has allowed (more than one) convicted rapist go free: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/13/senators-critical-military-convening-authority - so if this were used to free Bradley Manning or reduce his sentence, it could help the Military defend the process in the court of public opinion! (However, this is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY!!!) (b) Appeal to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals (ACCA) (c) Appeal to Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (d) Appeal to the US Supreme Court There is an article here that explains all the possibilities: http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/08/21/bradley-mannings-sentence-parole-and-appeal-implications/ http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/08/21/bradley-mannings-senten... (Edit: formatting)