The punitive incarceration of alleged WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning is cruel, certainly, but far from unusual in the US

Bradley Manning was charged in July with leaking classified material related to WikiLeaks; he has since been held in solitary confinement, and is said to be suffering significant psychological stress as a consequence. Photograph: AP

For the past few weeks, progressive commentators have been burning with outrage over the prison conditions endured by accused WikiLeaks source, Private Bradley Manning. For more than seven months, Manning has been held in 23-hour-a-day solitary confinement at a Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia, denied sunlight, exercise, possessions, and all but the most limited contact with family and friends. The conditions of his detention are being discussed, lamented and protestedthroughout the left-leaning blogosphere, and few of those taking part in the conversation hesitate to describe Manning's situation as "torture".