*NEWSFLASH*    This may have been his motives for releasing the documents in the first place!    That would effectively mean he released tons of sensitive information, even got people killed.....just to try and get a sex change through public tax dollars. This is the depraved mind of the true bradley manning.     Think about it real hard...he's only going to serve about 7 years before he gets parole. if he does somehow get parole, he will have had his very expensive sex change surgery for free, and will have book deals and interviews waiting for him when he gets out which will make him tons of money.     he knew he couldn't afford the surgery even in several years worth of savings. so for him, this is a shortcut to get what he wants at the expense of others. in essence, this prison sentence was all part of his plan because he weighed the pros and cons. in his mind, he comes out on top.