I realize it's very dicey grounds, but when you swear to do a particular thing and you do not follow through on it (top secret clearance), it makes it very different in the eyes of people who try to follow an "honor code". I'm not defending or crucifying Manning either way. But I understand the reasons of why these men feel that Manning is the least deserving of being cleared. "Your word is your honor" type thing. I haven't looked into the case very much as I'm recently "woke", I should though. My understanding is that the things that were released by Manning could have caused problems for his fellow soldiers, and thats a big deal. It's a bit different with Assange as his team supposedly carefully combed the data and made sure that nothing was there to risk anyone's life, or any top secret things were released. And I think I remember Snowden being part of a group who was not in the secret services so he would not have been bound by that oath, plus he was also careful with what was released. I'm sure I have something wrong with my assumptions, but hopefully one of you fellow goats will set me straight :D.