In the final moments of this year, let's look at a few people who deserved more of our attention. Under-Appreciated Person One: Bradley Manning. While we were all fixated on Julian Assange, the story of the young American soldier who actually leaked the classified documents passed almost unnoticed. If Manning was mentioned at all, it was to be described as an impetuous, angry kid who downloaded the documents on to a CD and leaked them as a result of a "grudge" or "tantrum". Here's what really happened. Manning signed up when he was just 18, believing he would be protecting and defending his country and the cause of freedom.

Read it at The Independent