Despondent words from alleged leaker to Wikileaks.org

By Ellen Nakashima

Bradley Manning, 22, had just gone through a breakup. He had been demoted a rank in the Army after striking a fellow soldier. He felt he had no future, and yet he thought that by sharing classified information about his government's foreign policy, he might "actually change something."

A series of instant messages from Manning to a stranger open a window into the anguished state of the former Army intelligence analyst, who was detained late last month for allegedly leaking classified video and documents to Wikileaks.org.

The military has not detailed the allegations against Manning, who is being held in Kuwait pending an investigation, and his attorney could not be reached for comment. His aunt, Debra van Alstyne, reached by phone, declined to comment on the allegations but said the family was "shocked and surprised" by them.

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