Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, suspected of aiding WikiLeaks' hemorrhage of secret information, is being moved to a new jail. Instead of the brig at Quantico, Va., where he was held in virtual solitary confinement and kept in a cell for 23 hours a day, Manning will be housed at a new medium-security facility at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.

Officials protest -- too much -- that the move has nothing to do with Manning's treatment at Quantico. “Many will be tempted to interpret today’s action as a criticism of the pretrial facility at Quantico,” the Pentagon’s general counsel said. “That is not the case. We remain satisfied that Private Manning’s pretrial confinement at Quantico was in compliance with legal and regulatory standards in all respects.” Nevertheless, Ft. Leavenworth is the "most appropriate place for Manning."

Loath as the Army may be to admit it, media criticism of the conditions of Manning's confinement probably played a part in his transfer. Here is an editorial from The Times.

RELATED:

Soldier's inhumane imprisonment

WikiLeaks unplugged

Punishing Pfc. Manning

-- Michael McGough

Photo: An undated photo of Bradley Manning obtained by the Associated Press.