WikiLeaks whistleblower Manning offers apology

US soldier Bradley Manning offered an apology in a military court Wednesday over his disclosures to WikiLeaks and acknowledged he "hurt the United States." “First, your honor, I want to start off with an apology,” he said. “I’m sorry that my actions hurt people and I’m sorry that it hurt the United States. I understood what I was doing and the decision that I made. I’m sorry for the unintended consequences of my actions...When I made these decisions I believed I was going to help people, not hurt people." The 25-year-old, who has already been convicted on 20 charges of espionage and theft, has not made a statement since a pre-trial hearing back in February. He spoke for a brief two minutes in front of military judge, Colonel Denise Lind, at sentencing hearings at Fort Meade, northeast of Washington.