> This is a capital crime, and while prosecutors stated they would not "recommend" the death penalty, they do not determine sentencing and the military judge could have ignored their recommendation were Manning found guilty

Go read the Manual for Court-Martial yourself. Specifically Rule 1004. Death penalty determinations must be made at the beginning of the trial (specifically, on both referral of charges and on arraignment). The judge doesn't get to enter a death penalty plea on behalf of a wary prosecution.

And, even in cases where the death penalty is on the table, the jury (not the judge) must unanimously agree with the sentence. There's a reason the military hasn't managed to execute anyone since the middle of the Cold War when the civilian system has been busy sending people to the executioner's chair.

What I can't figure out is how you're so convinced you're right based only on what seems to be an "educated layman's knowledge" (at best) of military law. I'd understand being confused by someone else, but I'm telling you the source material you need to go read and you're arguing instead of reading...