The White Knight is talking backwards

President Drone, wearing his hat as a constitutional scholar, has pronounced that Bradley Manning 'broke the law'. This legitimizes Manning's torture, and obviates the need for a trial. If the President can whack whoever he wants, why shouldn't he be able to dispense with the expensive and complicated business of a trial before pronouncing verdict and sentence.

You may recall what his predecessor, the Red Queen, said:

'No, no!' said the Queen. 'Sentence first - verdict afterwards.'

The updated version:

'No, no!' said the President. 'Verdict first - trial afterwards.'