1.) Massively leaking document about how the War On Terror has been conducted is not "whistle-blowing". There was no wrong-doing - no convictions, no prosecutions, no indictments, NOTHING ... even though the Ds controlled Congress from 2007 through 2011 and didn't even "investigate" to see IF there was any "wrong-doing". Bradley Manning's leak was a massive violation of national secrets, and in some circumstances would have been treason.
2.) But for the fact that the War On Terror is not a war declared against a nation state, Bradley Manning could have charged with treason, and in sane times would have been sentenced to death. And the US Constitution recognizes that the death penalty is not intrinsically "cruel or unusual" punishment.
3.) Bradley Manning's solitary confinement is necessary and protective, on two counts. First, Bradley Manning has proven himself to be a massive security risk from which the United States must protect itself. Second, given both his crime and his mental-sexual preferences/choices, it would be dangerous to Bradley Manning to be mixing with the general population of his prison. Bradley Manning made the various choices, and now he is living the consequences.
4.) If "gender dysphoria" is "torture, it's a self-torture of Bradley Manning's own choosing and infliction. I'm sure there is counseling available at the prison, but US taxpayers have no obligation to provide him with drugs and surgery so as to get mutilated chemically and surgically.
On different notes .......
Back when it was Bradley Manning's chosen means to violate US security, Libs & Progs cheered Wikileaks. My, how Libs' & Progs' "principles" change according to whose ox is getting gored.
Can't remember his DU-name, but DU has a perfect legal beagle to head up this effort on Bradley Manning's behalf.