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Washington (CNN) -- P.J. Crowley abruptly resigned Sunday as State

Department spokesman over  bakugan toys  　controversial comments he made about the

Bradley Manning case.

 

Sources close to the matter said the resignation, first reported by

CNN, came under pressure from the White House, where officials were

furious about his suggestion that the Obama administration is

mistreating Manning, the Army private who is being held in solitary

confinement in Quantico, Virginia, under suspicion that he leaked

highly classified State Department cables to the website WikiLeaks.

 

Speaking to a small group at MIT　 power balance  last week, Crowley was asked about

allegations that Manning is being tortured and kicked up a firestorm by

answering that what is being done to Manning by Defense Department

officials "is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid."

 

Crowley did add that "nonetheless, Bradley Manning is in the right

place" because of his alleged crimes, according to a blog post by BBC

reporter Philippa Thomas, who was present at Crowley's talk.

 

"The unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a serious

crime under U.S. law," Crowley said in a statement Sunday. "My recent

comments regarding the conditions of the pre-trial detention of Private

First Class Bradley Manning were intended to highlight the broader,

even strategic impact of discreet　 power balance  actions undertaken by national

security agencies every day and their impact on our global standing and

leadership.

 

"The exercise of power in today's challenging times and relentless

media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and

values," Crowley said. "Given the impact of my remarks, for which I

take full responsibility, I have submitted my resignation."

 

Crowley has told friends that he is deeply concerned that mistreatment

of Manning could undermine the legitimate prosecution of the young

private. Crowley has also made clear he has the Obama administration's

best interests at heart because he thinks any mistreatment of Manning

could be damaging around the world to President Obama, who has tried to

end the perception that the United States tortures prisoners.

 

Nevertheless, Crowley's political 　 power balance  fate was sealed Friday when Obama was

asked at a White House news conference about his comments regarding

Manning.

 

Obama revealed that he had asked Pentagon officials "whether or not the

procedures that have been taken in terms of (Manning's) confinement are

appropriate and are meeting our basic standards."

 

In a comment that drew howls of protest from liberals, Obama added that

Pentagon officials "assure me that they are. I can't go into details

about some of their concerns, but some of this has to do with Private

Manning's safety as well."

 

Manning's treatment has become a flashpoint for liberals, with Amnesty

International noting he has been confined to a windowless cell for 23

hours a day, is stripped down to his boxers at night and is not given

pillows or blankets.

 

Manning's lawyer also says the young private recently had to sleep in

the nude because defense officials 　 power balance  thought there was a suicide threat

and decided to take away his boxer shorts.

 

Crowley is highly respected on foreign policy matters, dating back to

his time as National Security Council spokesman under then-President

Bill Clinton. He has been the Obama administration's public face on

many international stories as the daily briefer at the State Department

for Secretary Hillary Clinton.

 

But he has not had a completely smooth relationship with officials in

the Obama White House, and  power balance  eyebrows were raised several months ago when

White House aide Mike Hammer was sent over to the State Department to

serve as Crowley's deputy.