ACLU draws the same fairly obvious comparison. Basically, the system acts against you if you hold the state to account under its own laws. But if you act at the behest of the hierarchy without regard to the state, then you are okay. So basically, the rule of law doesn't really apply.
https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-comment-bradley-manning-sentence
oh, and now everyone else. eg
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/bradley-manning-prison_n_3789867.html