U.S. Army Private Criticizes Commander-in-Chief

Oxford Town (Oxford Eagle) | April 30, 2003 | Self

[Spook86]

A U.S. Army Private from Mississippi has publicly criticized President Bush for his handling of military action in Afghanistan and Iraq, a move that could land her in hot water with her superiors.

Private Sarah Freeland, 22, a native of Oxford, said she "loathes" the President's decision to go to war against Saddam Hussein. In an interview pushlished in her hometown newspaper, the Oxford Eagle, Freeland rebuked the President for failing to gain UN approval for the war.

"The United Nations should have handled this," Freeland told the paper. "It's not our business taking it into our how hands." According to free-lance reporter Camille Comer, who wrote the article for the Eagle's entertainment section, Freeland identifies herself as "a liberal Democrat who hates Bush and his politics."

Freeland is an Army communications specialist, currently assigned to Fort Drum, NY. Her duties include operating and maintaining mobile communications systems. Private Freeland was interviewed while on leave from her military post.

Freeland's critical comments are considered highly unusual, given her junior rank and the military's prohibition on criticizing superior officers, including the Commander-in-Chief. During the Clinton Administration, at least two high-ranking officers were fired for making less-than-flattering remarks about the President. In both cases, those comments were made in private gatherings, not a press interview.

It remains unclear whether Freeland will be punished for her criticism of President Bush. A spokesman for the Fort Drum public affairs office said she had not seen the article, which was published last Thursday.

A check of the newspaper's web site revealed that the weekly entertainment section, "Oxford Town," is not available on-line. However, the print version of the article filled an entire page, with a photograph of a soldier identifed as Freeland in the center.

Freeland told the interviewer that she joined the Army in 2001 because "I thought four years of maturity and discipline would be a good thing." She entered the military after dropping out of the University of Mississippi because "I was too into partying. I couldn't hold down a job or make myself go to class."

Private Freeland, who is engaged to another Fort Drum soldier, said she is worried about Mr. Bush angering so many countries and failing to deliver on promises of assistance.

"In Afghanistan, we promised to set up something better, but these people are starving with no medical care. We promised the same thing to Iraq, but we haven't delivered in Afghanistan yet."

Despite her disagreement with Bush Administration policies, Freeland admitted that her political beliefs are irrelevant to her role as a soldier.

"No matter what moronic things Bush does or how much I don't agree, he's my commander-in-chief, and I'll go," she said.

[FreedomCalls]

"point out where it charges by rank."

Article 88, UCMJ: Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, ... shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

[ErnBatavia]

Private Freeland is in a heap of trouble.

The least of her worries will be whether or not she made the promotion list to PFC...

[Greenpees]

Hey NFO.

The system does work, and punishment is still achieved when someone is strong enough to enforce the rules. I don't know about the Private's situation, but.....

Just to renew your faith in the system. A troop that I brought up on charges of Disobeying an order and sexual harrassment (multiple charges of which) was just given a BCD today at trial.

Believe me when I say, he deserved worse than he got. Nonetheless, he won't be wearing a uniform anymore.

[Coleus]

"The United Nations should have handled this,">>>

The Poor Idiot is brainwashed

http://www.getusout.org

[flyer182]

894. ART. 94. MUTINY OR SEDITION

(a) Any person subject to this chapter who--

(1) with intent to usurp or override lawful military authority, refuses, in concert with any other person, to obey orders or otherwise do his duty or creates any violence or disturbance is guilty of mutiny;

(2) with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of lawful civil authority, creates, in concert with any other person, revolt, violence, or disturbance against that authority is guilty of sedition;

(3) fails to do his utmost to prevent and suppress a mutiny or sedition being committed in his presence, or fails to take all reasonable means to inform his superior commissioned officer or commanding officer of a mutiny or sedition which he knows or has reason to believe is taking place, is guilty of a failure to suppress or report a mutiny or sedition.

(b) A person who is found guilty of attempted mutiny, mutiny, sedition, or failure to suppress or report a mutiny or sedition shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.

the article I was refering to. But your article is too.

[PatrioticAmerican]

I think it is funny that some FReepers thought it was cool when people spoke up in the ranks against Klintoon but find it hard to imagine a soldier would speak up against Bush.

[FreedomCalls]

And nothing she said violated one single word of Article 94. Which part of it do you think she violated?

[meema]

Bounced out of college, now she wants to get kicked out of the military.
Hope she isn't planning to try to get a job. I certainly wouldn't hire her.

not fit to serve is right.

[flyer182]

destruction of lawful civil authority,disturbance against that authority is guilty of sedition;

This was the line that was trotted out as a very nice power point presentation right after a Marine Major made some disparging remarks about our former President. He was allowed to retire.

[Spook86]

Thanks, Gunny, your years in the Corps have (obviously) given you great insight into how the Air Force really works. At the end of another day of close air support, saving the lives of countless Marines and Army grunts on the ground, we all retire to the Officer's Club, sip cocktails, call each other by our first name, and thank God that we joined the Air Force, and not the Marine Corps.

BTW, the happiest Marines I ever saw were staying in an Air Force-built tent city at Aviano AB back in 1994. The Marines thought they were in heaven: air conditioned tents, with separate tents for laundry and recreation--including cable TV. Of course, the Marines were a bit upset when they discovered that we were billeted off-base in a four-star Italian hotel, and making $60 a day per diem.

[MissAmericanPie]

Lucky for her there are always openings in the French Foreign Legion.

[BSunday]

She probably joined the military to make some kind of a point, not because she is a patriot.

"College Money"

[FRMAG]

In the Army, an enlistee in BCT is a "Private Recruit" and wears no collar or sleeve insignia of rank. Upon sucessful completion of BCT they are normally promoted to PV2 the PV2 wears a single chevron (sometimes called a mosquito wing). When promoted to Private First Class the insignia is a single chevron with a single rocker.

In any case the proper form of address to all three is Private.

[B. Rabbit]

"Nowadays you generally need to commit a crime to get dishonorably discharged - this is a good way to get one without opening yourself to criminal penalties."

Actually, an inventive JAG lawyer could indeed open this up for criminal penalties.

[wideawake]

I'm sure they could - but the brass know that it would become a cause celebre for "free speech" advocates, so that won't happen.

[BSunday]

All requests for interviews of military personnel are supposed to go through the local Public Affairs Officer. She could be taken to NJP for violating command policy (disobeying lawful order)

[NFOShekky]

Thanks for the info Greenpees. I got tagged as Legal Officer in my unit as a collateral duty when I was a JO. We had a couple of guys who REALLY deserved bad paper but the senior Os didn't have the heart to do it and the guys got admin sep'ed. Their defense JAG played the sympathy card and they received honorable discharges w/ negative reenlistment codes!!! During my time in the NAVY (still in) this seems to be the way it works. Conversely, military "justice" can be pretty unfair at times, but sometimes you have to be a harda**.

[k2blader]

Hm, if so, good riddance.

[catpuppy]

It remains unclear whether Freeland will be punished....

Hey, give her a break. She received punishment enough when her mental ability met her education.

[NFOShekky]

"BTW, the happiest Marines I ever saw were staying in an Air Force-built tent city at Aviano AB back in 1994. . ."

Ain't that the truth! I was an enlisted aircrewman (E-3 at the time) and the first time we R01N'ed at an Air Force base, I thought the clerk at the transient aircrew barracks was putting me on when he said I was entitled to my own room! At best, the Navy would put me in a room with three other guys (all working different shifts) and at worst in an open bay barracks. To tell you the truth, I had better berthing as an E-3 on an AF Base than I've had as an O-4 on Navy bases! Now if you want to here about my time on Army posts. . .