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.

[Blood of Tyrants]

She has a lot of nerve standing up on her hind legs like that ans publically critizing her CIC. If she thinks that she has the right to do so while identifing herself as a member of the Armed Forces, she is in for a very rude surprise. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[MikeAtTheShore]

I dont know about the Army but my son is in the Navy and to be promoted from e-1 to e-3 (seaman or private 1st class) takes 18 mos. This is not to defend her politics, which are pathetic, but to set the record straight on rank.

[Paradox]

"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."

This is utter crap. I personally know the fella who was one of those in charge of rebuilding the health care in that country. That place is a looong ways towards being modernized. Unforunately, this same guy was just shot in Iraq, trying to do the same thing. He has required surgery for a serious arm injury (brachial artery was destroyed), but he should be ok.

[Hodar]

So, in this case a violation should be ignored? When would you then arbitrarily chose to enforce the law? I mean, if she can break the rules at will, everyone should be able to; or is she special? The Uniform Code of Military Justice applies UNIFORMALLY across the military. That means, it applies to everyone.

[DoctorMichael]

"The United Nations should have handled this," Freeland told the paper. "It's not our business taking it into our how hands."

This speaks volumes about her intelligence and informed state.

How should the UN have 'handled this'? With its large standing army?

Idjit.

[RichardW]

She has some heap big 'splaining to do. What an idiot!

[princess leah]

LOOK who's calling who the "moron"...she dropped out of College while Bush has a Masters Degree. I can't stand peoplel who point the finger while they themselves are guilty of far worse things!

[Pompah]

WOW.!! I've been out of the Army for a long,long time now.

Do Sorry-Ass Buck Privates still pull K.P. and such.?

You know,Get down in that Grease Trap and start cleaning soldier. and don't come up till your releived.
Just wondered.

[river rat]

"I thought four years of maturity and discipline would be a good thing."

Actually, a lobotomy might work better...for this loony broad..
Semper Fi

[rangerwife]

That sounds about right for the Army too. I wonder how much college she had though (the article doesn't say) because if you've had any college, you can join the Army at a higher rank. A person with some college can usually enlist as an E3. I'll have to ask hubby how many college credit hours it takes to enlist as an E3. He's on recruiting duty (ugh) right now. A college grad can enlist as an E4. So I'm curious as to how long this chick attended college.

[alisasny]

"I was too into partying. I couldn't hold down a job or make myself go to class."

But now we are supposed to listen to her drival as fact.....

[Inspectorette]

She will pay a heavy price if this is true.

Depends on what is considered a heavy price by this silly young woman. If what she wants is a discharge from the military, she'll get it. Then the leftist feminist groups will embrace her for showing such "courage" - and Lifetime will make a movie about her :-(

[elbucko]

She's trying to get out of the army, and this is her way of doing it. That's all.

That she is.

I once told a Sergeant that the Commander-in-Chief, President Lyndon Johnson, "was a low down dirty S*n *of a B!tch"! He agreed and said I was in the majority and to sling arms and continue to march.

However, I think this is going to work for her. A "dishonorable" is not far away, or a "general" on plea.

[I'm ALL Right!]

She probably joined the military so the government would pay for her education. She didn't think she'd actually have to WORK or (gasp!) FIGHT if she went into the military.

[Beck_isright]

" It remains unclear whether Freeland will be punished for her criticism of President Bush."

Three weeks from now, when this dies down, she'll learn just how damning the phrase "dishonorable discharge" looks on her record. What a moron.

[angkor]

"Her [new] duties include operating and maintaining mobile communications systems group sanitation systems, as well as keeping her new posting at Camp Bravo (Iraq) free from dust."

[joesnuffy]

I here Leavenworth, KS is almost lovely this time of year depending upon which side of the bars your on.......

[Spook86]

A point of clarification...the article referenced did NOT list her rank. When I enlisted in the Air Force in 1981--with 120+ hours toward my bachelor's degree--I became an E-3 (Airman First Class) after completing basic. I would assume that Ms. Freeland must also have a higher rank than E-1, but (again) the writer didn't specify her rank. She might also be a specialist, since the Army still has than classification within its enlisted ranks...

[af_vet_rr]

That is a good question, why didn't she keep her opinions to herself. Towards the end of my career I served under Clinton, you can bet I had bad things to say about him and the way he ran things, but I kept my mouth shut - I sure as hell wasn't about to go and tell my hometown newspaper just what I thought of him.

[asformeandformyhouse]

Private Sarah Freeland, 22, a native of Oxford, said she "loathes" the President's decision to go to war against Saddam Hussein.

Loathes? Loathes? Now where have I heard that word used before in conjunction with the military?