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U.S. Army Private Criticizes Commander-in-Chief
Oxford Town (Oxford Eagle)
| April 30, 2003
| Self
Posted on 04/30/2003 10:58:07 AM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; US: Mississippi
KEYWORDS: army; commanderinchief; fool; getusout; iraqifreedom; military; presidentbush; private; sarahfreeland; ucmj; un; unitednations; usa; usarmy; warwithiraq
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To: Ditto
Maybe she has a future in HollywoodIf she can sing, I'd bet the dixie chicks are looking for a few more Bush haters.
To: Question_Assumptions
Yup, that's what I thought too.
To: borisbob69
I don't think wall to wall counseling would help her. I wouldn't want to serve with her, knowing I might have to rely on her in a life and death situation.
Thank G_g or armed services are generally free weakening influences for PVT Freeload
63
posted on
04/30/2003 12:00:22 PM PDT
by
oyez
(Is this a great country or what?)
To: CheneyChick
LOL! There were eight years (1992-2000) I couldn't/wouldn't re-enlist because of the CIC....You were a CorporalChick too? Ooh!
64
posted on
04/30/2003 12:01:06 PM PDT
by
Timesink
To: Charles Martel
Looks to me like height/weight regs are not being followed in her case. Prolly a case of "servicing" the First Sergeant or something.
Unfit for duty discharge!
To: Spook86
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."
I'd say it didn't "take," hon.
Dan
66
posted on
04/30/2003 12:03:29 PM PDT
by
BibChr
("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
To: rangerwife
Two semesters. More than likely failed everything the first semester, was put on academic probation, then flunked out the second. She sounds like Mensa material. (sarcasm)
To: Donna Lee Nardo
There are soldiers younger than her who have fought and died for this country, and not just recently. She is old enough to know better. There are consequences for actions; a lesson that everyone needs to learn.
68
posted on
04/30/2003 12:09:23 PM PDT
by
ndafill
To: Paradox
I don't know the exact state of medical care in Afghanistan right now, but I do know that over two million Afghans have returned to the country since the Taliban were overthrown. (This is according to both U.S. government and United Nations sources.)
69
posted on
04/30/2003 12:09:48 PM PDT
by
TheMole
To: CheneyChick
"LOL! There were eight years (1992-2000) I couldn't/wouldn't re-enlist because of the CIC..."
I had no real option on that one, since 1992-1998 were my last years before retirement and I was stuck with him. But I knew better than to rant where anybody but my closest trusted circle of fellow VRWC members could hear me. The real bummer is that knucklehead (WJC) signed my retirement certificate.
70
posted on
04/30/2003 12:10:29 PM PDT
by
Not A Snowbird
(War's over... let's get Estrada confirmed!)
To: princess leah
It reminds me of another leftist moron who is a first year college drop-out from the University of Michigan - Michael Moore.
71
posted on
04/30/2003 12:21:24 PM PDT
by
LanPB01
To: ndafill
Yes, I couldn't agree more. That's why I said that she has a supreme case of susansarandonitis, i.e., she has no business speaking out about matters that she really doesn't know much about. There should certainly be a punishment.
To: Spook86
"she "loathes" the President's decision "... "moronic things Bush does " Gee, I'd have to give her a pass on these.
She's contemptuous of his actions- not of him.
OTOH if the military decides differently it's no biggie to me.
73
posted on
04/30/2003 12:40:06 PM PDT
by
mrsmith
To: Spook86
"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. Me thinks that the only thing this private will be going to is the brig and now is not soon enough. It is obvious that she is bucking for an exit pass. Let's make sure that it's dishonorable and with 90 days in the brig to start with. Time to make an example out of this college drop out.
74
posted on
04/30/2003 12:57:11 PM PDT
by
AgThorn
(Continue to pray for our Troops!!)
To: Spook86
Two words....Toothbrush and Latrine.....
Pray for GW and Our Troops
75
posted on
04/30/2003 1:04:37 PM PDT
by
bray
(Old Glory Means Freedom)
To: elbucko
elbucko said: '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.'
A more appropriate action on the sergeant's part might have been to suggest that you keep your mind on your duties.
During off-duty hours and especially, though not absolutely, when out of uniform, a soldier has a right to free speech which has not been given up by taking their oath of enlistment.
Soldiers vote, even when stationed overseas and on duty 24/7. Criticism of the US Commander-in-Chief, who is an elected civilian, would be tolerated as long as it does not affect performance of duty. One of the most "disrespectful" times I recall in service was watching "Laugh-In" while General BullRight was on. The day room, where the TV was located, was completely full.
One of the benefits of an all-volunteer army is that the average level of satisfaction with national policy and military necessity is much higher than with a force populated by draftees and those who have enlisted to avoid being drafted.
It should be a source of pride that our military functions well because of its soldiers' sense of duty to country (the Constitution) and not just because they seek to avoid punishment.
To: Spook86
A few points for Private (and since she's already in the basement, I'm not sure what they can bust her to, but I'm sure she's about to find out) Freeland:
1. Yeah, I always go to E-1s who flunked out of college for insightful geopolitical analysis. Sit the &*^% down, and shut the *&^% up. Basic training and AIT do not qualify you to pontificate on anything.
2. You apparently slept through that basic training class on the Uniform Code of Military Justice. You are about to get a refresher course.
3. As a military member, you are not entitled to any constitutional rights. Period. You do not have freedom of speech. You are not free from unreasonable searches of you or your possessions. You do not have the right to pursue happiness - you may in fact be ordered to undertake actions, knowing with full certainty those actions would result in your death - and you have no recourse but to obey those orders. You may not run for office, or take part in a partisan political campaign. Suck it up, cupcake.
There's a reason this twit is still a Private. There's one loudmouthed malcontent in every unit, and my guess is she's it.
77
posted on
04/30/2003 2:02:58 PM PDT
by
LouD
To: SandyInSeattle
had no real option on that one, since 1992-1998 were my last years before retirement and I was stuck with him. Sorry to hear it. You deserve a purple heart, LOL. Like Clint Eastwood says, "A man's got to know his limitations" (or a Chick, in my case). I might have said something negative about Billy Jeff during that time (imagine that!)! But I do thank x42 for two things: because of him, (1) I joined FR and (2) I joined the NRA.
Cheers, CC :)
To: Timesink
Who knew??!
To: bray
Yeah, I'd say Private Freeland ought to become a PLO--Permanent Latrine Orderly--Andy Griffith's old MOS in that classic military comedy, "No Time for Sergeants."
80
posted on
04/30/2003 2:21:47 PM PDT
by
Spook86
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