Them’s the rules. Play by em.

How stupid did she think the Army was? And how much damage does it do to EVERY Gay soldier, when this lazy ass uses being Gay as an excuse to get out of doing her job?? I hope Canada sends her back to the U.S. Army, and she spends some time in Leavenworth instead of Afghanistan. She’ll find plenty of comfort there.

My major problem with this woman is that she ran to Canada. This was done with the draft dodgers in Vietnam as well. She has committed a crime, and should be punished for that crime. She chose to serve in spite of her sexuality, and she knew going in the chance she was taking. I have to feel bad that she was harassed, and think some things need to change there, but that is still no excuse to violate her contract, and try to hide in Canada.

That makes me suspicious. I suspect there is other information if after two successful tours in a combat zone, she is still a private.

That still doesn’t explain why or how she was outed and there is no information on the alleged harassment she endured.

Craig was correct when he stated the obvious fact that she created more problems for herself by deserting.

I do understand the pressure of the closet. When I was in the Army, I would not only have been subject to a dishonorable discharge, but because I compounded my “crime” by serving as a linguist with a security clearance. In the 60s I was subject to the draft. Queers weren’t welcome anywhere so we hid. That hiding left me open for criminal punishment that could have included 15 years in Leavenworth.

I completed my enlistment and took my honorable discharge and went on my way.

And while I was not in a combat zone, I was in a small post a 15 minute bomber flight from the nearest Soviet air base during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Agreed.

You know what else is a travesty? Other major news sources calling South African runner Semenya a “hermaphrodite!” WTF? Are we on the playground in fifth grade?

The attitude towards deserters in the military seems to only be a step above treason, and she’s going to be deported back to the United States and face a prison sentence of up to 18 months (typical sentences seem to range between a year and 18 months).

That said, I do think (and hope) she could argue that under DADT she should have been discharged and the crime of desertion would not apply. It’s tough because the paperwork was never filled out. Additionally, her superior officer (who refused to fill the paperwork out until after the deployment) should be punished for failing to act under proper DADT rules.

I can’t seem to find the full details of the timeline of her being outed to her being told she was getting deployed. How much time took place between these events? How long did she wait before telling her superior officer about the harassment? These are very important details to consider before judging her actions as “wussing out” or “protecting her life”.

But there’s one very important thing on which I think everyone can agree is an absolute travesty: NO MAJOR AMERICAN NEWS NETWORKS ARE COVERING THIS STORY!

The problem is that DADT is only applied selectively in these times of war. A gay servicemember is fine as long as there aren’t enough “normal” people to fill the ranks. But tell me, what would they have done to protect her from violence and harassment had she remained?