US Marine loses Obama case

A US Marine who criticised President Barack Obama on his Facebook page has committed misconduct and should be dismissed, a military board recommended.

The Marine Corps administrative board made the decision after a hearing for Sergeant Gary Stein. Stein’s lawyers argued that the Marine, whose service was to end in four months, was expressing his personal views and exercising his right to free speech.

The board also recommended that Stein be given an other-than-honourable discharge, meaning Stein would lose his benefits and would not be allowed on any military base.