Was Benedict Arnold a terrorist, freedom fighter, or traitor to the cause he swore an oath to uphold?

Officers: Continental Congress passed two versions of this oath of office, applied to military and civilian national officers. The first, on 21 October 1776, read: "I _____, do acknowledge the Thirteen United States of America, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, independent, and sovereign states, and declare, that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the third, king of Great Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said king, George the third, and his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents; and will serve the said United States in the office of _____, which I now hold, and in any other office which I may hereafter hold by their appointment, or under their authority, with fidelity and honour, and according to the best of my skill and understanding. So help me God." The revised version, voted 3 February 1778, read "I, _____ do acknowledge the United States of America to be free, independent and sovereign states, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience, to George the third, king of Great Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him: and I do swear (or affirm) that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain and defend the said United States, against the said king George the third and his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of _____ which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding. So help me God."

If you do not believe you can uphold the oaths you take; 1. You shouldn't take the oath. 2. You should be forthright and seek to dissolve your oath with honor and integrity.

There are times when people take oaths to support two goals. When the oaths are taken, there is no conflict. Things change and the oaths bring you to a dilemma where you must dissolve one or both of the oaths. Many federal officers faced this dilemma in 1860. The outcome of the conflict does not determine who made the right choice, as each person needs to make that choice for their self. If you believe you made the right choice, then you are willing to live with the consequences, be those good or bad.

Manning swore an oath, which he willingly broke. IMO he is no different than any spy who is recruited by a foreign power. He made his choices and he now gets to live or die by the consequences.