Navy lawyer a victim of politicized military

Re “Lawyer Who Opposed Tribunals Must Retire,” Oct. 9

The article about Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift being passed over for promotion is more proof that the Defense Department and the Bush administration reward blind loyalty over competency. What should have been a rewarding career in the Navy has been cut short by Swift’s temerity in taking on the administration over its military tribunal procedures, which the Supreme Court found unconstitutional.

To convince the justices of his position, let alone even argue before the Supreme Court, attests to his competence and dedication to the rule of law. Apparently, these are attributes unwanted and unappreciated in today’s politicized military.

HOWARD BLUM

Thousand Oaks

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Heroes show up in unlikely places. Imagine how unpopular the assignment of defending a suspected terrorist held in Guantanamo Bay must have been to a Navy lawyer. Doing the best job he could, he took his assignment all the way to the Supreme Court and dealt the White House a major black eye. This is the right stuff that heroes are made of, not the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld kind.

Swift just got passed over for promotion and will leave the service he loves. Coincidence? I think not. This is how things work in the Bush administration.

Swift gets my vote for man of the year.

ALAN REID

Long Beach