The Disturbing Politicization of the Military

We learned yesterday that the Bush Administration is now seeking to have direct input on all promotion decisions related to military JAG lawyers. Given the role of JAG lawyers in acting as defense attorneys in all cases involving accused foreign-based terrorists, and given their role in law-of-war decisionmaking (read: prohibiting torture), this is truly disturbing news. When you recall the way in which promotions of JAG defense attorneys at Guantanomo have already been politicized, it is even more disturbing.

I also recall 2000 presidential candidate George W. Bush campaigning on a platform of getting politicians out of the way of military decisionmaking. Something about letting the military folks do their jobs. I guess the Bush Administration doesn't consider any of its members to be politicians...