Wrong turn

Re “Mixed verdict at terror tribunal,” Aug. 7

Congratulations to The Times on its fine article describing the mixed verdict in the first Guantanamo military tribunal. The officers charged with acting as jurors were given a difficult job of participating in a seriously flawed system -- but their verdict, finding Osama bin Laden’s driver guilty of “providing material support to terrorism,” remains hard to accept. Essentially, they have found grade-school dropout Salim Ahmed Hamdan guilty of working as a chauffeur.

Despite my having been a consistent critic of what I consider the Bush administration’s deliberate disregard for international laws, I want to declare my unconditional support for all those who drive, or who have driven, limousines for Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, David Addington, Alberto Gonzales or John Yoo should any of them face war crimes tribunals in the future.

James Mamer

Modjeska Canyon