MOST AMERICANS understand that legal representation for the accused is one of the core principles of the American way. Not, it seems, Cully Stimson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs.

In a repellent interview yesterday with Federal News Radio, Mr. Stimson brought up, unprompted, the number of major U.S. law firms that have helped represent detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Mr. Stimson proceeded to reel off the names of these firms, adding, "I think, quite honestly, when corporate CEOs see that those firms are representing the very terrorists who hit their bottom line back in 2001, those CEOs are going to make those law firms choose between representing terrorists or representing reputable firms, and I think that is going to have major play in the next few weeks. And we want to watch that play out."

Jesus. It is wholly inappropriate for a Government employee operating in an official capacity to call publicly for private reprisals against lawyers for defending people accused of commiting crimes. These people are not trying to help terrorists. They are trying to ensure that the rule of law is protected. The administration has established a pattern of targetting these lawyers, and with them, our system of justice.