Phil Carter is a longtime contributor to Slate and a personal friend to many of us at the magazine. He also served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee policy, dealing chiefly with issues relating to the closure of Guantanamo Bay. It was reported last night that he has left that position for “personal and family reasons.” Despite some speculation that this was a smokescreen for a break with the administration, we have heard from several sources that there is just no story there; Carter indeed left for personal reasons. We wish Phil and his family the best and thank him for his years of service, in the military as well as in Washington.
