Art,
Using the word as a NOUN, you would be correct. I am sure that those who served their country honorably in Vietnam, (I also had close friends who did), on swiftboats did so with the utmost courage and conviction. However, using the word as a VERB (as in being swiftboated), has unfortunately taken on a pejorative connotation in light of the 2004 presidential campaign. It was much the same as having Michael Dukakis run against Willie Horton instead of Papa Bush.

                                                      SOL