Terrorism & Violent Extremism
Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.
2,225 Articles

17 Years Later: Applying Post-9/11 Lessons to Potential Cyber Attacks
Seventeen years ago today, Americans learned all too tragically that, as the 9/11 Commission later put it, “the system was blinking red” for a reason. Our country, we came…

Woodward’s Book Places Trump’s Policy on Afghan War in a Good Light–But his leadership ultimately falls short
Woodward's book Fear has critical insights into Trump's Afghan war policy--analyzed here by a top expert who was worked the issue for years.

International Law Roundup: Part III
In addition to discussing developments at the international criminal tribunals, addressed in Parts I and II of this series, the IHL Dialogs also offered insights into human rights…

International Criminal Law Roundup: Part II
This is Part II of an international criminal law roundup focused on the ad hoc international and hybrid tribunals. Part I was dedicated to developments at the ICC. Part III will…

U.N. Peace Operations Should Get Off the Counter-Terror Bandwagon
There has been too little discussion of the enormous risks that counter-terrorism involvement in U.N. peace operations poses for U.N. efforts to maintain and build peace.

Exclusive: U.N. Human Rights Experts Meet With Facebook on “Overly Broad” Definitions of Terrorist Content
In a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, U.N. Special Rapporteur Fionnuala Ní Aoláin says networks guidelines on removing content and users need more precision and rigor…

Guantanamo is No Answer–But Here’s What Can Work
While there are real challenges and difficult tradeoffs to be made, one question should not be difficult at all: nobody should be sent to Guantanamo. It would be bad policy,…

Condolence Payments for Civilian Casualties: Lessons for Applying the New NDAA
The new National Defense Authorization Act can help improve the way the U.S. responds to civilian casualties. FOIA requests and interviews with DoD officials, U.S. soldiers, judge…

“ISIS Widows” and “Boko Haram Wives”: Overlooked Abuses in Iraq and Nigeria
Thousands of displaced women in Iraq and Nigeria have been arbitrarily branded as affiliated with IS or Boko Haram, and subjected to abuse as a result. Almost 400 in-depth interviews…

Trump Administration’s Terrorism Claims Omit Crucial Available Data
More information is needed to better understand how the federal government prosecutes terrorism. That’s why the Brennan Center – along with UNC Professor Charles Kurzman –…

DHS Spins the Border Numbers… Again
The July border numbers were released on Wednesday and, once again, DHS saw it as an opportunity to dissemble to the American people in the service of the Trump administration’s…

Brett Kavanaugh and the Risk of a Return to Torture
Brett Kavanaugh, holds a stark view of the role of international law, which could threaten the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be tortured.