Terrorism & Violent Extremism
Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.
2,228 Articles

Enhanced Evasion Techniques
On Thursday, May 17, after only a few hours of debate, the Senate approved Gina Haspel’s nomination as CIA director by a margin of 54 to 45 votes. The vote broke largely, but…

The Unknown Cost of America’s Counterterrorism Efforts
A Stimson Center working group released a study last week on the costs of America’s counterterrorism efforts, and it found about what you’d expect: nearly 17 years after 9/11,…

DHS: Not Entitled to Its Own Facts
Despite DHS’s breathless claims to the contrary, its numbers don’t demonstrate a "continuing security crisis" along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Future of the US Military Commissions: Legal and Policy Issues
The American Bar Association releases significant new report on fate of military commissions at Guantanamo. Judge Jamie Baker and Laura Dickinson served on the Committee and highlight…

“I’m Going to Defend My Guys to My Last Breath” Morell’s Virtual Whitewash on the Destruction of CIA Videos
On Friday, April 20 the CIA declassified a memo, written in 2011 by then-Deputy Director Mike Morell, about the destruction of 92 videotapes of “enhanced interrogations” at…

The First Transfer of a Guantánamo Prisoner By the Trump Administration
On Wednesday, the Trump administration transferred longtime detainee Ahmed al-Darbi out of Guantánamo Bay. Although al-Darbi isn’t going free, this first transfer of a Guantanamo…

Gendering Counterterrorism: How to, and How Not to – Part II
Earlier this week, we outlined the opportunities in integrating gender in counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) across a number of areas —women…

Gina Haspel’s Nomination to Head the CIA: Why the Controversy & What is at Stake?
The Senate has recently confirmed Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State, after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) dropped his objections and several Democrats indicated that they would support…

DOD’s Guantánamo Report: An Opportunity for Detainees Already Cleared for Release
On January 30, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Secretary of Defense to within 90 days, after consultation with the heads of other relevant…

Gendering Counterterrorism: How to, and How Not to – Part I
After decades of marginalization, there has been a swift—meteoric, even—rise in governments recognizing the need to mainstream gender perspectives across efforts to fight terrorism.…

An Opportunity for National Security Transparency in the Trump Era
Hartig and Geltzer--who served in the National Security Council, Defense Department, and Justice Department--examine the benefits of transparency in national security policy, what…

The U.S. Must Stop Backing Abusive Partners in Yemen’s War
This is the second of two articles on U.S. counterterrorism operations in Yemen. Read part one here. It is also the latest in a new series we are producing in partnership Columbia…