Terrorism & Violent Extremism
Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.
2,223 Articles
The Very Strange New DoD Detainee Directive
On August 19, the Department of Defense apparently issued a new version of “Directive 2310.01E,” which, if you haven’t been scoring at home, is one of the central…
Guardian Previews Discussions of ISIS at Thursday’s NATO Summit
Ewen MacAskill and Spencer Ackerman of The Guardian have an excellent preview of the NATO summit, beginning tomorrow in Wales. Of note, the authors provide details on the discussions…
Targeting Al-Shabaab’s Godane is not the same as targeting Al-Shabaab
On Monday, the US military conducted an airstrike in Somalia, in which the primary target was reportedly Ahmed Abdi Godane, the leader of the militant group Al-Shabaab. Based…
ISIL = Genocide?
As we have discussed, the United States has launched further military action in Iraq. These operations follow limited airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant…
Harold Koh on the International and Domestic Legal Options for Containing ISIL
Just Security’s Harold Koh has a must-read piece in Politico, analyzing the legal and policy choices for the President to confront ISIL. Harold stakes out several important…
International Law on Airstrikes against ISIS in Syria
The administration is actively considering the option of using military force against ISIS in Syria. As the New York Times editorial board states today: “The United States, however,…
Hope for Yemeni Detainees?
Over at Politico, Josh Gerstein reports that the Obama administration has broken its self-imposed suspension of transfers to Yemen and sent two long-term detainees from U.S. military…
The Administration’s Theory for How the 2001 AUMF Could Apply to ISIS
Senator Tim Kaine, in a statement on Monday, marked out the position that expanded military operations against ISIS are not covered by Congress’s 2001 authorization for use of…
Does the Administration consider the War Powers Resolution applicable in Iraq?
Some might think a recent report in the Washington Post provides significant information on the administration’s views on the applicability of the War Powers Resolution (WPR)…
Cert. petition in Ali accepts Justice Breyer’s invitation
As I posted back in April, Justice Breyer issued a statement respecting denial of certiorari in the case of Hussain v. Obama in which he more or less invited Guantánamo habeas…
James Foley and the Hostage Act
Some commentators have suggested that the newly disclosed special forces operation to rescue James Foley may have lacked congressional authorization, thereby further underscoring…
Attacks on Journalists a War Crime
According to a trophy video initially posted on YouTube but since removed, U.S. Journalist Jim Foley was beheaded by ISIS yesterday, further attesting to the group’s depravity.…