Terrorism & Violent Extremism
Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.
2,228 Articles
U.S. Captures Suspected Benghazi “Ringleader” Ahmed abu Khattalah
The breaking news this morning is that the U.S. Special Ops forces have captured Ahmed Abu Khattala, a suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya. Government…
The President Delivers a Statement on the Situation in Iraq
Video of President Obama’s statement on the situation in Iraq. Complete transcript of remarks below. THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I wanted to take some time…
US Resumes Drone Strikes in Pakistan: A New Course of Action?
In the past 24-48 hours, the United States has reportedly conducted two successive drone strikes in Pakistan’s northwest tribal area—ending an almost six-month suspension of…
Clapper to Hagel: Taliban 5 return to battle “will not appreciably change the threat” to US or Afghanistan
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday about the prisoner exchange involving Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and five Guantanamo detainees…
Interpretation and Retaliation in the Obama Administration
Caitlin Hayden’s statement last week on “why it was lawful” to exchange five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo for Sergeant Bergdahl, “notwithstanding the notice requirement…
Statelessness update: the UK Government makes concession to citizenship-stripping proposals
Just Security has been covering citizenship-stripping proposals on both sides of the Atlantic. In an earlier post, I wrote about the UK Government’s citizen-stripping proposal…
What’s Wrong with a Categorical Ban on Transfers from GITMO to Yemen
As Marty notes, the Senate Armed Services Committee recently approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015. (This will now go to the full Senate…
Benghazi Oversight: The Composition of the Select Committee
This post provides an initial assessment of the composition of the newly formed House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi. Over several…
The President’s Speech, Al Qaeda and the Legal Challenge of the Future
One of the most striking features of President Obama’s 28 May 2014 commencement address at West Point was its “turning the page” theme. The speech sought to look at the major…
The Administration’s explanation for why it was lawful not to wait 30 days to complete the Bergdahl exchange
National Security Council Caitlin Hayden just issued this statement concerning “why it was lawful for the Administration to proceed with the [Bergdahl] transfer notwithstanding…
The Bergdahl Exchange [Fifth UPDATE (with clarification)]
This is truly wonderful news. The five Taliban detainees transferred to Qatar apparently are: Abdul Haq Wasiq (ISN 004) Mullah Norullah Noori (ISN 006) Mullah Mohammad Fazl (ISN…
Letter to the Editor Responding to Steve Vladeck on Gitmo Force Feeding
I enjoyed Steve’s post, although I think the “nobody cares anymore” premise is largely correct, if by “nobody,” we mean the public. Perversely, this is a function of…