Terrorism & Violent Extremism
Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.
2,268 Articles
GTMO Transfer Bans Run Amok
A few weeks ago, I wrote about a disturbing provision that was added at the last minute to the Senate Armed Services Committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization…
The Drone Memo Cometh
“Severe Clear,” a project by artist David Birkin. Skywriting appears over New York City in a celestial “Glomar” response. For more, see Birkin’s post here. In…
The President Has No Congressional Authorization to Use Force against ISIS in Iraq
Earlier this week, Jen Daskal, Steve Vladeck and I wrote a post explaining why the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq clearly does not apply to ISIS in Iraq…
The Legal Basis for the Abu Khattalah Capture
The capture of Ahmed Abu Khattalah was performed by a joint group of FBI agents and U.S. Special Operations forces. A New York Times story reported an official as saying that…
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…