Recent Articles

What’s the Mission in Syria? The Answer May be Illegal and Without U.S. Allies’ Support
Statements about a US "peacekeeping" force and a mission to counter-Iran raise serious legal questions and threaten to unravel U.S. allies' support for future U.S. operations inside…

The Early Edition: February 25, 2019
Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. Before the start of business, Just Security provides a curated summary of up-to-the-minute developments at home and…

Recap of Recent Pieces on Just Security (February 18-22)
National Emergency declaration, U.S. vs. Iran, Russia investigation, returning ISIS members, Human trafficking, Human Rights Law, North Korea, International Criminal Court, United…

National Security at the United Nations This Week
Trump continues his search for a US Ambassador to the UN, the Minsk Accords are in trouble, Yemen sees progress in implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, and more.

When Human Trafficking and Terrorism Connect: Dangers and Dilemmas
The increasing emphasis at the UN and elsewhere on the connections between terrorism and human trafficking raises complex legal and policy issues, including how to determine whether…

Military Construction Funds and Local Politics that Will Shape GOP’s Stance on Trump’s Emergency Declaration
The politics of military construction will make the upcoming Senate vote on Trump's national emergency declaration a tough one for GOP members: they face a series of bad options…

The Early Edition: February 22, 2019
Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. Before the start of business, Just Security provides a curated summary of up-to-the-minute developments at home and…

Power Struggle Over the Wall: Presidential Emergency Powers vs. Congressional Power of the Purse
Powerful piece by former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer.
Bottom Line Up Front:
"If I had been directed, when I was Chief Financial Officer…

Stop Using the Word “Collusion”—How to Frame the Critical Question at the Heart of Trump-Russia
Much of the discussion surrounding the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russia in the months leading up to the 2016 election has been mystifying for the American public. As the…

About that Trial Balloon on Using 9/11 AUMF to Authorize Strikes on Iran
Monday’s Washington Times included a breathless “Exclusive” report titled “Iran-al Qaeda Alliance May Provide Legal Rationale for U.S. Military Strikes.” In the piece,…

New Financial Vehicles for Assisting Victims of Atrocity Crimes: A Bold Move for International Justice
Investing in social bonds can offer new way to fund reparations by judges on the International Criminal Court., writes Ambassador Scheffer.

The Early Edition: February 21, 2019
Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. Before the start of business, Just Security provides a curated summary of up-to-the-minute developments at home and…