Recent Articles

If Mattis Meant to Assert Self-Defense for the Syria Strike, He Was Wrong
Since the United States conducted a military strike on various targets associated with the Syrian government’s chemical weapons program last week, prominent voices in the legal…

The Supreme Court Should Rethink Deference to the Executive in the Travel Ban Case
Former White House Counsel Neil Eggleston, and Amanda Elbogen write that the Justices should not provide the customary deference to the Executive Branch when it comes to the Travel…

The Early Edition: April 19, 2018
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 abroad.…

The Extent and Validity of Yemen’s Consent to the US’s Use of Force
Above: Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi at UN headquarters on September 21, 2017. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) This is piece is the latest article in our forum…

Gina Haspel Threatens Intelligence Cooperation: Yet Another Reason for Senators to Vote Her Down As CIA Director
Gina Haspel’s morally indefensible role in the CIA’s torture program makes her unqualified to be the new CIA director. What’s worse, if confirmed as CIA director, she would…

The Early Edition: April 18, 2018
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 abroad.…

What the Senate Needs to Ask Gina Haspel
Without full declassification of her involvement in American torture and rendition programs during the George W. Bush administration, Gina Haspel’s confirmation hearing will…

Immunity for International Crimes: Where Do States Really Stand?
Under customary international law, government officials, intelligence officers, military personnel, and other state agents generally enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution by…

The Legality of Using Force to Deter Chemical Warfare
We should not be asking whether the missile strikes against Syria's chemical weapons program represent a lawful humanitarian intervention. Instead, we should be asking if – and…

The Early Edition: April 17, 2018
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 abroad.…

Just Security Podcast: Oona Hathaway on the Bad Legal Arguments for Bombing Syria
Above: A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber after refueling from a KC-10 Extender following its participation in strikes against chemical weapons targets in Syria, April 14, 2018. Image…

Corker’s Proposal Hands Trump A Dangerous, Open-Ended War Authorization
While the media is focused on the Trump administration’s strikes against Syria, there’s another effort to entrench and expand the U.S. global war posture that’s getting less…