Department of Defense (DoD)
329 Articles

Toward a Consistent and Coherent Ex Gratia Policy for Civilian Casualties
The summer of 2017 was an extended nightmare for the Badrans. Over the course of several weeks, 39 members of Rasha Badran’s family, most of them women and children, were killed…

Patriotism and Justice on an Unusual Independence Day
Former Acting Attorney General, who served in George HW Bush and Clinton administrations and as an advisor to several Presidents, calls for officials to resist unethical directives,…

Decoy Amendment Jeopardizes the Moment for Renaming Confederate-Dubbed Bases
The measure would undermine otherwise bipartisan efforts to address these issues, including several worthy alternative proposals.

At Confederate-Named Army Bases, Highlight US Ideals By Renaming Them for Honorable Figures
The facilities should be named after accomplished figures who represent the diversity that makes the country and the Army strong. And there are plenty.

The Untold Power of Bill Barr to Direct US Military Forces in Case of “Civil Unrest”
Whether deployed against protests for racial justice or deployed to interfere with free and fair elections in November, the US military operations would be led by Bill Barr, not…

To Fix the COVID-19 Testing Gap, Take a Lesson from GM (or the Pentagon)
The chaotic state of the current COVID testing marketplace is a direct impediment to outbreak control and economic recovery. The federal government should engage in the testing…

The Fatal Flaw in DOD’s Latest Civilian Casualties Report
Lawmakers and even the Trump administration have increasingly expressed concern about the United States waging an “endless war,” and among those concerns is the impact on civilians…

Here’s What the New DoD Policy on Civilian Harm Should Include
It should standardize good practice and set the bar where it belongs: safeguarding civilian life from the effects of U.S. military operations.

Grading DOD’s Annual Civilian Casualties Report: “Incomplete”
The new information demonstrates how much progress the department has made and yet how much of a paradigm shift is still needed for full accountability.

Why We Filed a FOIA Request on How Many US Troops Are in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria
Last night, Just Security filed FOIA requests with the Defense Department seeking U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.

U.S. Security Aid Is a Faith-Based Policy
The US government requires more empirical evidence for aid to help improve livelihoods abroad than for financing weapons used to destroy them.

Trump Administration Has Not Earned Privilege to Speak Anonymously — Especially During a National Crisis
The coronavirus crisis is exposing just how costly it can be when an administration knowingly misleads the public or refuses to provide a basic level of transparency.