Iraq
265 Articles
New Pentagon Report Significantly Undercounts Civilian Casualties
The latest annual report was on time and included more details than it had in the past, thanks to additional congressional requirements. But it still significantly undercounts…
Bringing ISIS to Justice: Running Out of Time?
The international community and key actors in Syria and Iraq need to develop a coherent plan to bring ISIS members to account for war crimes, not just counterterrorism crimes,…
George H.W. Bush’s Persian Gulf War: Victory, With Tragedy
Most tributes on the passing of George H.W. Bush from across the American political spectrum have used some variation of the word “honorable” or “decent” to describe the…
Iraq’s So-Called “ISIS Families”: Rounded up, Vilified, Forgotten
What happens to Iraq's so-called "ISIS families" may be one of the country's most significant obstacles to national security and future stabilization.
From Sweeping Punishment to Real Justice in Countering Terrorism
A study led by the United Nations University that examined punitive efforts in Iraq, Nigeria, and Somalia shows that too often, nonviolent associates of terror groups who may have…
International Criminal Law Roundup Series: Part I
[UPDATED] To turn our lens to international criminal law for a moment, I recently attended the annual International Humanitarian Law Dialogs in Chautauqua, New York. This year’s…
Guantanamo is No Answer–But Here’s What Can Work
While there are real challenges and difficult tradeoffs to be made, one question should not be difficult at all: nobody should be sent to Guantanamo. It would be bad policy,…
Condolence Payments for Civilian Casualties: Lessons for Applying the New NDAA
The new National Defense Authorization Act can help improve the way the U.S. responds to civilian casualties. FOIA requests and interviews with DoD officials, U.S. soldiers, judge…
“ISIS Widows” and “Boko Haram Wives”: Overlooked Abuses in Iraq and Nigeria
Thousands of displaced women in Iraq and Nigeria have been arbitrarily branded as affiliated with IS or Boko Haram, and subjected to abuse as a result. Almost 400 in-depth interviews…
Two Important New Civilian Casualties Provisions in the Defense Authorization Bill
Draft text of the annual defense authorization bill contains two important provisions related to civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations.
Detainees in Iraq Win Damages from Denmark in High Court Ruling
A Danish High Court (‘Østre Landsret’) decided this month that the Danish government should compensate a group of Iraqi nationals who sued the Ministry of Defense over ill…
Senator Merkley’s Smart New Alternative AUMF Proposal
Yesterday, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) released a new proposal for an authorization to use military force, or “AUMF.” As Merkley explained in last week’s AUMF hearing before…