Military
902 Articles

Can a Pardon Be a War Crime?: When Pardons Themselves Violate the Laws of War
Editor’s note: Originally published on May 25, 2019; with an author’s note published on Dec. 24, 2020. Author’s note, Dec. 24, 2020: Not all corrupt pardons…

Military Families are Gunning for Peace this Holiday Season
I share my family’s story to underline the urgency behind avoiding war with Iran. We’ve become a nation that engages in wars of choice. We cannot continue down this current…

Invoking Martial Law to Reverse the 2020 Election Could be Criminal Sedition
In his increasingly desperate bid to hang on to the White House, President Trump is reportedly contemplating invoking martial law to force the invalidation of the results of the…

Shifting Norms About Secretary of Defense Has Long-Term Consequences: On the Austin Nomination
Even if retired Gen. Lloyd Austin handles the job of defense secretary perfectly, his nomination alone still has long-term consequences, eroding the norm of civilian control by…

Important Context Missing from the Austin Nomination Debate
Civilian control of the military is an essential part of our constitutional fabric, but that doesn’t mean that recently retired officers are inevitably inappropriate defense…

Biden Must Stick to His Pledge to End US Support for the Yemen War
The war in Yemen is a global mark of shame, and the resulting humanitarian disaster threatens the lives of 24 million people.

Representation at the Top: The Importance of Race in the Austin Nomination Debate
The pushback against retired Gen. Lloyd Austin’s nomination as secretary of defense has left little room to celebrate what is also a milestone for Black Americans in and out…

Biden’s Global Priority No. 1: Turn the Authoritarian Tide
Any other challenge will be exponentially harder to address as long as authoritarian leaders and the militarized systems that support them have free rein.

Climate Change, National Security, & the New Commander-in-Chief
What are the president’s authorities as commander-in-chief to “combat” the national security threats posed by the climate crisis?

Trump’s Veto Threat Over Confederate-Named Bases Erodes U.S. Security and American Values
Given the historical significance of this moment and the alternatives for commemorating real, heroism, Congress has a moral and practical obligation to act.

Defense Policy Negotiations Near Completion in Congress, With Human Rights Provisions in Play
Issues at stake include militarization of law enforcement, civilian casualties, military base renaming, arms transfers, and more.

Not a Coup at DOD: How Acting Sec. Miller’s Reorganization May Improve Special Ops Oversight
"The key question is whether Miller’s move will actually increase civilian oversight of Special Operations Forces."