Syria
545 Articles
Tragic Mistakes: Breaking the Military Culture of Impunity
How framing civilian harm in U.S. military operations -- as a “tragic mistake” -- hides the systemic failure that requires institutional reform.
Questions on the Baghuz Strikes
A list of specific questions for members of Congress, reporters, and investigators to ask about the strike.

The Longest War is Over the Horizon
"The sheer number of over-the-horizon operations in the past two decades indicates significant mission creep in the war on terror."

Impact-Based Jurisdiction and Crimes Against Humanity Statutes Are Needed for Effective Accountability
The answer is to fully enact international criminal law at the national level and to provide for its maximum reach.

The UN Has Options Beyond the Security Council for Cross-Border Aid to Syria
Security Council approval for cross-border aid expires July 10. Can the UN continue aid operations without Council authorization?

Gendering the Boy Child in the Context of Counterterrorism: The Situation of Boys in Northeast Syria
Much has been written about the gender of terrorism, and counterterrorism, including by myself. In much of that writing, there is a tendency to elide “gender” analysis with…

The Eroding Norms Against Chemical Weapons Use Will Need More Than Another Syria Censure to Survive
A challenge inspection and an expanded mandate for a new investigations team are among options to halt the global backsliding.

A Drop in the Ocean: A Preliminary Assessment of the Koblenz Trial on Syrian Torture
April 23 marks one year since the start of the Syrian torture trial in Koblenz, Germany. It has already offered some preliminary lessons for future “universal jurisdiction”…

National Security This Week at the United Nations (April 9-16)
US and NATO Plan to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan; Taliban Withdraws from Planned Peace Talks in Istanbul President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he plans to begin withdrawing…

National Security Last Week at the United Nations (March 26 – April 2)
EU, UN Conduct Brussels V Pledging Conference on Syria Crisis; Secretary of State Blinken Urges Security Council to Increase Humanitarian Access in Syria On March 29-30, the European…

A Tribunal for ISIS Fighters – A National Security and Human Rights Emergency
There is an immediate need to triage a coordinated response to the ongoing detention of roughly 10,000 ISIS fighters and 60,000 women and children in northeast Syria.

Self-Defense Against Non-State Actors: All Over the Map
Insights from UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting