Syria
544 Articles
Does Congress Really Think It’s Reasserting Its War Powers by Giving Them Away to Trump?
Bipartisan efforts to address the problematic status quo should be applauded. But without significant changes to what is reportedly in the latest proposed AUMF, the new authorization…
The Downsides of Bombing Syria
Air strikes would raise very serious legal and practical concerns.
Evidence Unsealed in Colvin v. Syria
Media are reporting another chemical weapon attack in Syria (a summary of prior attacks is here). Notwithstanding these breaches of an indisputable international law rule, there…
Syria, Chemical Weapons, and a Qualitative Threshold for Humanitarian Intervention
An improved legal framework using a qualitative threshold—legitimizing humanitarian intervention against regimes that use chemical and biological weapons (CBW) on civilians—can…
New Series: Perspectives from Impacted Countries
Millions of people around the world are affected by U.S. armed conflict, security, and counterterrorism policies and practices. U.S. forces regularly carry out airstrikes in Iraq,…
When Does the Legal Basis for U.S. Forces in Syria Expire?
The State Department announced earlier this year that the “full and complete defeat of ISIS” is a necessary condition for ending U.S. military operations in Syria. But Senators…
A Year On, Fog of War Not Lifting Over Deadly Raqqa Strikes
In March 2017, a U.S.-led coalition aircraft struck a boarding school in Mansourah, Syria, completely destroying it. Since then, the coalition has maintained that the building…
Just Security Podcast: Sam Vinograd on Trump’s Weakness Toward Russia on Syria
Last Friday, I spoke with former National Security Council official Samantha Vinograd about President Trump’s reluctance to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin, and…
Doe v. Mattis: Is the War on ISIS Legal?
Many members of Congress, including those who voted for the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, feel they haven’t authorized the current fight against ISIS. Unless the executive branch prolongs…
The Human Cost of Trump’s Weakness Toward Russia
Chemical weapons attacks, aerial bombardments, malnutrition, sexual violence and other means of torture define Syria, with a new massive atrocity every few weeks. There is no end…
The United States Can – And Should – Prosecute the Killers of US Journalists and Aid Workers in Syria
Two formerly British ISIS combatants who are suspected of murdering three US citizens are now in US allies’ custody. The "ISIS Beatles" can and should be tried in US federal…
Exodus Continued: FRONTLINE’s Next Chapter of the Refugee Story
In 2018, the United States, the world’s richest country by far, is expected to open its doors to .08 percent of the world’s 22.5 million refugees, over half of whom are under…