Just Security

Threats of political violence in the United States are on the rise.

Ahead of the 2024 election, Rachel Kleinfeld, an expert on democracy and security, joins the to discuss solutions and how to address the risks.

Listen 👇

How Can the U.S. Address Political Violence and Threats? - The Just Security Podcast From the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, political violence in the United States is on the minds of many around the country and around the world. As the 2024 election draws closer, now is a us...

A reported bid to lift US sanctions for public against mining magnate Dan Gertler, writes Virginia Canter of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), would “fail the victims of his schemes [and] undermine the United States’ commitment to rooting out global corruption.”

Lifting DRC Mining Sanctions Would Be a Critical National Security Error A call against lifting sanctions on Dan Gertler for "extensive public corruption" in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Today's news:
-Hamas claims Tel Aviv attack
-U.S. pushes ceasefire, Blinken in Israel
-George Santos to plead guilty to fraud
-Libya’s central bank “suspends operations” after employee kidnap
-Saudi's MBS allegedly forged King’s signature for Yemen war👇

https://www.justsecurity.org/98723/early-edition-august-19-2024/

Today's news:
-Hamas claims Tel Aviv attack
-U.S. pushes ceasefire, Blinken in Israel
-George Santos to plead guilty to fraud
-Libya’s central bank “suspends operations” after employee kidnap
-Saudi's MBS allegedly forged King’s signature for Yemen war👇

Early Edition: August 19, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend.

Catch up on our recent analysis:

• Afghanistan: Third Anniversary of Taliban Takeover
• Sudan
• 9/11 Plea Deals
• Foreign Agent Registration Act
• International Law
• AI and National Security
• Nuclear Weapons

With big thanks to our authors this week:

Ambassador Nasir A. Andisha
Quscondy Abdulshafi
Paolo Busco
Greg Craig
Ashley Deeks
John Erath
Payton Knopf
Patryk I. Labuda
Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
Maya Nir
Chris Purdy
Elies van Sliedregt

Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (August 12-16) Afghanistan: Third Anniversary of Taliban Takeover • Sudan • 9/11 Plea Deals • Foreign Agent Registration Act • International Law • AI and National Security • Nuclear Weapons

are getting more US government help to relocate to safety, 3 years after a chaotic evacuation from in the fall of Kabul. But Chris Purdy, says that progress is in jeopardy as stalls in .

US Is Finally Aiding Stranded Afghan Allies, But Congress Needs to Step Up Crucial bipartisan legislation has been stalled for years, placing the burden of care on hardworking Americans instead.

Former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights & Counterterrorism Fionnuala Ni Aolainí writes how 9/11 plea deals at could be human rights compliant, and why Defense Secretary Austin should reinstate them.

She writes that discarding the plea deals is a missed opportunity for the United States to achieve a rule of law-compliant conclusion to these cases.

Revoking the 9/11 Plea Deals: Human Rights Consequences How to remedy the human rights consequences of revoking the 9/11 plea bargains? JS Executive Editor writes "the first place to start is to undo the harm of Secretary Austin’s artless withdrawal of the plea agreement."

Today's news:
-Israeli settlers torch West Bank village
-U.S arrests Peruvian gang leader wanted for 23 killings
-Ex-PM's daughter picked as youngest ever Thai leader
-Trump requests hush-money sentencing take place after election
-Ukraine seizes Sudzha👇

Early Edition: August 16, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours.

On the 10 year anniversary of American freelance reporter James Foley’s passing, his mother, Diane Foley, joined Andrea Mitchell to discuss her recent essay in Just Security

Read Diane’s essay here: https://www.justsecurity.org/97993/us-hostages-abroad-foley/

Watch the segment here: https://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/mother-of-american-journalist-james-foley-speaks-out-on-10th-anniversary-of-his-execution-by-isis-217243205940

POLITICO featured Greg Craig’s recent Just Security article as their “Top-Ed” for the day.

Craig’s article, “The Perils of Expertise: How the DOJ Indictment of Sue Mi Terry Can Chill the Think Tank World”: https://www.justsecurity.org/98543/fara-sue-mi-terry/

Read Politico’s analysis of the essay: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/08/13/fubo-hires-sohn-00173866

Thursday 8/15 marks 3 yrs since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Explore our coverage of the last 3rd of Taliban control ft expert analysis, policy recommendations, and local voices:

Collecting Just Security's Afghanistan Coverage on Third Anniversary of Taliban Takeover Thursday, 8/15, marks 3 yrs since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Explore Just Security's coverage of the last 3 yrs of Taliban control ft expert analysis, policy recommendations, and local voices:

John Erath sends a clear message to U.S. Congress: Support a strong Navy and stop funding the Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile.

Why Congress Shouldn’t Fund a New Sea-Launched Nuke Policy Director of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, John Erath, sends a clear message to U.S. Congress: Support a strong Navy and don't fund the Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile.

Today's news:
-Gaza death toll hits 40,000
-Netanyahu denies speaking to Trump
-Germany probes water supply sabotage on military base
-RFK Jr. seeks deal with Harris for Cabinet post
-Russia sentences U.S. dual citizen to 12 years on 'treason' charges
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Early Edition: August 15, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours.

The use of in national security has arrived.

Prof. Ashley Deeks explains how AI tools create a “double black box” of national security decision-making and what must be done to maintain legality and accountability.

The Double Black Box: AI Inside the National Security Ecosystem The use of AI to advance U.S. national security will complicate the application of constitutional checks and balances.

Three years on from the ’s return to power in , talks on and diplomatic recognition have stalled.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister Nasir A. Andisha on the blame games and failures, and what might be next:

Three Years on From Taliban's Takeover, What’s Next Amid Afghanistan’s Impasse? Unfocused efforts to break the logjam over human rights and diplomatic recognition raise questions about how to move forward.

In international law’s cabinet of curiosities, few items have captured the public’s interest as much as the diplomatic bag.

Paolo Busco examines whether it is lawful for a State to subject a foreign diplomatic pouch to X-raying or scanning procedures.

What’s in a Bag? The Lawfulness of X-raying the Diplomatic Pouch in International Law Is it lawful for a State to subject a foreign diplomatic pouch to X-raying or scanning to ensure that it is not used for illicit purposes?

Today's news:
-Hamas declines truce talks
-U.S. approves $20bn in weapons sales to Israel
-Houthis seize U.N. office in Sanaa
-Bangladesh's ex-PM investigated for murder
-Japan's PM to step down
-U.S. soldier pleads guilty to selling secrets to China

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https://www.justsecurity.org/98626/early-edition-august-14-2024/

Today's news:
-Hamas declines truce talks
-U.S. approves $20bn in weapons sales to Israel
-Houthis seize U.N. office in Sanaa
-Bangladesh's ex-PM investigated for murder
-Japan's PM to step down
-U.S. soldier pleads guilty to selling secrets to China

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Early Edition: August 14, 2024 Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news: ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR A Hamas official said yesterday that the group will not take part in Thursday’s round of ceasefire talks because its lead...

Next in our series on the Prosecutor’s Policy on Complementarity and Cooperation:

Patryk Labuda analyzes what the policy reveals about Prosecutor Karim Khan’s vision for the Court.

An ICC Complementarity Policy at Last: Can the Prosecutor Walk the Talk? The ICC Prosecutor's new vision of complementarity appears informed by his practice-driven and pragmatic approach to engagement with States.

In addition to and , flooding now compounds ’s toll, and potential talks in Geneva are in limbo.

Quscondy Abdulshafi of Freedom House writes that a negotiating process is crucial to end the violence and inject a measure of hope:

Breaking the Deadlock: New Talks Needed to Help End Sudan’s Violence and Offer a Glimmer of Hope New Talks Needed to Help End Sudan’s Violence and Offer a Glimmer of Hope Unless parties are willing to come to the table, there is no pathway from war toward restoring civilian rule and a democratic transition.

Today's news:
-Gaza ceasefire deal would temper Iran's retaliation, sources say
-New reports of Myanmar Rohingya killings
-Former Colorado official found guilty for role in election equipment tampering
-RFK Jr denied NY ballot access over “sham” address

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Early Edition: August 13, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours.

In the devastating war in , another US push toward talks appears to be faltering.

Former deputy US envoy Payton Knopf digs into three fallacies hamstringing – and possibly even making things worse:

The Year(s) of Magical Thinking on Sudan Three fallacies have dominated -- and damaged -- US diplomacy in the current war.

Former White House Counsel Greg Craig writes a scathing critique of the DOJ’s prosecution of Dr. Sue Mi Terry as an unregistered “foreign agent.”

The Perils of Expertise: How the DOJ Indictment of Sue Mi Terry Can Chill the Think Tank World Former White House Counsel Greg Craig with a scathing critique of the Justice Department's prosecution of Dr. Sue Mi Terry as an unregistered "foreign agent."

Today's news:
-Israel prepares for Iran attack
-U.S. offers amnesty to Venezuela’s Maduro for ceding power
-Trump campaign says it was hacked, blames Iran
-U.S. lifts ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia
-Russia evacuates second border region
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Early Edition: August 12, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend.

Catch up on analysis from the week:

• International Law in Israel-Palestine Conflict
• Leahy Law & Israel
• Guantánamo Plea Deals
• Global Terrorism
• CrowdStrike-Cybersecurity
• Trump Trials

With thanks to our authors of the week:

Smadar Ben-Natan
Charles O. (Cob) Blaha
Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.)
Eugene R. Fidell
Tom Joscelyn
Joshua Kolb
Ariel (Eli) Levite
Itamar Mann
John Pendleton
Matthew Seligman
Alyssa Yamamoto

Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (August 5-10) International Law in Israel-Palestine Conflict • Leahy Law & Israel • Guantánamo Plea Deals • Global Terrorism • CrowdStrike - Cybersecurity • Trump Trials

The State Department’s Wrong Decision to Exempt IDF Unit from Leahy Law Ineligibility

By Charles (Cob) Blaha, who recently served as Director of the State Department office that implements the Leahy Law worldwide.

The State Department's Wrong Decision to Exempt IDF Unit from Leahy Law Ineligibility Former State Department official critically analyzes State Department's decision to drop IDF unit from Leahy Law sanctions.

Today's news:
-U.S., Egypt & Qatar push Gaza ceasefire
-Five arrested over Iraq airbase attack that injured U.S. troops
-Ukraine strikes Russia's Lipetsk region
-ISIS inspired suspect wanted to ‘to kill as many people as possible’ at Taylor Swift show
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Early Edition: August 9, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours.

Just Security will be on our annual August hiatus returning Monday, Aug. 12. With everything going on in the world, it’s a shorter break than usual – but a much-needed one!

We look forward to being back with you all next week.

Just Security Hiatus – Aug. 7-9 Just Security will be on an annual August hiatus for the remainder of this week, Aug. 7-9, returning on Monday, Aug. 12.

Today's news:
-Israeli minister says starvation in Gaza may be “justified”
-Israel warns Hezbollah of “disproportionate” price if it harms civilians
-Ukraine continues surprise incursion into Russia
-Ex-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont returns to Spain
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Early Edition: August 8, 2024 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours.