Just Security

Just Security

@justsecurity.org

Forum on law, rights, and security. Editorial Board includes professors, top civil society attorneys, former senior government officials.

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Replying to @carolrosenbergfeed.bsky.social

This article offers insights into the psych exam. --Through an Arabic translator the prisoner interpreted the expression “People in glass houses should not throw stones” to mean “If you are weak then don’t fight with others.”
www.justsecurity.org/161994/uss-c...

justsecurity.orgArmy Doctor Diagnosed USS Cole Bombing Defendant with PTSD and Depression, Found Him Fit for TrialA U.S. military psychiatrist found the USS Cole bombing suspect to be suffering from PTSD but cogent enough to face trial at Guantanamo Bay.

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Good morning from Guantanamo’s Camp Justice. The USS Cole case hearing is in recess for the judge to consider the defense team's claim that the defendant is mentally unfit for trial. They blame his torture by the CIA two decades ago. An Army psychiatrist found him competent.

When military leaders are afraid to challenge unlawful orders, the military risks losing the independence, integrity, and sound judgment that make it effective in the first place. From retired Coast Guard senior officers William D. Baumgartner, Stephen Chamberlin, Leanne Lusk and Brian McNamara:

justsecurity.orgWhen Military Leaders Fear Speaking Up, Everyone Is at RiskMilitary leaders must be able to provide candid advice, raise legal concerns and challenge questionable orders without fearing retaliation.

The ICJ is preparing to render its decision in the Myanmar genocide case. The case will test a set of legal propositions that will be central to assessing whether Russia's war on Ukraine rises to the level of genocide, write Anastasiya Donets, Susan Farbstein and George Tyler.

justsecurity.orgAn ICJ Case and Genocidal Intent in Russia’s War on UkraineThe Myanmar case before the ICJ will test legal propositions central to assessing whether Russia's war in Ukraine constitutes a genocide.

Last week, New Mexico won a $25 billion judgment against Meta for willfully misleading users about its data sharing policies. Consumers should resist the convenience Muse offers and decline to entrust Meta with even more sensitive data, writes Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat.

justsecurity.orgAfter a $25 Billion Deception Ruling, Why Trust Meta with an AI Agent?The US government must ensure a robust federal capacity to oversee products like Muse before more harm is done to users' privacy rights.

What are some of the legal and policy issues raised by the recent UNEP Emissions Gap Report, which found that a 1.5 degree climate change ceiling is no longer possible? @corrarino.bsky.social offers seven questions to consider next: www.justsecurity.org/161874/unep-...

justsecurity.orgU.N. Emissions Gap Report 2026: “The Point of Return” — Seven Questions to Consider NextA guide to some of the legal and policy questions to consider in light of UNEP's Emissions Gap Report 2026.

Successful prosecutions in universal jurisdiction cases are often made possible by the tireless efforts of civil society organizations. Courtney Spivey Urschel on how civil society can empower national authorities to increase their investigations and prosecutions of atrocity crimes.

justsecurity.orgHow Civil Society Can Help Unlock More Universal Jurisdiction CasesBy providing national authorities with detailed evidence, civil society can empower national authorities to investigate atrocity crimes.

Anthropic announced a commitment to allowing independent evaluation of its AI models, but many questions about that process remain unanswered, writes Evelyn Aswad. "More needs to be done to create a meaningful, viable, effective, and transparent evaluation system for frontier AI."

justsecurity.orgFrontier AI and Independent Evaluations: Some Inconvenient QuestionsIt is worth asking whether Anthropic’s approach to allowing independent evaluations of its models will create meaningful oversight.

The USS Cole bombing defendant suffers from conditions resulting from his torture by the CIA that leave him mentally unfit for trial, a forensic psychiatrist testified this week. Carol Rosenberg on the latest developments in the first capital trial at Guantanamo:

justsecurity.orgDefense Psychiatrist Calls USS Cole Defendant Unfit for TrialA forensic psychiatrist testified this week that the USS Cole bombing suspect is unfit for trial as a result of his torture by the CIA.

The information this administration requires its agencies to disclose about their use of AI is too limited to enable accountability - and DHS fails to meet even that minimal standard, write @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social of the @brennancenter.org and Eoghan Stafford.

justsecurity.orgDHS’s AI Inventory Reveals the Limits of Federal AI Transparency LawDHS and ICE have failed to adhere to even the minimal transparency standards set by the Trump administration on AI use.

The first conviction of a Russian mercenary leader, Voislav Torden (aka Yan Petrovsky), under universal jurisdiction for #WarCrimes in #Ukraine before 2022 has been upheld by a Finnish appeals court. Candace Rondeaux and @drsorcs.bsky.social outline the implications: #Rusich

justsecurity.orgWar Crimes Accountability in Finland's Prosecution of Russian MercenaryThe ruling upholding the conviction of a Russian mercenary leader opens new avenues for the prosecution of Russian irregular forces.

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U.S. state legislatures are increasingly adopting laws aimed at protecting individuals from surveillance, harassment or coercion by foreign regimes or their agents inside the U.S. -- transnational repression. Grady Vaughan, Ted Bromund and Ariel Rawls on some hitches and best practices:

justsecurity.orgState-Level Legislation on Transnational Repression in the United StatesState legislatures have increasingly taken steps to address foreign interference and transnational repression that targets individuals.

The post-World War II international legal order is undoubtedly under strain. Lisa Reinsberg and @jesspeake.bsky.social on the need for a renewed international order characterized by fairness, functionality, relevance, coherence, responsiveness, stability, and accountability.

justsecurity.org[R]evolution in the International Legal OrderScholars reckon with the need to strengthen the foundations of international law while adapting it for a new set of actors and issues.

Following 60 Minutes segment on DOJ harassment of state and local election officials, we just published ... Dissecting DOJ’s Letter to California Election Officials: Empty Threats of Criminal Liability By Samantha Trepel www.justsecurity.org/161204/doj-l...

justsecurity.orgDissecting DOJ’s Letter to California Election Officials: Empty Threats of’ Criminal LiabilityLegal expert breaks down the Justice Department's letter to California election officials over purported noncitizens voting.

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President Trump is acting as chief prosecutor of the United States. Bruce Swartz, Kit Beyer and John David Cobb examine the constitutional, legal, and ethical constraints on the president when he chooses a particular person to be investigated or prosecuted: www.justsecurity.org/159847/serva...

justsecurity.orgServant of the Law: The President as Chief ProsecutorAn examination of the constitutional, legal, and ethical constraints on the president when he exercises his power as chief prosecutor.

“Our own house is still too dirty.” The former U.S. State Department’s Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption on what Washington got wrong fighting corruption abroad, and how Congress and future administrations can fix it, from @richardmnephew.bsky.social: www.justsecurity.org/160243/lesso...

justsecurity.orgLessons from U.S. Global Anti-Corruption Efforts and Opportunities AheadThe United States should learn from past mistakes and re-embrace the importance of promoting anti-corruption to its foreign policy.

The Garvaghy Road standoff in Northern Ireland highlights the fragility of post-conflict transitions. @niaolainf.bsky.social on the hard work that will be necessary to prevent the unravelling of a carefully constructed, if imperfect, peace: www.justsecurity.org/160847/de-tr...

justsecurity.orgNorthern Ireland and the Ongoing Challenges of Keeping the PeaceThe Garvaghy Road standoff in Northern Ireland highlights the harsh reality that transitions from conflict are long and fragile processes.

The fighting in Ethiopia threatens to expand far beyond the scale of the previous war, writes @lesleyannewarner.bsky.social. This time, she writes, the government faces a multi-regional coalition of armed groups that could receive backing from rival powers in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf.

justsecurity.orgEthiopia’s Fragile Peace Has Broken – But This is Not the 2020-2022 ConflictUnlike in the previous war, Ethiopia's government faces a coalition of armed groups that could receive backing from regional rivals.

The U.S. government has submitted its opposition to Nicolás Maduro's motion to dismiss on the grounds of head-of-state immunity. In a cross-post w/our friends at Transnational Litigation Blog, William S. Dodge analyzes why Maduro's immunity claims face an uphill battle:

justsecurity.orgU.S. Government Responds to Maduro’s Immunity ArgumentsMaduro's motion to dismiss on the grounds of head-of-state immunity faces an uphill battle against the U.S. government's opposition.

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We discuss why the diesel deal would legally implicate the U.S. in supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine. We also draw from USG statements on how oil purchases support Russia's war machine. Statements by the U.S. intelligence community, Secretary Rubio and more.

justsecurity.orgFueling Russia’s War: The Russian Diesel Deal and International LawBy lifting export restrictions on Russian diesel, the United States arguably bears responsibility for aiding Russia's unlawful use of force.