Today, the American Psychological Association formally voted to end their enrollment in national security interrogations. This would seem to finally put an end to the organization's involvement in post-9/11 torture against security detainees. The vote comes on the heels of the Hoffman Report, which was prepared by attorney David Hoffman of Sidley Austin LLP. Hoffman was hired by the APA to...
As others have already noted, D.C. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth held last week that because “fighting continues” between U.S., Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo may still be detained under the domestic statute (AUMF) authorizing their detention. I’ve written here and elsewhere about the propriety of the underlying legal theory in...
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Obama has authorized U.S. military forces to use air power to defend U.S.-trained Syrian rebels if those rebels are attacked by the Syrian government forces. President Barack Obama has authorized using air power to defend a new U.S.-backed fighting force in Syria if it is attacked by Syrian government forces or other groups,...
Your weekly selection of international law and international relations headlines from around the world: Africa Nigeria's army says it has rescued 178 people held by the Boko Haram group in Nigeria's Borno state in raids that destroyed several camps in the country's northeast. At least one soldier with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic was killed on Sunday during clashes with...
Anna, who has guest-blogged for us in an academic capacity on a number of occasions (see here, here, and here), has just started a new job as Georgia's Deputy Minister for Defence. See if you can spot her in this photo: Heartfelt congratulations to Anna. Academia's loss is Georgia's gain. I have no doubt that she will do exemplary work on behalf of...
Your weekly selection of international law and international relations headlines from around the world: Africa The Somali militant Islamist group al Shabaab attacked a Mogadishu hotel on Sunday, driving a car packed with explosives through the hotel gate and killing at least 13 people, a first responder and the rebel group said. The European Union is ready to impose sanctions on Burundians failing...
As the fighting in Ukraine continues into its second year, recent reports have variously focused on the promise of a weapons withdrawal and the risk that there is the opening of a new front opening. Recent international legal scholarship has attempted to frame the conflict within the context of international law and consider topics such as issues of legality and...
Your weekly selection of international law and international relations headlines from around the world: Africa Hissene Habre, the former leader of Chad once described as "Africa's Pinochet" by Human Rights Watch (HRW), is about to face trial in Senegal over the alleged political killings of thousands of people during his time in power. Malian masons have rebuilt eight mausoleums destroyed by Islamist militants...
Just a quick note to flag that the Digest of United States Practice in International Law 2014 is now available. You can access it here. And here's the accompanying press release from the U.S. State Department: The Department of State is pleased to announce the release of the 2014 Digest of United States Practice in International Law, covering developments during calendar year 2014....
I don't have a profound take on the Iran Deal (full text here) announced today between Iran and the P-5+1 leading world powers. From my understanding of this agreement, I am doubtful it will work out to benefit the U.S. and the E.U., but I don't feel particularly strongly on this point. There are more than enough commentators out there who...
Your weekly selection of international law and international relations headlines from around the world: Africa Chadian police have said anyone wearing a full-face veil will be arrested, a day after a Boko Haram suicide bombing - carried out by an attacker disguised as a women wearing one - left 15 dead. Cameroon's army has repulsed an attack by Boko Haram and killed three...
I am a huge fan of ASIL's Annual Meeting for a whole host of reasons. I like to see old friends, make new acquaintances, and spend inordinate amounts of time talking in the hallways. The book sales on Saturday morning is a highlight of my year (no comment on what that may say about my life). But what really holds...
