Journal of National Security Law & Policy

* al-Haramain Islamic Foundation v. Dep’t of Treasury (9th Cir. Sep. 23, 2011)   A 9th Circuit panel has determined that the OFAC designation process is unconstitutional in various ways, but that the designation of al-Haramain was appropriate.  The opinion is here, and the conclusion follows:   In summary, we hold as follows: 1. Substantial [...]

* United States v. Kassar (2d Cir. Sep. 21, 2011)   A Second Circuit panel has affirmed the conviction of three defendants who were convicted on charges stemming from a sting operation involving a faux effort by the FARC to obtain weapons for use against U.S. personnel.  It’s a fascinating fact pattern.  As for the [...]

* Regina v. Nasser et al (UK, Sep. 25, 2011) (charges in alleged suicide bomb plot)   Last Sunday police in Birmingham, England, arrested a group of suspects in connection with an alleged suicide bombing plot.  Details of the allegations, along with the charges, are posted here by the West Midlands Police.  I’ve also posted [...]

–_006_51F6B3FDE3C5964BB99ECB81E17EB73904CDFE5A53EXCHMAILausti_ Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=”_000_51F6B3FDE3C5964BB99ECB81E17EB73904CDFE5A53EXCHMAILausti_” –_000_51F6B3FDE3C5964BB99ECB81E17EB73904CDFE5A53EXCHMAILausti_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii” Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable * IACL and Bocconi University present “Secrecy, National Security, and the = Vindication of Constitutional Law” (Dec. 1-2, 20110) (Milan) Going to be in Milan in early December, or looking for a reason to go? The International Association of Constitutional Law Research Group on Const= [...]

* United States v. Alwan (W.D. Kentucky Sep. 27, 2011) (denial of motion to dismiss)   District Judge Thomas Russell has denied defendant Waad Ramadan Alwan’s motion to dismiss counts 1 and 2 of the indictment against him, in a much-discussed prosecution involving individuals accused of having been insurgents in Iraq who attacked American troops.  [...]

Ok, looks like the military commission process is ready to roll forward again.  Charges have just been referred in the al-Nashiri case.  Next step: arraignment.  Thanks to the very-slick new commissions website (www.mc.mil), the charges are available here.  They include some but not all the charges originally specified by prosecutors.  To wit:   Charge 1: [...]

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} RSVP’s are required for this one, at the address indicated below:     The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law presents Curbing Needless Secrecy: Reducing Overclassification Through Accountability Classification is one of the most important tools our government has to keep us safe. But [...]

"Drones and the Boundaries of the Battlefield"  Texas International Law Journal, Vol. 47 MICHAEL W. LEWIS, Ohio Northern University – Pettit College of LawEmail: m-lewis@onu.edu The HPCR Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare appropriately proposes that armed drones be treated as the legal equivalent of manned military aircraft. However it does [...]

“The CIA and Targeted Killings Beyond Borders” Philip Alston New York University (NYU) – School of LawHarvard National Security Journal, Forthcoming   This Article focuses on the accountability of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in relation to targeted killings, under both United States law and international law. As the CIA, often in conjunction with Department [...]

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The Texas International Law Journal has just announced the forthcoming publication of a very interesting set of papers on the law of military detention, exploring the relevance of the law of neutrality and notions of “enemy” status for this context.  The lead paper is by Karl Chang of DOD-OGC, writing in his personal capacity.  The responses [...]

“The Evolution of Wiretapping” Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Society, Vol. 12, No. 2, Fall 2011 Paul Rosenzweig,CYBERWARFARE: HOW CONFLICTS IN CYBERSPACE ARE CHALLENGING AMERICA AND CHANGING THE WORLD, Praeger, 2012 PAUL ROSENZWEIG, George Washington University School of Law, The Heritage Foundation The technology for communications through cyberspace have begun to outstrip the capabilities [...]

In addition to the Appellate Attorney position I noted earlier tonight, note to that there is a “counsel” position opened at DOJ-NSD’s Office of Legal Policy: Job Title:Counsel Division:  National Security Division Section/Office:  Office of Law and Policy Opens:  August 5, 2011 Closes: September 6, 2011 Salary: GS-15: $123,758- $155,500 (Per annum) Link: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/jobs/nsd-olp.htm

“Leveling the Deference Playing Field” Kathryn E. Kovacs (Rutgers) Judicial deference to federal agency expertise is appropriate. What is not appropriate is the judicial tendency to give the military more deference than other agencies not only in cases that directly implicate military expertise, but also in administrative law cases raising constitutional, environmental, and employment issues. [...]

Job Title:  Appellate Attorney Division:  National Security Division Section/Office:  Office of Law and Policy Opens:  August 5, 2011 Closes:  September 6, 2011 Salary:  GS-15: $123,758- $155,500 (Per annum) Link:  http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/jobs/vacanappelateatty.htm

A guilty plea today in a case involving a man who unknowingly provided financial support (via an illegal hawala arrangement) to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber.  Details from the press release appear below, and the plea agreement is attached. NEW YORK – Mohammad Younis pleaded guilty today in Manhattan federal court to operating [...]

      * United States v. Omar (D. Minn. Aug. 2011) (material support & murder conspiracy indictment in al-Shabaab case) A Somali man (with lawful permanent resident status in the US) has been extradited from the Netherlands to the United States to face charges including conspiracy to commit murder abroad (18 USC 956(a)) and [...]

* upcoming event: "Ten Years In: Appraising the International Law of the ‘Long War’ in Afghanistan and Pakistan" (BU School of Law, Oct. 14, 2011) Please see the attached pdf for the details for this terrific upcoming conference at Boston University School of Law. See also the information below: Ten Years In: Appraising the International [...]