The United States’ Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism” By Ben Saul, Challis Chair of International Law at The University of Sydney and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism

(3/3) With thanks to our authors this week: Jeremy Venook Jesse Marks Jon Temin @jwrchappell.bsky.social Maggie Lin Michael Pusic @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @milleridriss.bsky.social Peter J. Quaranto Priyanka Motaparthy @rgoodlaw.bsky.social @richardgowan1.bsky.social Siven Watt Wells Dixon

And if folks are interested in rebuttals to the arguments for premeditated killings in the Caribbean, I would recommend listening from the ~23 minute mark onwards.

And @mikeschmitt.bsky.social !

Quoted in this WP story on attacking drug cartels. For a fuller discussion of my views on some of the legal issues, see my @justsecurity.org piece last week. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Kudos to General Mark Welsh, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, for doing the right thing and resigning as President of Texas A & M when one of his people was mistreated. Silence and inaction is complicity. www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...

Leading legal expert analyzes the Israeli airstrike on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar. Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”? By professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/120727/israe...

My thoughts on the airstrike into Qatar against Hamas leaders.

Read Brian Finucane’s analysis on the second counter-narcotics strike. As I wrote in my own @justsecurity.org piece last week, I see no legal basis for these strikes. I wa shooing cooler heads would prevail after the first misstep.

After nearly a decade in the position, I have stepped down as the G. Norman Lieber Distinguished Scholar at West Point. I look forward to continuing to work alongside my great colleagues at the University of Reading Law School and the U.S. Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law.

New book alert! 📚 "Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror" (OUP), ed @briannarosen.bsky.social. Marking 24th anniversary of #September11, it offers a timely reflection on how the post-9/11 era shapes contemporary conflicts. www.justsecurity.org/120313/perpe...

My thoughts on the Tren de Aragua speedboat strike.

Two years ago, I concluded, “Calls for a peace agreement contemplating territorial transfer are legally (and, in my view, practically and ethically) flawed.” I haven’t changed my mind. lieber.westpoint.edu/territorial-...

Reportedly, Israeli settlers/soldiers have killed 5 US citizens in the #WestBank since 2023 Hamas attack. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Julia Flores examine occupying power’s obligation to maintain public order & ensure security of persons within occup. territory. lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-i...

Latest @articlesofwar.bsky.social post by Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

My latest, on settler violence in the West Bank, with Major Julia Flores of the Naval War College's Stockton Center.

IDF has conducted so-called #targetedkillings of #scientists working on #Iran’s nuclear development program. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social analyzes in his post IDF’s #targeting of Iranian nuclear scientists from the law of armed conflict perspective. lieber.westpoint.edu/attacking-sc...

Operation #RisingLion sparked a sophisticated debate over the parameters of the international law right of #selfdefense. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social asks when it is appropriate for States to reinterpret long-held international law rules. lieber.westpoint.edu/interpreting...

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<Thread> I figure I need to explain how extreme and irresponsible is the June 7 Memorandum federalizing the National Guard and authorizing regular armed forces. Those saying anything in support of this action may not realize what they’ve gotten into. (It will also escalate from here.) Preview⤵️

❗️Come and join the Legal Division of the @ICRC! ✴️ Turn your vision for a better world, your belief in justice and humanity, in the protective power of the law, into #IHL advocacy. careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...

@mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez survey the law governing an occupying power’s #seizure of #privateproperty and explore the transfer of an occupying power’s nationals into the territory it occupies. lieber.westpoint.edu/seizure-priv...

My thoughts with Major Alex Hernandez on Russia's seizure of real property in occupied territory and the transfer of Russian nationals into the area.

Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social has co-authored a two-part series on the international law bearing on State support to non-state actors engaging in hostilities against another State. Part I is here:

For @articlesofwar.bsky.social, Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social has co-authored a post on the use of civilians as human shields by a military force from the perspective of the law of armed conflict and international criminal law.

My thoughts with Army Major Alex Hernandez of the Naval War College's Stockton Center on "active shielding" during military operations.

I have lost the ability to be surprised….

In Part II of the series focusing on State support to #nonstateactors, @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez outline the responses available to victim States & address the question when State support to a non-State actor triggers an IAC between the 2 States. lieber.westpoint.edu/analyzing-st...

Part II of my series on State support to non-State actors with Major Alex Hernandez of the Naval War College’s Stockton Center

Armed conflicts are frequently characterized by State support to #nonStateactors. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez provide a normative framework for analyzing one State’s support to non-State actors engaged in hostile activities directed at another. lieber.westpoint.edu/analyzing-st...

Part I of my explainer on State support to non-State actors with Major Alex Hernandez of the Stockton Center. Part II coming Friday.

Regular reminder that Congress could take away the President’s favorite tariff toy anytime it wants.

If you missed our online workshop “The Peaceful Settlement of Inter-State Cyber Disputes” last week you can now catch up with a recording of the discussion buff.ly/kpFfo3Z

Latest @articlesofwar.bsky.social post by Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social.

Legal questions have arisen regarding the manner in which Hamas has been releasing #hostages & returning the remains of those who have died. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social explains that public spectacles organized by Hamas constitute clear #LOAC violations. lieber.westpoint.edu/releasing-ci...

My thoughts on the law governing the release of hostages and the return of hostage remains.

Great military leaders are always critical thinkers. Banning books is not the way to grow them. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/u...

I am speechless…. thehill.com/homenews/rac...

We are accepting applications for Lawfare's paid Summer 2025 internship. The intern will assist with running and maintaining the Lawfare website and will have an opportunity to learn a variety of research skill. The application period will close on April 20. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/inte...

This has to stop; morale is plummeting. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04...

Next president?

#NATO states are reassessing their stance on the Convention on #ClusterMunitions & #OttawaConvention amid evolving security concerns. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social breaks down these weapons, their use, and their potential role in defending against a Russian invasion. lieber.westpoint.edu/cluster-muni...

My operational explainer on cluster munitions and anti-personnel land mines explains why States worried about Russian aggression might be considering withdrawal from the respective conventions. See also Sean Watts' Articles of War piece on the prospect of withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention.

Here is a blog post @opiniojuris.bsky.social about the two positions. opiniojuris.org/2025/03/01/c...

We are hiring at KU's Centre for Military Studies! Two positions at either Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level. Associate positions are permanent; Assistant ones are three years initially and can become permanent. Deadline is short: March 21. Details: employment.ku.dk/faculty/?sho....

In 1937, Stalin purged the Red Army & Navy. Gone were 3 of 5 marshals, 13 of 15 army commanders, 50 of 57 corps commanders, 154 of 186 division commanders, and 8 of 9 admirals. The decimation of the Russian military leadership encouraged Hitler to launch Operation Barbarossa in June 1941.

Incomprehensible to anyone with even a slight understanding of international security affairs. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...

Stand up to bullies; they usually back down. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/w...

You can't make this stuff up.... www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...

A great warrior and leader who deserves the respect and gratitude of his nation for selfless and courageous service to it for a period measured in decades. www.military.com/daily-news/2...