MUST-read by @hbanai.bsky.social at @newlinesmag.bsky.social

That’s what war is, what it does. It’s a thief of choice. It’s a trap. It’s a pit where freedom and creativity and choice go are swallowed. That’s what makes it awful. There are no good choices here. That’s why avoiding war is paramount. Once you are in it, get used to contradiction.

#polisky this is a five alarm fire 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

We’re told we must accept much higher civilian casualties in large-scale combat operations. But what if that is based on a false assumption? My latest for @articlesofwar.bsky.social lieber.westpoint.edu/challenging-...

So many law review articles and he just tweeted it out

Might be the greatest opening paragraph of anything ever.

In our latest episode, Harold Trinkunas (@stanfordcisac.bsky.social) previews our upcoming issue by arguing that Cold War-era assumptions about strategic stability no longer hold. From AI to cyber operations, emerging technologies are fundamentally altering the global nuclear landscape.

This afternoon at 4pm (ET) here in Ann Arbor and online!

American Presidents invariably claim that the use of U.S. military force abroad benefits the local population. U.S. Presidents often explicitly or implicitly claim that "the intervened population" therefore welcomes U.S. military intervention - a powerful moral claim.

SHOULD THE U.S BLOT OUT THE SUN AND USHER IN AN AGE OF ETERNAL DARKNESS? - Gallup 2/20/26-3/5/26 NO - 41% YES - 38% UNSURE - 21%

This is why you don’t cheer war like it’s a game.

Is this bad

Since 2022, Matthieu Aikins and I have been investigating the CIA’s Afghan surrogate commandos, known in Afg as the Zero Units but officially called the CTPTs by the CIA. These units’ existence has been publicly known since 2010, but their relationship with the CIA is still an official secret...

I really enjoyed talking with Lindsay Shingler for the @ucigcc.bsky.social Talking Policy podcast about my book When Rebels Win (@cornellupress.bsky.social) and its implications for contemporary conflicts & policy responses

My article is currently open-access... Click away... We map out the creative ways people nonviolently use phones to protect themselves in war zones... Americans have now adopted some of these approaches too academic.oup.com/ia/article/101/3/1043/8106131

These insights are largely drawn from a recent article I published with Paul Johnson at @jpeaceresearch.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

One thing that’s missing from a lot of the conversation I hear about what’s going on in Iran is why we haven’t seen more dissent or defection from the military. Emily Stranger and I explain why in @goodauth.bsky.social goodauthority.org/news/why-ira...

I worked this issue hard with my Afghan Evac partners when Kabul fell. We had volunteers from all walks of life, from every political stripe. This cause united us in purpose unlike anything else. And now, death sentences. Enraged.

“ to say there are terrorists — when they actually worked alongside our military and intelligence community to kill terrorists — doesn’t make any sense,” Mr. McCaul said. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...

Incredible post on military professionalism, accountability, and counterinsurgency—and law enforcement—operations open.substack.com/pub/mkloeppe...

I wrote something... Hope it’s helpful ☮️ I’ve studied Nonviolent protection movements in war zones for 2 decades. Here’s what I’m seeing in the U.S. theconversation.com/anti-ice-pro...

Oh, and this is temporarily open-access, so click away! academic.oup.com/ia/article/1...

In the latest Fellowship Spotlight, CISAC Fellow Elizabeth Good breaks down why meaningful inclusion matters for lasting peace and how gender expertise can reshape outcomes. cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/news/fellows...

Insightful and timely commentary by @oliverkaplan.bsky.social on ICE in Minneapolis theconversation.com/anti-ice-pro...

Terrific and thought provoking analysis by @andy-milburn.bsky.social on use of force in urban warfare — adding this to my class readings for next week’s class on IHL, military ops, and Gaza

4 years ago, I wrote a post on @justsecurity.org & @Verfassungsblog.de on recognizing soldiers who refuse to participate in aggressive war as refugees www.justsecurity.org/80419/the-le... verfassungsblog.de/the-legal-ob... French practice: www.lemonde.fr/en/france/ar... amp.dw.com/en/fleeing-u...

Vital read from my friend @yguichaoua.bsky.social and @wlacher.bsky.social on the state of conflict studies

Psyched + humbled to see our SPEAKING SCIENCE TO POWER recognized as #1 Top Book in IR per @iajournal.bsky.social @chathamhouse.org (reviewed by @mgmessmer.bsky.social) global.oup.com/academic/pro... @epsteinprof.bsky.social @jaylyall.bsky.social @siecenter.bsky.social @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social

Huge congrats to ISA President-elect @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social !! This is such great news! Looking forward to the great work he will be sure to do! 🎉🎊

This #GeorgeAI is a terrible idea! A dismissing #GeorgeWashington would cross the Delaware-level terrible idea. It risks distorting the #Founders and robbing them of their own historical context. I say this as someone who thinks GW, the Founders, & their ideas are the foundation of our nation!

Re #Hegseth Venezuela drug boat attacks: This is terrific insight into JSOC strike process but critically doesn’t include the role of JAG legal officers in targeting cycle. Normally JAGs advise on LOAC/law issues for US strikes…unless something has gone horribly wrong (which it has)

By happenstance I'm visiting the Netherlands Defense Academy today....Was particularly moved by this essential Veteran's Day read nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...

Personal update: I've started a new position as Senior Research Scholar at the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC). Thrilled for the opportunity to continue my research on law, ethics, and civilian protection and join the amazing @stanfordcisac.bsky.social community

Personal update: Thrilled to announce I've joined the #DoD's Civilian Protection Center of Excellence (#CPCOE) as lead of professional military education initiatives. Proud to contribute efforts to improve U.S. mil capabilities & operations while helping protect innocents in war.

Headed to APSA 2025? I’m putting together a panel on new approaches to military effectiveness. All methods + time periods welcome! (We have an experiment on discrimination and unit cohesion, for example). If you’re interested, send me an email.

Reminder! The deadline is tomorrow!!

Even historians of Vietnam don't really talk about this: From January - July 1968, the KIA rate for U.S. troops in Vietnam was higher than the Korean War or the Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres of World War II. During 1968-69 U.S. troops were wounded at a higher rate than World War II or Korea.

i think INTERSTELLAR is a bona fide masterpiece — maybe nolan's greatest film — and i'm not at all ashamed to say that i weep every time i watch it.

Welcome @articlesofwar.bsky.social. A superb resource on the jus ad bellum, IHL/LOAC, and other issues at the intersection of international law and military operations by West Point’s Lieber Institute. Subscribe and consider contributing.

I had about 10 minutes to create this, so tons of people are unintentionally missing. So please include yourself and share widely! go.bsky.app/VH75HUu

Another successful Editorial Committee meeting this week in Geneva, discussing draft commentaries on the Fourth Geneva Convention for the updated ICRC commentary. We expect online publication in 2025. Existing commentaries available here: ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treat... #IHL #IntLaw #ICRC

🚨Thrilled to see my latest article (open access) with Benoît Pelopidas now out with Ethics and International Affairs. We consider the limits of “tragedy” in the context of military violence and argue for a renewed focus on political responsibility. 1/6 doi.org/10.1017/S089...

⭐Job Alert ⭐ GW's Elliott School & Political Science Dept are hiring a full-time, tenured Assoc/Full Prof. in security studies beginning Fall 2025. Seeking a strong track record of research, teaching & policy engagement in the field of security studies, broadly defined. www.gwu.jobs/postings/116...

Launching a new resource mapping state reactions to the #ICC arrest warrants for #Netanyahu and Gallant, thanks to @becingber.bsky.social and the @justsecurity.org team. Check back for updates: www.justsecurity.org/105064/mappi...

Ok @mikeschmitt.bsky.social made me realise there was no proper international humanitarian law starter pack so I’ve created my first one. It is far from being complete so please feel free to mention yourself and/or others who should be included! go.bsky.app/N6Bw1E7

@ralphjanik.com Hello Ralph, please consider adding us to your excellent pack. Many thanks! @epolicinski.bsky.social @ximenalondono.bsky.social @thodsm.bsky.social @jonathanhorowitz.bsky.social @mpollard.bsky.social

Will Trump’s return spell the end of American exceptionalism? Columnist @profpaulpoast.bsky.social argues that it will simply reveal what the US has always been: