Consequences could follow if Houthis conduct more attacks in the Red Sea
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel spoke with Al Arabiya English about the joint statement issued by the United States and other global powers in response to the more than 24 Houthi-conducted attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea since mid-November. The Houthis are pushing boundaries to understand where Washington’s red lines […]
Attacks emanating from Iranian proxies in Middle East
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel spoke with The Washington Post about Iran’s network of proxies in the Middle East and the change in leadership and structure that resulted from Soleimani’s death. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow […]
Implications for NATO of Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined CNN to discuss Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine, Putin’s tactical aims, and the implications of a Russian missile entering NATO airspace. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow on National Security at […]
Risk of escalation as Russian military planes fly over U.S. bases in Syria
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel is quoted in an article for Stars and Stripes discussing Russian military aircrafts continuing to fly in protected airspace over U.S. bases in Syria. He warns of the risk of escalation. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He […]
Amicus brief of fmr Republican officials rejects Trump’s claim of immunity
Over 20 former Republican officials, including CERL Executive Board member Stuart Gerson, submitted an amicus brief rejecting former President Donald Trump’s “presidential immunity” appeal in the federal election interference case, as detailed in a Newsweek report. Stuart Gerson is Member of the Firm at Epstein Becker Green, former Acting Attorney General of the United States, […]
New volume reveals science-backed interviewing techniques
In a video posted by John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Project Aletheia, CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon discusses the publication of Interviewing and Interrogation: A Review of Research and Practice Since World War II, an edited volume that serves as a resource for the practice of science-backed interviewing techniques. Mark Fallon is the […]
U.S. efforts to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined Fox News to discuss the latest Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, the international task force launched by the United States to protect these commercial ships, and deterrence of future attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army […]
Psychological toll on hostages in Gaza
CERL Executive Board member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, M.D., spoke with Michael Smerconish about the conditions faced by the hostages in Gaza and the trauma endured in captivity. Comprehensive physical and mental care will be critical in the weeks and years ahead. Brig. Gen. Xenakis is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist with […]
CO ruling disqualifying Trump from presidency
CERL Executive Board member Mark Zaid is quoted in an article for Law & Crime discussing Colorado’s decision to bar former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot. Mark S. Zaid, Esq., is a Washington, D.C. based attorney who specializes in crisis management and innovatively handling simple and complex administrative and litigation matters primarily relating […]
The story behind Jack Teixeira’s alleged sharing of classified information online
CERL Executive Board member Mark Zaid appeared on PBS Frontline’s The Discord Leaks to discuss the security clearance process in connection with Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman suspected of sharing classified government information on the social media platform Discord. Mark S. Zaid, Esq., is a Washington, D.C. based attorney who specializes in crisis […]
A U.S. response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel is quoted in an article for the Washington Examiner discussing the importance of deterring future Houthi attacks on key shipping routes, which will require effort not just on the part of the United States, but also the international community. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the […]
Balancing free speech with the safety of students
On a segment of PBS News Hour, CERL’s Claire Finkelstein comments on the congressional testimony of three university presidents on antisemitism. Threats and harassment should not be included among the protected forms of speech on college campuses, she argues. Claire Finkelstein is the Algernon Biddle Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Director […]
Psychological considerations with Maine gunman
Army Reservist Robert Card killed 18 people in a shooting rampage on Oct. 25 in Lewiston, Maine. CERL Executive Board member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, M.D., is quoted in an article by The New York Times discussing the potential role of psychosis, or PTSD related to his time serving in the U.S. Army. […]
The parameters of free speech on university campuses
How should university campuses balance the commitment to free speech values with the need to protect the wellbeing and safety of students? CERL Faculty Director Claire Finkelstein joined WHYY, along with Penn professor Jonathan Zimmerman, to discuss the resignation of Penn President Elizabeth Magill and whether certain types of speech can and should be protected […]
Why the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2023 would impair FISA Section 702
Absent reauthorization by Congress, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire at the end of the current calendar year. In an opinion for Just Security, CERL Advisory Council member George Croner examines a reform bill put forward by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), called the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2023 (GSRA), […]
COP28: How cities are combatting climate change
Emerging from the 2023 Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28) is a new emphasis on multilevel partnerships to bridge local, national, and regional efforts aimed at combatting climate change. In an opinion for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Eugenie Birch, CERL Affiliated Faculty William Burke-White, and Mauricio Rodas discuss the steps Philadelphia is taking to […]
Addressing the crisis of antisemitism on university campuses
In an opinion for The Washington Post, CERL Faculty Director Claire Finkelstein responds to the testimony of three college presidents before Congress on Dec. 5. Combatting antisemitism and other forms of hate will require that campuses restrict vitriolic speech in favor of protecting and promoting values that are critical to higher education, such as cultivating […]
CERL affiliates participate in House Intelligence Committee panel on FISA 702
The House Intelligence Committee, in conjunction with Holy Family University, held on Dec. 4 a panel addressing the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). CERL’s Prof. Claire Finkelstein and George Croner joined the panel to discuss the history of the statute and the reforms that will be needed to adequately […]
CERL board chair reflects on legacy of Kissinger
In an opinion for The Washington Post, CERL Board Chair Morton H. Halperin recounts his time working at the National Security Council under Henry Kissinger. When news of secret U.S. raids on Cambodia leaked to the press, leaving the White House rattled, Kissinger all too willingly engaged in deceptive practices to uncover the source of […]
Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel appeared on Fox News to discuss the recent Houthi missile strikes on three commercial ships and a U.S. warship in the Red Sea and how the United States can and should respond. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. […]
Growing concern among American public about China
On Fox News, CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel responds to a Reagan National Defense Survey poll finding that, among the American public, there is growing concern about China’s threat to the United States and waning confidence in the U.S. military. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the […]
Examining influential factors at play in Israel-Hamas conflict
On an episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, a collaboration between the Modern War Institute at West Point and Princeton University’s Empirical Studies of Conflict Project, CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel discusses the nature, tactics, and objectives of Hamas, the complexity of geopolitical factors, and Israel’s military and diplomatic strategy. General Joseph L. […]
Missiles fired from Houthi-controlled area toward U.S. Navy ship
Missiles launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen landed near a U.S. Navy ship operating in the Red Sea that had responded to a distress call in the Gulf of Aden. CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined CBS News to discuss the details of the incident and the possibility of a direct response […]
Acknowledging the injustice suffered by the 3/24 Infantry
The U.S. Army announced on Nov. 13 that it would overturn the convictions of, and grant honorable discharges to, 110 Black soldiers who were charged in connection with a 1917 mutiny in Houston. In an opinion for Newsweek, CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn details the efforts of researchers, legal students, and advocates to uncover […]
U.S. deterrence of attacks by Iranian proxies
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel spoke on Fox about the recent strikes on U.S. forces by Iranian proxies in the Middle East, as well as the recent Houthi attack on a ship in the Red Sea with links to Israel. Deterrence without escalation will be key for the United States. General Joseph L. […]
Establishing peace between Israel and Gaza
CERL Advisory Council member Mary Ellen O’Connell is quoted in an article for America The Jesuit Review discussing what it will take to establish peace between Israel and Gaza. She urges a ceasefire in the near term and a governance solution in the long term, as well as that all parties comply with international law. […]
Israel’s military operations in the Al-Shifa hospital
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined NBC News to discuss issues connected with the ground campaign in Gaza, including the difficulty of conducting military operations in civilian areas like hospitals and the importance of establishing strong corridors of collaboration between the military arm, humanitarian community, and political planners. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. […]
Clarifying the legal definition of a ‘war crime’
In an opinion for The Jewish Chronicle, CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn cautions against “quick” and “overly broad” accusations of war crimes in the Israel-Hamas conflict. He explains that attacks involving civilian casualties violate the law of war only when accompanied by an intent to harm civilians or when the anticipated collateral damage exceeds […]
Avoiding the mistakes of the war on terror in the Israel-Hamas war
CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon appeared on News Beat Podcast to discuss how the lessons learned from 9/11 can be instructive for the Israel-Hamas war. He addresses, among other topics, the danger of fear-based decisions, the role dehumanization plays in escalating violence, and the perils of pursuing military solutions to geopolitical challenges. Mark Fallon […]