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 […]
The challenging landscape Israel faces
In an opinion for The Washington Post, CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel discusses lessons learned from U.S. military operations in Fallujah, Mosul and Raqqa and how they can be applied to the Israel-Hamas war. Urban combat involving the presence of sophisticated tunnel networks, concentrated numbers of civilians, and hundreds of hostages will prove […]
Why Biden should call for an immediate ceasefire
A state resorting to use of force must comply with the international laws governing armed conflict. In an opinion for CNN, CERL Advisory Council member Mary Ellen O’Connell argues the United States has an opportunity and an obligation to press for greater adherence to the law of war, including by calling for an immediate ceasefire […]
Obstacles facing renewal of FISA Section 702
Absent reauthorization by Congress, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire at the end of 2023. In a new article for the Journal of National Security Law & Policy (JNSL&P) (Vol. 14, No. 1), CERL Advisory Council member George Croner discusses the scope, history, and importance of the foreign intelligence program, […]
Considerations in Israel’s ongoing ground offensive
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined NBC News to discuss Israel’s offensive operations, the explosions and flares over Gaza, and the importance of the “information domain” in warfare. 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 […]
New edited volume pools expertise on the science of interviewing
A new volume edited by Gavin E. Oxburgh, Trond Myklebust, CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon, and Maria Hartwig addresses how the science of interviewing has changed and grown since World War II. The book, entitled Interviewing and Interrogation: A Review of Research and Practice Since World War II, includes 24 chapters authored by over […]
UN approves manual aimed at improving interviewing techniques
The United Nations held a validation ceremony on Nov. 1 for the UN Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation, which offers guidance on how to conduct non-coercive interviews globally and particularly in conflict or post-conflict settings. CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon presented at the ceremony alongside other distinguished speakers, including Prof. Juan E. […]
9/11’s lessons for Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel
In a piece for EJIL:Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law, CERL Advisory Council member Mary Ellen O’Connell uses the case of 9/11 to examine the legality of launching a ground invasion after an act of terrorism. She argues that even when Article 51 of the United Nations Charter permits the use of […]
Pursuing mental health solutions for Veterans
CERL Executive Board member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, M.D., appeared on KCSA’s The Green Rush podcast to discuss his career in the military and psychiatry, how the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA) is shaping practice guidelines for professionals administering psychedelic-assisted therapy, and the obligation to find mental health solutions for the Veteran community. […]