10 September 2018

Today's Headlines and Commentary

By Matthew Kahn 

The International Criminal Court ruled that it has jurisdiction to investigate whether the forced emigration of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar is a crime against humanity, according to the New York Times. The Trump administration began to withdraw from a legal settlement, known as the “Flores settlement,” that limits the government’s authority to detain minors in immigration prisons, reports the Washington Post. Defense Secretary James Mattis made an unannounced visit to Kabul on Friday to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani amid the Trump administration’s latest effort to kickstart peace negotiations with the Taliban, reports the Times. President Trump redefined the U.S.’s objective in Syria to indefinitely extend the American military and diplomatic mission in the war-torn state, reports the Post.

Onboard Air Force One on Friday, the president said that the Justice Department should investigate the author of an anonymous New York Times op-ed that described efforts to “resist” some of Trump’s more erratic behavior, according to the Post.

North Korea intends to showcase its arsenal of weapons at a military parade on Sunday, the 70th anniversary of the country’s founding, as nuclear negotiations with the U.S. stall, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Sergei Skripal, the former Russian spy who was poisoned in Britain in March, is believed to have worked with intelligence officials in Spain, according to a senior Spanish official and a Spanish author. The Times has more.

Yesterday on Lawfare

Quinta Jurecic posted a special edition of the Lawfare Podcast: all of the national security, executive power and presidential investigation questions and answers from Brett Kavanaugh’s first day before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Daniel Byman assessed the factors that are maintaining the peace between Israel and Hezbollah—and how long that peace can last.

Herb Lin proposed an approach for developing responses to cyber-enable information warfare.

Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck posted the latest episode of the National Security Law Podcast, a deep dive into Youngstown v. Sawyer.

Stewart Baker posted the Cyberlaw Podcast, covering blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

Matthew Kahn flagged the Justice Department’s criminal complaint against a North Korean spy who was involved in the hacking of Sony, Bangladesh’s central bank, and others.

Mikhaila Fogel posted a noteworthy defense filing in the case against Sayfullo Saipov.

Evelyn Douek analyzed Wednesday’s congressional hearings about influence operations on social media platforms.

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