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. […]
Critical issues in the conflict between Israel and Hamas
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined CBS News correspondent Catherine Herridge to discuss the importance of protecting U.S. national interests in the Middle East, the challenges of and approaches to urban warfare in places like Gaza, and the need for humanitarian planning and mobilization, among other issues in the Israel-Hamas war. General Joseph […]
General Votel addresses operations in the Middle East on “Face the Nation”
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel joined Margaret Brennan of CBS News’ Face the Nation to discuss the attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, the IDF’s operational objectives in Gaza, and the risk of violence in the West Bank. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the […]
The question of who bears responsibility in the Israel-Hamas war
As leaders in the Israel Defense Forces prepare for combat operations in Gaza, they are taking care to reduce civilian harm as obligated by the laws of war, according to an opinion for Newsweek by CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn. In examining the tactical and legal landscape of the conflict, Prof. Corn problematizes the […]
How Hamas tunnels will impact warfighting
The Israel Defense Forces announced last week a strike on a Hamas sea tunnel that provided entry to Israel. CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel is quoted in The New York Times discussing how the intricate web of tunnels under Gaza will prove challenging for an Israeli ground invasion. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. […]
Ethical and legal questions in the Israel-Hamas war
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas raises critical ethical and legal questions. In a panel discussion hosted by Perry World House, CERL’s Prof. Claire Finkelstein joined David Enoch of Tel Aviv University to discuss how the law of armed conflict governs wartime actions. The conversation was moderated by Michael Weisberg, interim director of Perry […]
Why equality of condemnation in war does not translate to fairness
In an opinion for Smerconish.com, CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn cautions against the instinct to condemn both sides in the Israel-Hamas war, arguing that equal condemnation creates a false parity between “incidental” and “intentional” civilian harm. Fairness, he asserts, is using credible evidence and accurate applications of the rule of law to assess the […]
The need for a U.S. response to attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel participated in an on-the-record briefing, organized by the Middle East Institute, on the potential Israeli ground invasion. Among the topics addressed was the rise in attacks by Iranian proxies against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. General Votel’s comments urging a U.S. response to these attacks appeared in […]
Special counsel rejects Trump’s immunity defense, cites Prof. Finkelstein
Prosecutors in the office of the special counsel have rejected the presidential immunity defense raised by former President Donald Trump and his lawyers in an attempt to dismiss election interference charges. The 54-page filing, which asserts that a former president is “not above the law,” cites a law review article by CERL’s Prof. Claire Finkelstein […]
The difficulty of an Israeli ground incursion
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel told the Washington Examiner the absence of an Israeli offensive into Gaza is suggestive of how challenging the terrain is with the ongoing hostage situation and large numbers of civilians in areas where Hamas operates. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the […]
Strategic considerations in the Israel-Hamas war
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel appeared on Fox News to discuss how the United States is supporting Israel in response to the attacks by Hamas, and how Hezbollah’s involvement could change Israel’s military and strategic calculations. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He […]
Reclaiming the rule of law in international conflicts
CERL Advisory Council member Mary Ellen O’Connell joined June Grasso of Bloomberg Law to explain the international legal frameworks governing conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war. Under the principle of necessity, she asserts, Hamas did not have the legal right to attack Israelis, and Israel will be limited in how it […]
Director Clapper addresses comparisons between the Hamas attack and 9/11
In a segment on CNN, CERL Executive Board Emeritus James Clapper explained why he believes the analogy between the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States is fitting. Lt. Gen. Clapper (Ret.) is an emeritus member of the CERL Executive Board. He served as the […]