Georgetown Security Law Brief

Economic Rights in the Iraqi Constitution

A post by Haider Hamoudi in Opinio Juris discusses the Iraqi consitution's surprising inclusion of extensive economic rights -- such as the right to work, the right to health care, and the right to housing -- that the Iraqi state cannot possibly fulfill.

CRS releases analysis of Boumediene Decision

Congressional Research Service has released its analysis of last week's Supreme Court decision in Boumediene, summarizing the opinion and offering some of the major implications.

Afghanistan claims right for troops to enter Pakistan in pursuit of guerillas

Afghan President Karzai last week claimed the right for his country's troops to cross the border into Pakistan in pursuit of Taliban guerillas.  Radio Free Europe discusses the legal merits of this claim.

Discussion of the legality of foreign intelligence agencies working in the UK

SpyBlog discusses the apparent contradiction between official statements made by the British Home Secretary and her subordinate Home Office Minister on the legality of foreign intelligence agencies working in the UK ("The statement 'It is illegal for foreign intelligence agencies to operate in this country' is contradicted by 'Any activity is permitted as long as it is in accordance with law.'") here.

Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee clears funding legislation

On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved the 2009 Homeland Security budget.  The press release is here.  Via BeSpacific.

Book review of Law and the Long War

Foreign Affairs published a highly favorable book review of Benjamin Wittes new book Law and the Long War: The Future of Justice in the Age of Terror here.  Via Opinio Juris.

New additions to recognized terrorist organizations

6/20/08: Three significant additions to lists of recognized terrorist organizations or terrorist financiers:

• The World Tamil Movement has been added to Canada's list of terrorist organization and linked to Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers.  The story is here.  Via In Homeland Security.
• On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department designated two Venezuelans, including a diplomat, as supporters of Hezbollah.  The story is here.
• The Treasury Department also designated the whole worldwide organization of the Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, a major Saudi charity, for support for al-Qaeda and international terrorism.  Counterterrorism Blog discusses in significant detail what it calls a "long due" designation here.

USF student pleads guilty to material support to terrorists

On Wednesday, Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed, an Egyptian student in Tampa, Florida, entered a guilty plea in Federal Court in Tampa to one count of providing material support to terrorists.  Counterterrorism Blog discusses this latest addition to what it calls "a growing list of Islamic terror-linked operatives who have also been connected with the University of South Florida" here.

Commentary on consolidating Congressional homeland security oversight

On Tuesday, The Hill published an op-ed arguing that Congress should consolidate its oversight of the Department of Homeland Security into considerably less than the current 86 committees currently in existence, located here.  Via Security Debrief.

New book and blog on law and lawmaking in Iraq

Columbia Law professor Haider Hamoudi is guest blogging at Opinio Juris discussing his book Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir.  His posts are here (on the drafting of the Iraqi constitution) and here (on the law pertaining to defense contractors in Iraq).

Update: More on Taylor v. Sturgell

6/20/08: SCOTUSblog recaps the Supreme Court decision in the FOIA case Taylor v. Sturgell here.

Update: More on agency publication of unclassified records

Secrecy News discusses the Congressional hearings and debates regarding a government-wide standard for "controlled unclassified information" (CUI), arguing that it may exacerbate existing barriers to public access, here.

Margaret Thatcher's son implicated in 2004 coup plot

According to the New York Times, "The son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Britain was a leader of a 2004 coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, a British mercenary told a court [on Wednesday]."  The story is here.  CNN covers it here.

UK and EU to freeze assets of Iran's largest commercial bank

According to the New York Times, "Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Monday that Britain and the European Union would freeze the overseas assets of Iran’s largest commercial bank, joining the United States in intensifying financial pressure against Iran over its refusal to address international concern over its nuclear activities."  The story is here.

Discussion of Supreme Court decision in money laundering cases

Via Counterterrorism Blog
On June 2, the Supreme Court narrowed the focus of federal money laundering laws.  Counterterrorism Blog discusses it here.

Judge rules missing White House emails not subject to FOIA

A more recent version of this article is available here.

DOE Intelligence Chief speaks on Nuclear Terrorism

Via Counterterrorism Blog
On Monday, Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Intelligence Chief at the Department of Energy, spoke at the Washington Institute on "The Strategic Threat of Nuclear Terrorism."  The remarks are here.

Testimony from hearing on Improving Public Access to Documents Act of 2008

Via BeSpacific
On Wednesday the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing on H.R. 6193, the Improving Public Access to Documents Act of 2008.  Documents and video are here.

Recently released documents indicate U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement has been under development for five years

Via War on Terrorism
On Friday, the National Security Archive announced its receipt of recently declassified documents indicating that the currently debated U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement has been under development since November 2003.  War on Terrorism discusses it here.

UK intelligence officers left top secret files on trains

Via Kevin's Security Scrapbook
On Wednesday, the British government announced that a top intelligence officer left a dossier of secret files on al-Qaeda and Iraqi security forces on a commuter train.  The story is here.

Via Spy Blog
On Sunday, the Independent reported that later in the week it received a completely different set of classified documents that someone had recovered from a commuter train, these addressing global terrorist funding, drug trafficking, and money laundering.  The story is here.

New blog discussion group on military affairs and intelligence

On Thursday, Planet War was launched on the Washington Post website.  From its first post: "Welcome to Planet War, the place to discuss and argue about national security, war and peace, guns and butter, stars and stripes, you get it, all aspects of military affairs and intelligence.  Three to five times a week, we'll pose questions, hazard some answers from our differing perspectives and welcome your posts -- with the objective of developing common ground and sound ideas." 

Three Toledo men convicted in federal court for plotting terrorist attacks

6/16/08: Counterterrorism Blog reports that on Friday, three Toledo men were convicted by a federal jury of all criminal charges filed against them, including plotting attacks against U.S. troops fighting in Iraq.  Counterterrorism Blog discusses it here.

Impact of Terrorism on World Trade blog series

Via IntLawGrrls
IntLawGrrls has hosted an in-depth two-part series on terrorism, the Container Security Initiative, and international trade entitled "Impact of Terrorism on World Trade" here.

Jack Balkin's essay on National Surveillance State now available

Via Balkinization
Jack Balkin's new essay "The Constitution in the National Surveillance State" is now available on SSRN.  The essay is here.

Human Rights Watch releases new report on Gitmo prison conditions

Via Institute for Global Security Law & Policy
On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that two-thirds of inmates at Guantanamo are housed in inhumane conditions that are having a deleterious effect on their mental states.  The report is here.

New counterterrorism bill narrowly passes in UK

A more recent version of this article is available here.

DNI issues new directive on National Intelligence Council

Via Secrecy News
On Monday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a new Intelligence Community Directive, ICD-207, redefining the structure and mission of the National Intelligence Council (NIC).  The document can be found here.

John Bellinger testifies on rendition

Via Exploring International Law
State Department Legal Advisor John Bellinger, III testified on Tuesday before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight.  The subject was "Diplomatic Assurances and Rendition to Torture: The Perspective of the State Department's Legal Advisor."  The Statement for the Record can be found here.