United States

CNN – Newly released US drone policy explains how targets can be chosen – 7 August 2016

“The Obama administration has released a previously [top] secret 18-page policy guidance document that lays out how potential drone targets may be chosen and approved and the President’s role in the decision-making process.” Read the full story: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/06/politics/obama-administration-drone-policy/ For the actual, declassified document, see: https://www.justice.gov/oip/foia-library/procedures_for_approving_direct_action_against_terrorist_targets/download For a related policy, see:…


The Intercept – Leaked Data Reveals How the U.S. Trains Vast Numbers of Foreign Soldiers and Police With Little Oversight – 13 July 2016

https://theintercept.com/2016/07/13/training/ And see, e.g., Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing By Glenn Kessler Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, August 6, 2007 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR2007080501299.html And see: Stabilizing Iraq: DOD Cannot Ensure That U.S.-Funded Equipment Has Reached Iraqi Security Forces GAO-07-711, Published: Jul 31, 2007. Publicly Released: Jul 31, 2007. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-07-711 But see:…


BBC News: Panama launches investigation into 1989 US invasion – 22 July 2016

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36852120 The government in Panama has launched an investigation into the US invasion in 1989 that overthrew military strongman General Manuel Noriega and see: Govern, Kevin H., Sorting the Wolves from the Sheep (October 1, 2004). Military Police – PB 19-04-2, 2004. Available at SSRN: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2598769



MWI – Japan’s July 10 upper-house election: implications on US national security – 19 July 2016

http://mwi.usma.edu/japans-july-10-upper-house-election-implications-us-national-security/ Nori Katagiri writes that “the July 10 upper-house election in Japan will have important implications for the US-Japan alliance and the stability of East Asia, but the effect should not be exaggerated.” For more on US-Japan relations: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33740.pdf


South China Sea – Territorial Dispute

The links provided are a partial, work-in-progress webliography of recent media coverage and strategic thought regarding maritime territorial disputes in East Asia, particularly the South China Sea: http://www.economist.com/news/china/21702069-region-and-america-will-now-anxiously-await-chinas-response-un-appointed-tribunal?frsc=dg%7Cc http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13748349 http://opiniojuris.org/2016/07/12/will-todays-blockbuster-award-save-or-destroy-unclos-dispute-settlement/ http://opiniojuris.org/2016/07/12/will-todays-blockbuster-award-save-or-destroy-unclos-dispute-settlement/ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36545565 https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42784.pdf https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R44072.pdf https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42930.pdf


Modern War Institute (MWI) – War on the Rocks: A Military Guide to Accessing Research on Fragile States – 22 June 2016

A Military Guide to Accessing Research on Fragile States see also: http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/ The Fund for Peace is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that works to prevent violent conflict and promote sustainable security. The twelfth annual Fragile States Index (FSI) focuses on the indicators of risk and…


The Report of the Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot Report) – 6 July 2016.

http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk and see: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/world/europe/chilcot-report.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share and see: Govern, Kevin H., Rethinking Rule of Law Efforts in Iraq (2007). JURIST Forum (http://jurist.law.pitt.edu), February 26, 2007. Available at SSRN: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2093497  


NYTimes: Drone Strike Statistics Answer Few Questions, and Raise Many – 4 July 2016

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/04/world/middleeast/drone-strike-statistics-answer-few-questions-and-raise-many.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share see also: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/07/01/fact-sheet-executive-order-us-policy-pre-post-strike-measures-address FACT SHEET: Executive Order on the US Policy on Pre & Post-Strike Measures to Address Civilian Casualties in the US Operations Involving the Use of Force & the DNI Release of Aggregate Data on Strike Outside Area of Active Hostilities whitehouse.gov