Armed Conflict Congress Criminal Justice & the Rule of Law Foreign Relations & International Law Terrorism & Extremism

DOD/GC Jeh Johnson to address the question, “Is More Detainee Legislation Needed?”

Jack Goldsmith
Monday, October 10, 2011, 5:12 AM
Next Tuesday, October 18, at The Heritage Foundation:
[T]he House and Senate have proposed additional detainee-related legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012.  Both have provisions affirming the September 18, 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).

Published by The Lawfare Institute
in Cooperation With
Brookings

Next Tuesday, October 18, at The Heritage Foundation:
[T]he House and Senate have proposed additional detainee-related legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012.  Both have provisions affirming the September 18, 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).  Other provisions include the requirement of mandatory military custody for captured terrorists, restrictions on transfers from Guantanamo Bay, post-habeas periodic military review procedures and other such restrictions. Is this legislation necessary, and if so, why?  Does it unnecessarily restrict the Commander-in-Chief in the disposition of wartime captives?  Do these provisions advance the strategic interests of the United States, and if so, how?  Which provisions make policy sense, and which do not?

Jack Goldsmith is the Learned Hand Professor at Harvard Law School, co-founder of Lawfare, and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Before coming to Harvard, Professor Goldsmith served as Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel from 2003-2004, and Special Counsel to the Department of Defense from 2002-2003.

Subscribe to Lawfare