Today’s Headlines and Commentary

Let’s begin with NDAA news: It passed the Senate yesterday 98-0, and, as our readers should know by now, it once again restricts the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay and now prohibits the military detention of U.S. citizens---thanks to the senator from California. Wells updated us yesterday, and Jeremy Herb and Ramsey Cox of The Hill have more.

From the Department of There We Go Again: Karen DeYoung and Anne Gearan discuss the Obama administration’s re-re-re-renewed efforts to talk with the Taliban.

Here is some preposterous news: Josh Gerstein of Politico reports that Bradley Manning’s attorney said that Manning may want to run for office someday. We’ll keep you posted after he is released from prison and forms his exploratory committee.

Washington’s current favorite pastime---idly speculating on who might serve in Obama’s cabinet in his second term---is continuing to generate news: Here is Reuters, and here is Kevin Baron of Foreign Policy on Chuck Hagel as a possible Secretary of Defense.

I don’t know about all of you, but I’m very excited for Zero Dark Thirty, the movie about the Osama bin Laden raid, which is coming out in January. CNN’s Larry Shaughnessy has more about the controversy surrounding the film, including the concern that filmmakers had access to classified information.

Ahmed Ferhani, a New York gentleman, pleaded guilty yesterday under a little-used state terrorism law to plotting to blow up synagogues in New York City. The AP reports.

McClatchy Newspapers informs us that the Nusra Front, a Syrian rebel group, may be designated as a foreign terrorist organization because of its ties to Al Qaeda. It’s members are, I’m sure, quivering with fear at the prospect.

U.S. Army Col. Tara Osborn has been appointed to replace Col. Gregory Gross as the judge to preside over Maj. Nidal Hasan’s case, according to the AP.

And, if you’ve been feeling wronged or angry at the world, I guarantee you’ll feel much better riding around in one of these---particularly after your smiles become lethal weapons: it’s today’s Moment of Robot Zen.

For more interesting law and security-related articles, follow us on Twitter, visit the Georgetown Center on National Security and the Law’s Security Law Brief, Syracuse’s Institute for National Security & Counterterrorism’s newsroll, and Fordham Law’s Center on National Security’s Morning Brief and Cyber Brief. Email Raffaela Wakeman and Ritika Singh noteworthy articles to include, visit the Lawfare Events Calendar for upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings at the Lawfare Job Board.