[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention, and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week.]
News
"Navy Ready to Launch First Strike on Syria," Tim Ross, Ben Farmer
Ross and Farmer report for the Telegraph on UK Royal Navy plans to prepare cruise missile strikes in Syria along with the United States.
"US, Britain and France Already Have Military Muscle Near Syria," Robert Booth, Richard Norton-Taylor
Irish Times summarizes the military capabilities of the US, the UK, and France near Syria, revealing that all three nations are well prepared for a substantial strike on the country.
"UN to Inspect Site of Alleged Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria; Lawmakers Call for US Military Response," Anne Gearan, Loveday Morris, Colum Lynch
The Washington Post reports on the announcement of the Obama Administration that they have "little doubt" an attack involving chemical weapons has occurred in Damascus last week against the backdrop of the Syrian decision to allow UN weaponry inspectors to visit the site of the alleged attack.
"Israel, Palestinians Hold Third Round of Peace Talks," Jeffrey Heller, Philip Barbara
Heller reports for Reuters on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in Jerusalem and on the prediction of Israeli representative Tzipi Livni that the talks will lead to "dramatic decisions" by Israel.
"Peace Process Under Threat as Israeli Soldiers Kill Three Palestinian Protesters in West Bank," Ben Lynfield
The Independent reports on the deaths of three Palestinians protesting in the Qalandia Refugee Camp at the hands of Israeli troops.
"Judge Says New York's 'Stop and Frisk' Law Unconstitutional," Aaron Blake
Shira A. Sheindlin, a federal judge in New York, has ruled New York City's "stop and frisk" law unconstitutional, arguing that African Americans and Hispanics are targeted disproportionately by the law.
"US Wants Quicker Hearings for 9/11 Suspects," Al Jazeera English
Brigadier General Mark Martins, lead prosecutor in the case of five men accused of planning the 9/11 attacks, has expressed a desire to see a quicker trial, over objections from defense lawyers that they have been given inadequate material to prepare for a trial.
"Israel Strikes 2 Gaza Sites Hours Before Start of Talks," Isabel Kershner, Rick Gladstone
The New York Times reports on an Israeli air strike in Gaza hours before the beginning of a third round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
"Pakistan Ex-Leader Musharraf Charged Over Bhutto Murder," BBC News Asia
Pakistan has indicted former military leader Pervez Musharraf with murder, criminal conspiracy to murder and facilitation of murder in the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
"Close Cameron Aides Asked Paper to Destroy Snowden Data," Andrew Osborn
Reuters reports on allegations that aides of UK Prime Minister David Cameron pressed The Guardian to destroy intelligence leaked by Edward Snowden and recent detention of David Miranda, partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald.
"US Soldier Robert Bales Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Afghanistan Massacre," Gene Johnson
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, a US soldier who killed 16 Afghan civilians in a raid in Kandahar, has been sentenced to life in prison without chance for parole by a military commission.
"Judge Sentences Bradley Manning to 35 Years," Julie Tate
A military judge sentenced Pfc. Chelsea Manning (born Bradley Manning) to 35 years in prison for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks on 21 August 2012.
Blogs
"President Obama Cites International Law as Limitation on U.S. Response to Syria’s Chemical Weapons Attack," Julian Ku
Ku, responds on Opinio Juris to both recent comments by President Obama on the legality of a US cruise missile strike in Syria and Prof. Jordan Paust's theory that NATO may strike Syria under Article 52 of the UN charter.
"Obama's Limited Options: Bombing Syrian Unlikely to be Effective," Juan Cole
Writing for Informed Comment, Cole argues against a US military action in Syria, pointing out that israel has bombed Syria several times already with scant results.
"Israel's Most Liberal City Introduces Racially Segregated Kindergartens," Lisa Goldman
Goldman, writing for The Daily Beast's Open Zion blog, reports on plans for separate kindergartens for the children of asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa in southern Tel Aviv.
"Palestinian Children Routinely Tortured, Some Threatened With Rape: Israel Rights Group," Ali Abunimah
Abunimah summarizes a report from Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem on systematic violence perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Force against Palestinian children.
"Israel and the Gulf States," Becca Wasser
Becca writes for the International Institute of Strategic Studies' IISS Voices blog on the relationship between improved relations between Israel and GCC states and "tangible developments" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Has Federal Use of Drones Violated EO 12333?," Marcy Wheeler
Wheeler, writing for her own EmptyWheel blog, reports on a letter sent from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to the Department of Justice warning that US federal use of drones may violate Executive Order 12333, which sets guidelines regarding the conduct of US intelligence agencies.
Commentary
"Britain Can't Act on Syria Until it Faces Up to the Spectre of Iraq," John Kampfner
Kampfner argues that the UK cannot credibly take a stand on human rights and intervention in Syria given its past role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
"Review & Outlook: Loose Lips on Syria," The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal's opinion page discusses leaks indicating an American military strike in Syria will involve several days of bombing, with little challenge to President Bashar Assad's regime.
"After Guantanamo, Another Injustice," John Grisham
Grisham, a bestselling author of legal thrillers, tells the story of Nabil Hadjarab, a Guantanamo detainee who remains imprisoned despite a review board under President Obama recommending his release.
"CIA Files Prove America Helped Saddam as He Gassed Iran," Shane Harris, Matthew M. Aid
Foreign Policy reports on declassified documents revealed the US had knowledge of Iraqi plans to attack Iranian troops in 1988 with sarin, among other chemical weapons and places the revelations in context of recent rumors of US military retaliation to alleged Syrian use of chemical weapons.
"Justice in a 'Nation of Laws': The Manning Verdict," Sarah Kendzior
Kendzior argues the Chelsea Manning verdict is an injustice in the vein of past injustices including the 2003 invasion of Iraq in response to false allegations of weapons of mass destruction, torture in Abu Ghraib, and the failure to prosecute the Bush Administration for war crimes.
"Four Rules for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks," Alaa Tartir
Tartir, program director for Al Shabaka, suggests that the Palestinian Authority negotiate with Israel from a place of strength, combine negotiations with forms of power such as BDS actions and membership in the International Criminal Court, reject the aid-seeking approach of "Fayyadism" and hold themselves accountable to the Palestinian people.
"Egypt's Trial of Two Regimes: The Mubarak and the Brotherhood in Court Over Killings," Peter Beaumont
Beauont compares the Egyptian government's approach to trying former President Hosni Mubarak and the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood for respective incidents where they allegedly incited to kill protestors.
Reports
"Destination Lebanon," Executive Magazine
An interactive visual report on the influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon.
"Protection of Civilians Weekly Report," UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The UN OCHA reports on the demolishing of building structures in a Bedouin community in East Jerusalem, an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip, and the Egyptian closing to the Rafah closing in a weekly report of humanitarian issues facing civilians under Israeli occupation.
"Declassified Intelligence Community Documents," Ritika Singh
Lawfare provides a compendium of recently declassified documents pertaining to NSA surveillance activity under Section 702 of FISA.
"Subject: The Next Stage of My Life," Chelsea Manning
A statement from Pfc. Chelsea Manning regarding her recent sentencing to 35 years in prison for leaking classified military documents to WikiLeaks and decision to identify as a woman and undergo hormone therapy.
Conferences
"The Institute for Global Law and Policy Workshop;" 3-11 January 2014; Doha, Qatar; Apply here
On Jadaliyya
"Chemical Attacks and Military Interventions", Omar Dahi