Updates | The Week of October 2, 2017
Eve Levin // 10/8/17 //
On Twitter, President Trump told his Secretary of State on North Korea: “Save your energy, Rex” (NYT, WaPo).
- Tensions with President Trump are reportedly making it more difficult for Secretary Tillerson to build diplomatic relationships (NYT).
Secretary Tillerson stated that he will stay at the State Department, challenging reports of conflict with the White House (WaPo, NYT).
- The New York Times has video of Secretary Tillerson’s remarks.
- The Washington Post analyzes why Secretary Tillerson would stay on.
- Reactions to Secretary Tillerson’s statements are available here and here.
The Trump Administration may be considering transferring an American citizen enemy combatant into Iraqi custody (Lawfare).
- The arguments in the ACLU’s habeas petition on behalf of the not-identified citizen are promising, writes Robert Chesney (Lawfare).
Members of Congress are frustrated with the Pentagon’s lack of transparency regarding its plan for Afghanistan (WaPo).
A directive from the Department of Defense provides insight into the Pentagon’s policy on detention (Lawfare).
The State Department’s reorganization could undermine cyber diplomacy, writes Garrett Hinck at Lawfare.
President Trump agreed to “a broad strategy” to challenge Iran’s ballistic missile program, but his administration has yet to clarify its position on the Iran nuclear deal (NYT).
- At a hearing, General Mattis and other top military officials endorsed staying in the Iran deal, contradicting President Trump’s earlier position (WaPo).
- The CATO Institute warns against abandoning the deal.
- Jed Shugerman also praises the Iran nuclear deal.
- If President Trump scraps the Iranian Nuclear Deal, Iranian cyberattacks could resume, writes Kate Brannen at Just Security