Robert Chesney
Lawfare
Austin, TX, United States
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Past articles by Robert:
Call for Nominations: 2022 Mike Lewis Prize for National Security Law Scholarship
The Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin and Ohio Northern University’s Pettit College of Law (ONU), in consultation with the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Section on National Security Law, have established the Mike Lewis Prize for National Security Law Scholarship. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Behold, Our Q4 Episode
Ah, well, that took a bit longer than expected! We promise we don’t mean to let this become a quarterly show, or even a monthly. Too much national security law for that! In today’s episode, we discuss: Haroon Gul’s victory in a GTMO habeas case (and what it may or may not mean for the bigger picture) Majid Kahn’s sentencing testimony (and the clemency letter that the majority → Read More
Guantanamo, the Courts and the Shrinking Scope of U.S. Military Detention Authority
As the organizational scope of the post-9/11 armed conflict evolves, so too does the scope of military detention authority. A court’s ruling this week illustrates that it is shrinking. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: The 20th Anniversary of 9/11
This week on the National Security Law Podcast, we mark 20 years since the 9/11 attacks. Tune in as co-hosts Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney share their views on the major legal developments unleashed by that awful day, in a broad retrospective on the era. → Read More
SolarWinds and the Holiday Bear Campaign: A Case Study for the Classroom
Interested in a detailed-but-accessible case study of the Russian cyberespionage campaign that targeted SolarWinds (among others)? I’ve got you covered. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Road Trip!
We’re back, with one slightly-older co-host and another co-host who is ready to drive across the country! Tune in for discussion and debate relating to: The domestic and international law aspects of the Biden administration’s decision to conduct airstrikes against Kata’ib Hezbollah targets in Syria and Iraq The ongoing Biden administration internal debate over which rules → Read More
TikTok, WeChat, and Biden’s New Executive Order: What You Need to Know
President Biden has revoked the sanctions President Trump famously imposed on TikTok and WeChat. But they may return, and TikTok still has a CFIUS problem. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Back in Steve’s Office
Recording episode 202 was something of a milestone for us, because we met in Steve’s office for an in-person recording for the first time since Before. Wow! We’re grateful to be back in the “studio,” and we found it was a much-more fun experience for us. → Read More
Sanctioning Russia for SolarWinds: What Normative Line Did Russia Cross?
The United States has just sanctioned various Russian entities in express response to the SolarWinds Orion exploit campaign. But what normative line, if any, is the U.S. saying that Russia crossed? → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Sparkly Rainbow Snowboots!
Well, it’s been a while, thanks to the ice/snow/power/water fiasco we recently underwent in Texas. But, though tired and not very prepared, we are back tonight! → Read More
Register Here for U.S. Cyber Command's Annual Legal Conference
U.S. Cyber Command is hosting its annual legal conference this Thursday (March 4th), and all are welcome to (virtually) attend. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: So
And then it was over. Wow. Here’s hoping we can focus on traditional national security law topics from now on! Today is a pretty good start. We’ve got: A new administration needs a welcoming gift…so, here’s a delightful basket of…military commission charges involving the Bali/Jakarta bombings??? → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Not *That* Enterprise
Hello from Austin, home of SolarWinds and CyberTrucks! [ed. note: uh, no. Let’s go with home of bbq and tacos instead] We’re back with another round of discussion and debate with Professors Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney, as they cover: Erica Newland’s NY Times op-ed arguing that DOJ attorneys should have resigned early on during the Trump administration What exactly counts → Read More
Ending the “Dual-Hat” Arrangement for NSA and Cyber Command?
Are big changes afoot at Cyber Command? What are the relevant legal constraints? → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Trumplandia in the Twilight
Hey, we’re back on our weekly schedule! How ’bout that … now we’ll probably skip the next three, but hey, until then, we’ve got a quite a show, not to mention the launch of our holiday charity drive! What’s that all about? Well, it’s simple: give $5 or more to Casa Marianella, forward the emailed receipt that you get from them to ThisIsTheWay@strausscenter.org (.org, not → Read More
Did Al-Shabaab Attempt a 9/11-Style Aircraft Attack Targeting the United States?
Three questions raised by the capture of Cholo Abdi Abdullah. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Jumping the Kraken!
It’s National Safe Harbor day (for all you Electoral College enthusiasts), and we’re here to celebrate with a new show. → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: Make Rule 11 Great Again!
In this week’s episode, co-hosts Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney discuss and debate: The array of firings and appointments of senior Defense Department officials The law governing the General Services Administration and support for presidential transitions Whether it is appropriate to place pressure on Jones Day (and their other clients) based on the involvement of Jones Day → Read More
The National Security Law Podcast: It’s Late, and We’re Loopy
We are back, but alas we’re here to talk about the election! If you were hoping for a national security-focused escape from the election, well, we’ll make it up to you soon! → Read More
The Dynamics of Cyber Conflict and Competition
In the introduction to our special issue on cyber competition, guest editors Robert Chesney and Max W. Smeets challenge the way in which cyber attack and cyber competition are often studied and explain why they felt an "intervention" was needed. → Read More