Brian Finucane
@bcfinucane.bsky.social
Senior Adviser, US Program, International Crisis Group. Editor at Just Security. Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law. Ex State Dept Lawyer. War Powers| Use of Force| Counterterrorism| Law of War| War Crimes| Arms Sales
Pinned
Brian Finucane
@bcfinucane.bsky.social
· Sep 19
Asserting a License to Kill: Why the Caribbean Strike is a Dangerous Departure from the “War on Terror”
An absence of credible legal basis for the Caribbean strike suggests the Trump admin is asserting a prerogative to kill outside the law.
www.justsecurity.org
My analysis in @justsecurity.org on Trump's asserted license to kill. 2/n
www.justsecurity.org/120568/carib...
www.justsecurity.org/120568/carib...
Reading this book brings back some other Oxford memories.
Including crashing a formal ball by climbing over a high stone wall in my tux.
Lost my cummerbund in the process.
Including crashing a formal ball by climbing over a high stone wall in my tux.
Lost my cummerbund in the process.
Got a feeling that “Spooks’ College” at Oxford in the latest Slow Horses book is the same one where I saw a former CIA chief speak.
November 11, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Reading this book brings back some other Oxford memories.
Including crashing a formal ball by climbing over a high stone wall in my tux.
Lost my cummerbund in the process.
Including crashing a formal ball by climbing over a high stone wall in my tux.
Lost my cummerbund in the process.
Syria’s President Meets Trump at White House for First Time
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:19 AM
How does the make believe “war” of bombing boats at sea fit into this scheme?
Trump: "I stopped 8 wars in the last 9 months. I don't want to be in wars. If I am in a war, we're gonna win the thing fast and it'll be violent."
November 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
How does the make believe “war” of bombing boats at sea fit into this scheme?
Update:
Skiing
Both boys skied great in their first nordic outing of the season.
Skiing
Both boys skied great in their first nordic outing of the season.
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Update:
Skiing
Both boys skied great in their first nordic outing of the season.
Skiing
Both boys skied great in their first nordic outing of the season.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
The US government's lawless killing spree at sea continues.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The US government's lawless killing spree at sea continues.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The US government's lawless killing spree at sea continues.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The US government's lawless killing spree at sea continues.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
“This is the president, purely by fiat, saying that the U.S. is in conflict with these undisclosed groups without any congressional authorization," said @bcfinucane.bsky.social theintercept.com/2025/11/07/t...
Trump Has a Secret List of 24 “Designated Terrorist Organizations.” We Got Some of the Names.
The U.S. claims it is engaged in “armed conflict” with Tren de Aragua, Ejército de Liberación Nacional, and Cártel de los Soles, among others.
theintercept.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:39 AM
“This is the president, purely by fiat, saying that the U.S. is in conflict with these undisclosed groups without any congressional authorization," said @bcfinucane.bsky.social theintercept.com/2025/11/07/t...
Folks, we have snow here in the mountains.
Biked and hiked today.
Hoping to ski tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
Biked and hiked today.
Hoping to ski tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
November 10, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Folks, we have snow here in the mountains.
Biked and hiked today.
Hoping to ski tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
Biked and hiked today.
Hoping to ski tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
Anyone have an idea if the B-52s flown off Venezuela recently could have also been involved in Operation Freedom Deal?
You just know that things are going fantastic when current events prompt you to look up the Nixon administration's legal justification for bombing Cambodia in 1973.
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Anyone have an idea if the B-52s flown off Venezuela recently could have also been involved in Operation Freedom Deal?
Non-substantive observations:
Minimal commentary on the 1972 election. huh
McNulty is his cousin.
Minimal commentary on the 1972 election. huh
McNulty is his cousin.
November 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Non-substantive observations:
Minimal commentary on the 1972 election. huh
McNulty is his cousin.
Minimal commentary on the 1972 election. huh
McNulty is his cousin.
Hard to argue with
If Trump believes war is necessary, he must bring his case to Congress and prove why it's worth turning more moms and dads into Gold Star parents.
Let Congress debate. Let us vote. It's our duty.
Let Congress debate. Let us vote. It's our duty.
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Hard to argue with
Nice characterization of the executive branch’s reliance on past practice to justify congressionally unauthorized military actions.
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Nice characterization of the executive branch’s reliance on past practice to justify congressionally unauthorized military actions.
Roman historians:
Any implications of the emperor being booed in the coliseum?
Any implications of the emperor being booed in the coliseum?
November 9, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Roman historians:
Any implications of the emperor being booed in the coliseum?
Any implications of the emperor being booed in the coliseum?
ICYMI
Good discussion here with sharp questions from Madeleine.
But a bit sad that my comments on Dick Cheney and the Iraq War got cut.
Good discussion here with sharp questions from Madeleine.
But a bit sad that my comments on Dick Cheney and the Iraq War got cut.
Pleased to speak with Madeleine Brand about the War Powers Resolution and the lawless U.S. maritime strikes.
(Interview at the start of this episode.)
www.kcrw.com/shows/press-...
(Interview at the start of this episode.)
www.kcrw.com/shows/press-...
Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen: Presidential assassin… | KCRW
Plus, President Trump claims the War Powers Resolution doesn't apply to strikes against alleged drug cartel members in the Caribbean, how Vice President Dick Cheney redefined executive power, and…
www.kcrw.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:24 PM
ICYMI
Good discussion here with sharp questions from Madeleine.
But a bit sad that my comments on Dick Cheney and the Iraq War got cut.
Good discussion here with sharp questions from Madeleine.
But a bit sad that my comments on Dick Cheney and the Iraq War got cut.
Interesting if accurate.
Been a while since any U.S. strikes against AQ in Yemen.
Been a while since any U.S. strikes against AQ in Yemen.
Two U.S. airstrikes in Yemen today have killed several individuals, including senior al-Qaeda field commanders, within a short time span. - Al Arabiya
November 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Interesting if accurate.
Been a while since any U.S. strikes against AQ in Yemen.
Been a while since any U.S. strikes against AQ in Yemen.
Great exchange in the Senate regarding the interpretation of Article 11 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
November 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Great exchange in the Senate regarding the interpretation of Article 11 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
As with bombing the Houthis or boats at sea, the spectacle of military action may be more significant to POTUS than its effectiveness.
Trump’s suggestion of military action in Nigeria met reality with AFRICOM, which expressed doubts that a military response to violence would do anything.
Free to read: wapo.st/3JECubO
Free to read: wapo.st/3JECubO
November 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
As with bombing the Houthis or boats at sea, the spectacle of military action may be more significant to POTUS than its effectiveness.
Appears a largish bear has also been using this mountain bike trail.
November 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Appears a largish bear has also been using this mountain bike trail.
Gonna keep the kids on the trail for this hike.
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Gonna keep the kids on the trail for this hike.
This will make housing cheaper, right?
The construction industry, where more than a quarter of workers are foreign-born, has long struggled to find enough workers. Now, industry officials say Trump's immigration crackdown is making it worse.
ICE is sending a chill through the construction industry
The construction industry, where more than a quarter of workers are foreign-born, has long struggled to find enough workers. Now, industry officials say Trump's immigration crackdown is making it worse.
n.pr
November 9, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This will make housing cheaper, right?
Having one man spinning the “Wheel of Airstrikes” is not exactly the war powers scheme laid out in the U.S. Constitution.
“One of those familiar said AFRICOM also communicated that striking a region with limited U.S. presence and intelligence was unlikely to make a difference.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump’s ‘guns-a-blazing’ threat to Nigeria shocked key players, aides
President Trump’s threat to go “guns-a-blazing” into Nigeria concerned U.S. military officials in Africa and surprised even those who had been pushing the issue.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Having one man spinning the “Wheel of Airstrikes” is not exactly the war powers scheme laid out in the U.S. Constitution.
“One of those familiar said AFRICOM also communicated that striking a region with limited U.S. presence and intelligence was unlikely to make a difference.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump’s ‘guns-a-blazing’ threat to Nigeria shocked key players, aides
President Trump’s threat to go “guns-a-blazing” into Nigeria concerned U.S. military officials in Africa and surprised even those who had been pushing the issue.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
“One of those familiar said AFRICOM also communicated that striking a region with limited U.S. presence and intelligence was unlikely to make a difference.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Good for my friend Lt Col. (ret.) Rachel VanLandingham.
Glad to see it.
Glad to see it.
Former military lawyer calls U.S. boat strikes "murder"
tinyurl.com/2td4vt92
tinyurl.com/2td4vt92
Former military lawyer calls U.S. boat strikes ‘murder’ | CNN
Retired Lt. Col. Rachel VanLandingham joins The Lead.
tinyurl.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Good for my friend Lt Col. (ret.) Rachel VanLandingham.
Glad to see it.
Glad to see it.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
"[T]his is not just a secret war, but a secret unauthorized war. Or, in reality, a make-believe war, because most of these groups we probably couldn’t even be in a war with,” said @bcfinucane.bsky.social about US claims it is in armed conflict with 24 cartel groups
theintercept.com/2025/11/07/t...
theintercept.com/2025/11/07/t...
Trump Has a Secret List of 24 “Designated Terrorist Organizations.” We Got Some of the Names.
The U.S. claims it is engaged in “armed conflict” with Tren de Aragua, Ejército de Liberación Nacional, and Cártel de los Soles, among others.
theintercept.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
"[T]his is not just a secret war, but a secret unauthorized war. Or, in reality, a make-believe war, because most of these groups we probably couldn’t even be in a war with,” said @bcfinucane.bsky.social about US claims it is in armed conflict with 24 cartel groups
theintercept.com/2025/11/07/t...
theintercept.com/2025/11/07/t...