Jennifer Rooke
@jenrooke.bsky.social
Former US Air Force intelligence officer. Surveillance practitioner turned critic. #AffirmativeEthics #AntiMilitarism #AntiRacism #BanWeaponizedAI #QuestionSuperiority
Pinned
Jennifer Rooke
@jenrooke.bsky.social
· May 19
“This book lays bare a chilling paradox: Autonomous Weapon Systems are products of the same technical rationality proposed for their control.” Tero Karppi, University of Toronto
Publishing #OpenAccess:
Publishing #OpenAccess:
buff.ly
Available now! A great collection of scholars, artists...and me. Grateful to the editors, Thomas Bächle and Jascha Bareis, for the invite to contribute as a former practitioner.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
The slow motion stage. Amidst the destruction and death, Israel has moved the yellow line another three hundred meters west.
January 16, 2026 at 8:32 AM
The slow motion stage. Amidst the destruction and death, Israel has moved the yellow line another three hundred meters west.
Unfortunately, US mil's CHMR program has been mostly a paper tiger, even prior to reductions. Per the Costs of War Project; "Since 9/11, America’s forever wars have killed an estimated 940k people through direct violence, more than 432k [46%] of them civilians." US mil has yet to acknowledge most.
Important that civilian harm from the strikes does not go unreported. Great work by @airwars.bsky.social and @nickturse.bsky.social in the piece here, but the fact SOUTHCOM is unable to cope with the number of reports is one unfortunately predictable outcome of gutting the US efforts of CHMR 1/2
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Southern Command is unable to cope with the volume of civilian casualty reports stemming from the military mission to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
theintercept.com/2026/01/13/c...
theintercept.com/2026/01/13/c...
January 14, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Unfortunately, US mil's CHMR program has been mostly a paper tiger, even prior to reductions. Per the Costs of War Project; "Since 9/11, America’s forever wars have killed an estimated 940k people through direct violence, more than 432k [46%] of them civilians." US mil has yet to acknowledge most.
"Hegseth said Grok will go live inside the Defense Department later this month and announced that he would 'make all appropriate data' from the military’s IT systems available for 'AI exploitation.' He also said data from intelligence databases would be fed into AI systems."
Pentagon is embracing Musk’s Grok AI chatbot as it draws global outcry
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Pentagon is embracing Musk’s Grok AI chatbot as it draws global outcry
Hegseth announced that Grok will soon go live in DOD and that “all appropriate data” from military IT systems would be available for "AI exploitation."
www.militarytimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:23 PM
"Hegseth said Grok will go live inside the Defense Department later this month and announced that he would 'make all appropriate data' from the military’s IT systems available for 'AI exploitation.' He also said data from intelligence databases would be fed into AI systems."
Engaging and insightful analysis: "The gross imbalance between the emphasis on perpetrators’ moral character, suffering, and interests, on the one hand, and the devastating moral and physical injuries suffered by the victims of war crimes, on the other, is typically erased by war crime apologia."
🚨 My article, with Jessica Wolfendale and Chris Elliott, is now available (open access) with @risjnl.bsky.social.
We systematically detail and critique war crime apologism - efforts to excuse, downplay, or even celebrate battlefield atrocity. Give it a read!
cup.org/49gmlUi
We systematically detail and critique war crime apologism - efforts to excuse, downplay, or even celebrate battlefield atrocity. Give it a read!
cup.org/49gmlUi
January 10, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Engaging and insightful analysis: "The gross imbalance between the emphasis on perpetrators’ moral character, suffering, and interests, on the one hand, and the devastating moral and physical injuries suffered by the victims of war crimes, on the other, is typically erased by war crime apologia."
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
1/Leaders are abducted/allies are threatened but pundits and governments are scratching their heads on what the US is doing. Danish PM on Greenland "It makes absolutely no sense". Why? Because actors using old IR models when we need a new lens. Enter neo-royalism.
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Denmark's PM urges Trump to 'stop the threats' of annexing Greenland
The prime minister of Denmark called on Trump to “stop the threats” of the U.S. annexing Greenland after renewed comments garnered international attention.
abcnews.go.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:24 PM
1/Leaders are abducted/allies are threatened but pundits and governments are scratching their heads on what the US is doing. Danish PM on Greenland "It makes absolutely no sense". Why? Because actors using old IR models when we need a new lens. Enter neo-royalism.
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
1/As @nytimes.com reports, Venezuela/Honduras comparison shows this is not about drugs. It is about personal interests and those of the inner circle around Trump. Trump wants Venezuelan resources. Brologarchy wants to protect network city in Honduras.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
A Pardon and a Prosecution in New York Show Trump’s Personal Geopolitics
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:03 PM
1/As @nytimes.com reports, Venezuela/Honduras comparison shows this is not about drugs. It is about personal interests and those of the inner circle around Trump. Trump wants Venezuelan resources. Brologarchy wants to protect network city in Honduras.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
"Functions now performed autonomously include: pilotless takeoff or hovering, geolocation, navigation to areas of attack, as well as target recognition, tracking and pursuit — up to and including terminal strike, the lethal endpoint of the journey."
January 5, 2026 at 5:09 PM
"Functions now performed autonomously include: pilotless takeoff or hovering, geolocation, navigation to areas of attack, as well as target recognition, tracking and pursuit — up to and including terminal strike, the lethal endpoint of the journey."
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
I fear we are going to have to say this a lot again:
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Remember that there is a legitimately elected president of Venezuela: Edmundo Gonzalez. He won the election in 2024.
January 3, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I fear we are going to have to say this a lot again:
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
“the principles of international law” rather prohibit bombing countries because their leaders “lack legitimacy”.
I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 11:47 AM
“the principles of international law” rather prohibit bombing countries because their leaders “lack legitimacy”.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
In the last two years, Yuval Abraham @972mag.com brought groundbreaking investigative reporting on war crimes in Gaza. This podcast gives a glimpse into the work behind it - and why you should support it.
www.972mag.com/podcast-unco...
www.972mag.com/podcast-unco...
Uncovering the inner workings of an AI genocide
+972's Yuval Abraham takes us inside his investigations into the Gaza war and the legal and moral challenges he faces when reporting.
www.972mag.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
In the last two years, Yuval Abraham @972mag.com brought groundbreaking investigative reporting on war crimes in Gaza. This podcast gives a glimpse into the work behind it - and why you should support it.
www.972mag.com/podcast-unco...
www.972mag.com/podcast-unco...
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
@jessicadorsey.bsky.social : "If the architects of the post-9/11 lethal-force framework want to argue that today’s abuses represent a sharp break from the past, then they must first grapple honestly with the ways in which the past enabled the present." opiniojuris.org/2025/12/14/d...
Drug Boats, Drone Strikes and the Dangers of Avoiding Mirrors
[Jessica Dorsey is an Assistant Professor of International Law at Utrecht University School of Law, an Executive Board Member of Airwars, and the Managing Editor of Opinio Juris.] In a New York Tim…
opiniojuris.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:49 AM
@jessicadorsey.bsky.social : "If the architects of the post-9/11 lethal-force framework want to argue that today’s abuses represent a sharp break from the past, then they must first grapple honestly with the ways in which the past enabled the present." opiniojuris.org/2025/12/14/d...
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
What made the US-backed aid system in Gaza so deadly?
Our new short film reconstructs two Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distributions, showing how the militarised aid system resulted in death and injury.
Watch the full video here:
ghf.airwars.org
Our new short film reconstructs two Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distributions, showing how the militarised aid system resulted in death and injury.
Watch the full video here:
ghf.airwars.org
Surviving The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation - An Airwars Investigation
For five months, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was the main distributor of food in Gaza. Backed by the United States and Israel, more than 1,000 people were allegedly killed seeking aid at it...
ghf.airwars.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
What made the US-backed aid system in Gaza so deadly?
Our new short film reconstructs two Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distributions, showing how the militarised aid system resulted in death and injury.
Watch the full video here:
ghf.airwars.org
Our new short film reconstructs two Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distributions, showing how the militarised aid system resulted in death and injury.
Watch the full video here:
ghf.airwars.org
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
2 docs from drafting of Additional Protocols (1975) showing how US was actively seeking to prevent constraints on disproport attacks/'combat crimes' in conduct of hostilities - as acts falling outside emerging war-crimes framework - while simultaneously trying to undermine such regulatory efforts.
December 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
2 docs from drafting of Additional Protocols (1975) showing how US was actively seeking to prevent constraints on disproport attacks/'combat crimes' in conduct of hostilities - as acts falling outside emerging war-crimes framework - while simultaneously trying to undermine such regulatory efforts.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
Boat Strike Survivors Clung to Wreckage for Some 45 Minutes Before U.S. Military Killed Them
“There are a lot of disturbing aspects. But this is one of the most disturbing.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/05/b...
“There are a lot of disturbing aspects. But this is one of the most disturbing.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/05/b...
Boat Strike Survivors Clung to Wreckage for Some 45 Minutes Before U.S. Military Killed Them
“There are a lot of disturbing aspects. But this is one of the most disturbing.”
theintercept.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Boat Strike Survivors Clung to Wreckage for Some 45 Minutes Before U.S. Military Killed Them
“There are a lot of disturbing aspects. But this is one of the most disturbing.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/05/b...
“There are a lot of disturbing aspects. But this is one of the most disturbing.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/05/b...
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
This in depth @cnn.com investigation is not an easy read, but the bottom line is clear: bulldozing dead bodies into unmarked mass-graves is irreconcilable with #IHL demands to respect the dignity of the dead and prevent them from becoming the missing.
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/03/m...
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/03/m...
December 3, 2025 at 9:50 AM
This in depth @cnn.com investigation is not an easy read, but the bottom line is clear: bulldozing dead bodies into unmarked mass-graves is irreconcilable with #IHL demands to respect the dignity of the dead and prevent them from becoming the missing.
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/03/m...
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/03/m...
There's a term, coined by Linsey McGoey in her book The Unknowers, for this tactic of denying culpability & asserting expertise in situations of uncertainty: strategic ignorance; a political/legal alibi of "reasonable doubt." I bet we'll soon hear the familiar claim that it was a "tragic mistake."
Q: So you didn't see any survivors after that first strike?
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
December 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
There's a term, coined by Linsey McGoey in her book The Unknowers, for this tactic of denying culpability & asserting expertise in situations of uncertainty: strategic ignorance; a political/legal alibi of "reasonable doubt." I bet we'll soon hear the familiar claim that it was a "tragic mistake."
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
EXCLUSIVE: Entire Chain of Command Could Be Held Liable for Killing Boat Strike Survivors, Sources Say
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions could spark investigations for war crimes or outright murder, sources told The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2025/12/02/h...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions could spark investigations for war crimes or outright murder, sources told The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2025/12/02/h...
Entire Chain of Command Could Be Held Liable for Killing Boat Strike Survivors, Sources Say
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions could spark investigations for war crimes or outright murder, sources told The Intercept.
theintercept.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:26 AM
EXCLUSIVE: Entire Chain of Command Could Be Held Liable for Killing Boat Strike Survivors, Sources Say
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions could spark investigations for war crimes or outright murder, sources told The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2025/12/02/h...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions could spark investigations for war crimes or outright murder, sources told The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2025/12/02/h...
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
Useful explainer for media covering the boat strikes. Here’s the gist:
It’s not an armed conflict, so the boat strikes are murder.
If it were an armed conflict, targeted killing of civilians is a war crime.
EVEN IF these are combatants in an armed conflict, killing the shipwrecked is a war crime.
It’s not an armed conflict, so the boat strikes are murder.
If it were an armed conflict, targeted killing of civilians is a war crime.
EVEN IF these are combatants in an armed conflict, killing the shipwrecked is a war crime.
Excellent explainer by the inimitable @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, and @mikeschmitt.bsky.social
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
www.justsecurity.org
December 1, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Useful explainer for media covering the boat strikes. Here’s the gist:
It’s not an armed conflict, so the boat strikes are murder.
If it were an armed conflict, targeted killing of civilians is a war crime.
EVEN IF these are combatants in an armed conflict, killing the shipwrecked is a war crime.
It’s not an armed conflict, so the boat strikes are murder.
If it were an armed conflict, targeted killing of civilians is a war crime.
EVEN IF these are combatants in an armed conflict, killing the shipwrecked is a war crime.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
This is exactly right - the 1st strike was murder and extrajudicial killing; but even on the administration’s misguided theory that IHL applies, the “no quarter” order and 2nd strike constitute a war crime.
Good to see that Senators are being well briefed!
Good to see that Senators are being well briefed!
Van Hollen: "It's either murder from the first strike if their whole theory is wrong, and I think the weight of the legal opinion is they've concocted this ridiculous legal theory. But even if you accept it, then it is a war crime. I do believe the secretary of defense should be held accountable"
November 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This is exactly right - the 1st strike was murder and extrajudicial killing; but even on the administration’s misguided theory that IHL applies, the “no quarter” order and 2nd strike constitute a war crime.
Good to see that Senators are being well briefed!
Good to see that Senators are being well briefed!
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
My latest for @972mag.com reveals how Palantir and Dataminr have been involved in hashing out the Trump-backed "peace plan" for Gaza.
It's a story of how US surveillance firms are poised to sediment a new paradigm of Israeli control over the strip
www.972mag.com/ai-surveilla...
It's a story of how US surveillance firms are poised to sediment a new paradigm of Israeli control over the strip
www.972mag.com/ai-surveilla...
AI-powered surveillance firms are gunning for a share of Gaza spoils
The presence of Palantir and Dataminr at the new U.S. military compound in Israel offers a glimpse of how tech companies are cashing in on the genocide.
www.972mag.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My latest for @972mag.com reveals how Palantir and Dataminr have been involved in hashing out the Trump-backed "peace plan" for Gaza.
It's a story of how US surveillance firms are poised to sediment a new paradigm of Israeli control over the strip
www.972mag.com/ai-surveilla...
It's a story of how US surveillance firms are poised to sediment a new paradigm of Israeli control over the strip
www.972mag.com/ai-surveilla...
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
Jack Goldsmith was head of the Office of Legal Counsel under George W Bush.
November 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Jack Goldsmith was head of the Office of Legal Counsel under George W Bush.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
This is a lot of words to say, “Yikes! That Washington Post story about us illegally killing survivors on the open seas was 100% correct!”
November 29, 2025 at 12:46 AM
This is a lot of words to say, “Yikes! That Washington Post story about us illegally killing survivors on the open seas was 100% correct!”
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Reposted by Jennifer Rooke
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2