John Ramming Chappell
@jwrchappell.bsky.social
Advocacy & Legal Advisor at Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) | Civilian protection, law and policy of the US arms trade | Burqueño | Views mine
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
One of the great panels at this year's annual conference bringing together the responsible arms trade, human rights and anti-corruption communities. 12/10 in Washington DC. Sign up now www.forumarmstrade.org/annual2025.h...
@jwrchappell.bsky.social @seharrison7.bsky.social @jeffabramson.bsky.social
@jwrchappell.bsky.social @seharrison7.bsky.social @jeffabramson.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
One of the great panels at this year's annual conference bringing together the responsible arms trade, human rights and anti-corruption communities. 12/10 in Washington DC. Sign up now www.forumarmstrade.org/annual2025.h...
@jwrchappell.bsky.social @seharrison7.bsky.social @jeffabramson.bsky.social
@jwrchappell.bsky.social @seharrison7.bsky.social @jeffabramson.bsky.social
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Glad to speak with @yvonnemurray.bsky.social of @news.rte.ie about the lethal US maritime strikes and be quoted along with @jwrchappell.bsky.social and my @crisisgroup.org colleague @renatasegura.bsky.social.
www.rte.ie/news/analysi...
www.rte.ie/news/analysi...
US strikes on boats stoke fears of regional conflict
As details of the human cost of US strikes on boats in Latin America have begun to emerge, some regional leaders have declared support for US unilateral military action exposing a complex pattern of c...
www.rte.ie
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Glad to speak with @yvonnemurray.bsky.social of @news.rte.ie about the lethal US maritime strikes and be quoted along with @jwrchappell.bsky.social and my @crisisgroup.org colleague @renatasegura.bsky.social.
www.rte.ie/news/analysi...
www.rte.ie/news/analysi...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Despite the narrow failure of a Senate War Powers Resolution last night, “There will be more opportunities for Congress to rally against the president’s killings of civilians without due process," @jwrchappell.bsky.social told Responsible Statecraft.
More: responsiblestatecraft.org/senate-war-p...
More: responsiblestatecraft.org/senate-war-p...
Senate effort to rein in Trump war on 'narco-terrorists' fails
War Powers Resolution fails largely along party lines
responsiblestatecraft.org
October 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Despite the narrow failure of a Senate War Powers Resolution last night, “There will be more opportunities for Congress to rally against the president’s killings of civilians without due process," @jwrchappell.bsky.social told Responsible Statecraft.
More: responsiblestatecraft.org/senate-war-p...
More: responsiblestatecraft.org/senate-war-p...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Senators, representatives, and Presidential aspirants can all work to change this back to a first principle of restraint, and they should do so, argues John Ramming Chappell for @cipolicy.bsky.social. internationalpolicy.org/publications...
September 17, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Senators, representatives, and Presidential aspirants can all work to change this back to a first principle of restraint, and they should do so, argues John Ramming Chappell for @cipolicy.bsky.social. internationalpolicy.org/publications...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Analyzing the legal and moral stakes of the Caribbean strikes – and how Congress could respond.
From Annie Shiel, @jwrchappell.bsky.social, Priyanka Motaparthy, Wells Dixon and Daphne Eviatar:
www.justsecurity.org/120794/legal...
From Annie Shiel, @jwrchappell.bsky.social, Priyanka Motaparthy, Wells Dixon and Daphne Eviatar:
www.justsecurity.org/120794/legal...
Murder by Drone: The Legal and Moral Stakes of the Caribbean Strikes
If allowed to go unchecked, the Caribbean strikes could encourage additional unlawful executions by the United States and other leaders.
www.justsecurity.org
September 17, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Analyzing the legal and moral stakes of the Caribbean strikes – and how Congress could respond.
From Annie Shiel, @jwrchappell.bsky.social, Priyanka Motaparthy, Wells Dixon and Daphne Eviatar:
www.justsecurity.org/120794/legal...
From Annie Shiel, @jwrchappell.bsky.social, Priyanka Motaparthy, Wells Dixon and Daphne Eviatar:
www.justsecurity.org/120794/legal...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
@jwrchappell.bsky.social via @cipolicy.bsky.social concludes "Congress should be working towards a reclamation of their constitutional authority and an end to the system that allows the president to sell weapons to war criminals and human rights abusers..." internationalpolicy.org/publications...
Think Big to Rein in the Arms Trade - CIP
American weapons sales cause outsized harm. Congress can change that.
internationalpolicy.org
September 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
@jwrchappell.bsky.social via @cipolicy.bsky.social concludes "Congress should be working towards a reclamation of their constitutional authority and an end to the system that allows the president to sell weapons to war criminals and human rights abusers..." internationalpolicy.org/publications...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Israel bombed multiple countries across the Middle East in recent days. US military aid makes this possible. In our new factsheet we breakdown the $21.7B provided to Israel since Oct 7 & privileges it receives that allows it to carry on its war machine. mideastdc.org/publication/...
Extraordinary Sums and Privileges: U.S. Security Assistance to Israel Since October 7, 2023 - MEDC
mideastdc.org
September 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Israel bombed multiple countries across the Middle East in recent days. US military aid makes this possible. In our new factsheet we breakdown the $21.7B provided to Israel since Oct 7 & privileges it receives that allows it to carry on its war machine. mideastdc.org/publication/...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Spoke with @politico.com about the lethal U.S. strike in the Caribbean.
“This is not about counterterrorism, war on terror, counter-narcotics. The really key issue here is the scope of the power being claimed by the president.”
The power to kill outside the law.
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
“This is not about counterterrorism, war on terror, counter-narcotics. The really key issue here is the scope of the power being claimed by the president.”
The power to kill outside the law.
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
‘The GOP’s Elizabeth Warren’: Vance happy to feud with Rand Paul
The often outspoken senator blasted Vance's celebration of last week's missile strike on an alleged drug boat as 'despicable.'
www.politico.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Spoke with @politico.com about the lethal U.S. strike in the Caribbean.
“This is not about counterterrorism, war on terror, counter-narcotics. The really key issue here is the scope of the power being claimed by the president.”
The power to kill outside the law.
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
“This is not about counterterrorism, war on terror, counter-narcotics. The really key issue here is the scope of the power being claimed by the president.”
The power to kill outside the law.
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
In a new piece by me and @stimsoncenter.bsky.social's Elias Yousif, we discuss the risks of the admin's legally dubious decision not to release detailed accounting for how the government intends to spend future foreign assistance. A 🧵 mideastdc.org/publication/...
President Trump is Undermining Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability - MEDC
mideastdc.org
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
In a new piece by me and @stimsoncenter.bsky.social's Elias Yousif, we discuss the risks of the admin's legally dubious decision not to release detailed accounting for how the government intends to spend future foreign assistance. A 🧵 mideastdc.org/publication/...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
NEW: CIVIC is alarmed by the US strike on a vessel in the Caribbean that killed 11 people. An attack like this, outside of armed conflict, is an extrajudicial execution, not an act of war.
Congress must demand transparency & accountability: civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...
Congress must demand transparency & accountability: civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...
September 8, 2025 at 9:21 PM
NEW: CIVIC is alarmed by the US strike on a vessel in the Caribbean that killed 11 people. An attack like this, outside of armed conflict, is an extrajudicial execution, not an act of war.
Congress must demand transparency & accountability: civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...
Congress must demand transparency & accountability: civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
This is not a thorny issue. This is not fraught. It is extrajudicial killing. It is the killing of civilians under any standard of law. He killed them on the basis of his-say so that they are drug smugglers, mere criminals. It was premeditated. And he's saying he's going to do it again and again.
I know people are overwhelmed by too much news from every angle, and maybe people are distracted by the "terrorist" language, or just plain exhausted.
But this is the President of the United States saying he is going to go around killing people because he thinks they're criminals. And already did.
But this is the President of the United States saying he is going to go around killing people because he thinks they're criminals. And already did.
Trump: "When I see boats coming in like loaded up the other day with all sorts of drugs -- probably fentanyl mostly -- we're gonna take them out. And if people wants to have fun on the high seas of the low seas they're gonna be in trouble."
September 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
This is not a thorny issue. This is not fraught. It is extrajudicial killing. It is the killing of civilians under any standard of law. He killed them on the basis of his-say so that they are drug smugglers, mere criminals. It was premeditated. And he's saying he's going to do it again and again.
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
No pretense that US is somehow engaged in an armed conflict that might justify lethal targeting in this manner.
As I told @npr.org this morning, we have a word for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict: murder.
(Also the administration has not substantiated any of its factual claims.)
As I told @npr.org this morning, we have a word for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict: murder.
(Also the administration has not substantiated any of its factual claims.)
Trump: "When I see boats coming in like loaded up the other day with all sorts of drugs -- probably fentanyl mostly -- we're gonna take them out. And if people wants to have fun on the high seas of the low seas they're gonna be in trouble."
September 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
No pretense that US is somehow engaged in an armed conflict that might justify lethal targeting in this manner.
As I told @npr.org this morning, we have a word for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict: murder.
(Also the administration has not substantiated any of its factual claims.)
As I told @npr.org this morning, we have a word for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict: murder.
(Also the administration has not substantiated any of its factual claims.)
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
1/3 Just so we are all clear on this.
Based on what this former official "who has years of direct experience in fighting drug cartels" told the Times.
The order to blow up the Venezuelan boat may have instead killed migrants who were being smuggled.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...
Based on what this former official "who has years of direct experience in fighting drug cartels" told the Times.
The order to blow up the Venezuelan boat may have instead killed migrants who were being smuggled.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...
September 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
1/3 Just so we are all clear on this.
Based on what this former official "who has years of direct experience in fighting drug cartels" told the Times.
The order to blow up the Venezuelan boat may have instead killed migrants who were being smuggled.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...
Based on what this former official "who has years of direct experience in fighting drug cartels" told the Times.
The order to blow up the Venezuelan boat may have instead killed migrants who were being smuggled.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
I've read and coded every War Powers Report ever sent to Congress (check them all out, with interactive graphics and a searchable database 👇), and this one on #Trump's attack on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean stands out. I'll explain below:
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org
War Powers Resolution Reporting Project
A living resource on presidential reporting practice and the use of U.S. armed forces abroad.
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org
September 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I've read and coded every War Powers Report ever sent to Congress (check them all out, with interactive graphics and a searchable database 👇), and this one on #Trump's attack on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean stands out. I'll explain below:
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Congress is back from recess soon. What are your representatives doing to end US support for carnage and starvation in Gaza?
From @jwrchappell.bsky.social & me on why cosponsoring the Block the Bombs Act should be a benchmark in the House: responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
From @jwrchappell.bsky.social & me on why cosponsoring the Block the Bombs Act should be a benchmark in the House: responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
Does the House have the grit to 'Block the Bombs' to Israel?
Lawmakers returning from recess have a chance to do what their constituents are telling them to — stop US complicity in Gaza carnage
responsiblestatecraft.org
August 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Congress is back from recess soon. What are your representatives doing to end US support for carnage and starvation in Gaza?
From @jwrchappell.bsky.social & me on why cosponsoring the Block the Bombs Act should be a benchmark in the House: responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
From @jwrchappell.bsky.social & me on why cosponsoring the Block the Bombs Act should be a benchmark in the House: responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
Congress finishes August recess soon, and for weeks they've been facing constituents in their home districts asking: what are you doing to stop atrocities in Gaza?
The benchmark for House members is cosponsoring the Block the Bombs bill. 1/
responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
The benchmark for House members is cosponsoring the Block the Bombs bill. 1/
responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
Does the House have the grit to 'Block the Bombs' to Israel?
Lawmakers returning from recess have a chance to do what their constituents are telling them to — stop US complicity in Gaza carnage
responsiblestatecraft.org
August 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Congress finishes August recess soon, and for weeks they've been facing constituents in their home districts asking: what are you doing to stop atrocities in Gaza?
The benchmark for House members is cosponsoring the Block the Bombs bill. 1/
responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
The benchmark for House members is cosponsoring the Block the Bombs bill. 1/
responsiblestatecraft.org/house-vote-i...
We at Center for Civilians in Conflict have been closely tracking civilian protection in the US-Nigeria security relationship, and I recently visited our teams in Abuja and Maiduguri digging into civilian protection issues. 1/
short 🧵State Dept announces major possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to #Nigeria today for $346 million to include (partial list)
* 1,002 MK-82 general purpose 500 lb bombs;
* 515 MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58
and more
www.dsca.mil/Press-Media/...
* 1,002 MK-82 general purpose 500 lb bombs;
* 515 MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58
and more
www.dsca.mil/Press-Media/...
August 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM
We at Center for Civilians in Conflict have been closely tracking civilian protection in the US-Nigeria security relationship, and I recently visited our teams in Abuja and Maiduguri digging into civilian protection issues. 1/
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
The time is long overdue for Congress to stop funding Israel’s illegal and horrific war against the Palestinian people.
The U.S. must not support a government which is starving children.
Tomorrow, I will force votes in the Senate to block the sale of weapons to Netanyahu.
The U.S. must not support a government which is starving children.
Tomorrow, I will force votes in the Senate to block the sale of weapons to Netanyahu.
July 29, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The time is long overdue for Congress to stop funding Israel’s illegal and horrific war against the Palestinian people.
The U.S. must not support a government which is starving children.
Tomorrow, I will force votes in the Senate to block the sale of weapons to Netanyahu.
The U.S. must not support a government which is starving children.
Tomorrow, I will force votes in the Senate to block the sale of weapons to Netanyahu.
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
These votes present Senators with a choice between backing up their condemnations of starvation and killing in Gaza with concrete action, or continuing to unconditionally send Israel the arms it is using to enforce its siege, fire on Palestinian civilians, and forcibly displace them from their land.
The time is long overdue for Congress to stop funding Israel’s illegal and horrific war against the Palestinian people.
The U.S. must not support a government which is starving children.
Tomorrow, I will force votes in the Senate to block the sale of weapons to Netanyahu.
The U.S. must not support a government which is starving children.
Tomorrow, I will force votes in the Senate to block the sale of weapons to Netanyahu.
July 30, 2025 at 2:53 AM
These votes present Senators with a choice between backing up their condemnations of starvation and killing in Gaza with concrete action, or continuing to unconditionally send Israel the arms it is using to enforce its siege, fire on Palestinian civilians, and forcibly displace them from their land.
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
Votes are expected Wednesday on US arms to #Israel, namely SJ Res 34 & 41. See more details here on US law and these proposed sales and concerns armssalesaccountabilityproject.com/wp-content/u...
and for a timeline of this administration's arms to Israel, see www.forumarmstrade.org/us-israel-tr...
and for a timeline of this administration's arms to Israel, see www.forumarmstrade.org/us-israel-tr...
July 30, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Votes are expected Wednesday on US arms to #Israel, namely SJ Res 34 & 41. See more details here on US law and these proposed sales and concerns armssalesaccountabilityproject.com/wp-content/u...
and for a timeline of this administration's arms to Israel, see www.forumarmstrade.org/us-israel-tr...
and for a timeline of this administration's arms to Israel, see www.forumarmstrade.org/us-israel-tr...
In this article, I dig into @sarajacobs.house.gov's crucial new bill to require tracking of US weapons used in civilian harm, and to cut off arms sales to countries that use American weapons to carry out atrocity crimes.
@jwrchappell.bsky.social and Kate Fin (CIVIC) break down the Silver Shield Act, which they explain gives Congress an opportunity to take real action to prevent civilian harm from U.S. weapons transfers.
www.justsecurity.org/117989/silve...
www.justsecurity.org/117989/silve...
The Silver Shield Act: A Bill to Track Misuse of American Weapons
Congress can turn to the Silver Shield Act when it is ready to take real action to prevent civilian harm from U.S. weapons transfers.
www.justsecurity.org
July 30, 2025 at 2:17 AM
In this article, I dig into @sarajacobs.house.gov's crucial new bill to require tracking of US weapons used in civilian harm, and to cut off arms sales to countries that use American weapons to carry out atrocity crimes.
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
@jwrchappell.bsky.social and Kate Fin (CIVIC) break down the Silver Shield Act, which they explain gives Congress an opportunity to take real action to prevent civilian harm from U.S. weapons transfers.
www.justsecurity.org/117989/silve...
www.justsecurity.org/117989/silve...
The Silver Shield Act: A Bill to Track Misuse of American Weapons
Congress can turn to the Silver Shield Act when it is ready to take real action to prevent civilian harm from U.S. weapons transfers.
www.justsecurity.org
July 29, 2025 at 1:06 PM
@jwrchappell.bsky.social and Kate Fin (CIVIC) break down the Silver Shield Act, which they explain gives Congress an opportunity to take real action to prevent civilian harm from U.S. weapons transfers.
www.justsecurity.org/117989/silve...
www.justsecurity.org/117989/silve...
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
July 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
I am sickened by what we’re seeing in Gaza right now. The IDF has blocked aid while shooting people waiting in food lines for what little aid is actually coming from the sham Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Israel needs to lift its blockade and the U.S. needs to stop sending bombs.
More than 100 aid groups warn of 'mass starvation' in Gaza amid Israel's war with Hamas
A statement released by the 115 aid groups warned of "record rates of acute malnutrition" in the Gaza Strip.
abcnews.go.com
July 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I am sickened by what we’re seeing in Gaza right now. The IDF has blocked aid while shooting people waiting in food lines for what little aid is actually coming from the sham Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Israel needs to lift its blockade and the U.S. needs to stop sending bombs.
Reposted by John Ramming Chappell
In recent decades, discussions of humanitarian intervention have focused on using force to stop atrocities.
Here the issue is whether the U.S. will use its military support as leverage to stop atrocities.
Colleagues of Cindy’s late husband should listen to this.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=tlyy...
Here the issue is whether the U.S. will use its military support as leverage to stop atrocities.
Colleagues of Cindy’s late husband should listen to this.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=tlyy...
Cindy McCain tells CNN Israeli troops fired on crowds approaching Gaza aid convoy
YouTube video by CNN
m.youtube.com
July 22, 2025 at 2:02 AM
In recent decades, discussions of humanitarian intervention have focused on using force to stop atrocities.
Here the issue is whether the U.S. will use its military support as leverage to stop atrocities.
Colleagues of Cindy’s late husband should listen to this.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=tlyy...
Here the issue is whether the U.S. will use its military support as leverage to stop atrocities.
Colleagues of Cindy’s late husband should listen to this.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=tlyy...