Today's Headlines and Commentary

President Donald Trump is set to announce a series of executive orders on national security-related issues today including immigration, detention and interrogation, and designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The Washington Post informs us that one of the executive orders will call for a policy review on the possibility of reauthorizing the reopening of CIA “black sites” that had been closed under the Obama administration, along with a review on the use of torture for interrogations. Members of Congress have denounced the document, with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) stating that Trump can “sign whatever executive orders he likes,” but that we are “not bringing back torture in the United States of America.” The New York Times has more.

Meanwhile, CNN reports on Trump’s planned executive action to direct federal resources towards building a U.S.-Mexico border wall. And Reuters informs us that Trump is expected to sign an order that will include a temporary ban on most refugees and a suspension on visas for citizens of Syria and six other Middle Eastern and African countries, except for religious minorities escaping persecution. In the interim, the administration will be implementing an “extreme vetting” process, according to the Wall Street Journal, which process is expected to ban anyone who has engaged in engaged in persecution of people based on religion, race, or gender, or who has engaged in an so-called honor killing. And people familiar with the matter stated that Trump is expected to terminate the Syrian refugee program entirely.

The Washington Post reports that former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was confirmed as the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations with significant Democratic support. Haley rejected Trump’s criticism of NATO during her confirmation hearing but voiced support for his proposal to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

As the situation in Afghanistan becomes more perilous, the Wall Street Journal notes that then President-elect Trump said he would consider a proposal for adding additional troops to the conflict there after speaking with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani talked about the security situation in December. But the Pentagon is skeptical both that any new troop additions will be announced in Afghanistan and that the conflict will be a top priority for President Trump. The Taliban also weighed in with a letter to Trump suggesting that the United States withdraw from the country.

The Iraqi military has successfully gained control of eastern Mosul from the Islamic State in the terrorist organization’s biggest territorial loss since 2014, the Journal reports. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi promised that soldiers would “quickly move to liberate the rest of Mosul.” Hundreds of displaced families are returning to the city’s east in the wake of the fighting.

The AP writes that both the Iranian president and the Kuwaiti foreign minister are seeking to warm the diplomatic chill between the Gulf states and Iran. Iran and Saudi Arabia have cut diplomatic relations, with tensions between the rivals running high following Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Iran-backed Shiite cleric and attacks by Iranian protestors on two Saudi diplomatic posts. Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Tehran after the latter incident, and is now apparently seeking a rapprochement.

Reuters informs us that Defense Secretary James Mattis will travel to Japan and South Korea next week to reassure two of the United States’ key allies in the region in the face of President Trump’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Mattis’s visit will come on the heels of Japan’s launch of its first communications satellite, ABC News reports. The satellite is aimed at improving Japan’s emergency response in natural disaster situations.

Kim Jong Un is aiming to improve relations with President Trump. CNN reports that the North Korean dictator sees the new administration as “a good opportunity for him to open a kind of compromise with the new American administration,” but insists that talks be on his own terms.

At the Miami Herald, Carol Rosenberg brings us two pieces of news from Guantanamo Bay. Chief Prosecutor Mark Martins hopes to begin jury selection for the 9/11 war crimes trial in March 2018, a goal that defense attorneys suggested was far too ambitious. Meanwhile, the 9/11 trial’s military judge has ruled against compelling a Muslim burial at Guantanamo Bay for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed at the request of Mohammed’s lawyers. Mohammed remains alive and does not appear to be sick.

ICYMI: Yesterday, on Lawfare

Quinta Jurecic flagged Military Commissions Chief Prosecutor Mark Martins’ statement regarding pretrial hearings.

Curtis Bradley and Laurence R. Chadwick examined the recent decision of the UK Supreme Court regarding Brexit and the implications it could have for debates about treaty withdrawal in the United States.

Stewart Baker posted the Steptoe Cyberlaw Podcast, featuring a discussion on “Introducing the Herman Kahn of Cyberspace.

J. Dana Stuster updated the Middle East Ticker.

Quinta provided an update on the litigation surrounding the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s interrogation report.

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