Today’s Headlines and Commentary

China rejected a request by an American warship to make a planned port visit to Hong Kong next month and recalled a senior admiral who was in the U.S. for a naval conference, reports the New York Times. These decisions follow the imposition of sanctions by U.S. on a Chinese military company linked to the People’s Liberation Army for buying weapons from Russia,

National security advisor John Bolton issued a warning to European governments and companies on Tuesday by promising “terrible consequences” to anyone who continues to do business with Iran after the U.S. re-implements nuclear sanctions on Nov. 4th, reports the Times.

A new U.S. State Department-funded study of the civil war in South Sudan estimates a death toll of at least 382,000, says the Washington Post. This report far exceeds previous UN estimates of 50,000 dead.

CIA Director Gina Haspel said on Monday that U.S.-North Korea relations have improved in the last year due to an easing of tensions between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, reports the Wall Street Journal.

As the Pentagon recalibrates its military focus towards China and Russia, Secretary of Defense James Mattis has announced that the U.S. is pulling four Patriot missile systems from Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain next month, reports the Journal.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has threatened to move forward with a bilateral trade deal with Mexico, excluding Canada, if Canada does not make certain concessions during NAFTA renegotiations, according to the Journal. In August, the White House sent a formal notice of intent to Congress to sign a trade deal by late November.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Marking the 224^th anniversary of the Whiskey Rebellion, Matthew Waxman gave his thoughts on the event’s implications for national power in the U.S.

Stewart Baker uploaded this week’s episode of the Cyberlaw Podcast, which included a conversation with Peter W. Singer, co-author with Emerson T. Brooking of “LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media,” on the influences of AI on social media.

J. Dana Stuster discussed an attack on an Iranian military parade, the focus on the Iran nuclear deal at the United Nations and rising tensions between Israel and Russia over a downed Russian military plane.

In the face of silence from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Victoria Clark chronicled the thoughts and works of Robert Muellers elsewhere.

Jen Patja Howell uploaded the newest episode of the Lawfare Podcast, which takes a deep dive with former FBI general counsel Jim Baker into AI and counterintelligence. Patja Howell also posted this week's episode of Rational Security, in which the gang (with special guest Sophia Yan) discussed Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s uncertain position, escalating tensions between China and the U.S. over the trade war and, finally, President Trump’s speech to the UN General Assembly.

Robert Chesney presented an analysis of the Pentagon’s 2018 Cyber Strategy document and the meaning of “defense forward.”

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.

We rely on contributions from our generous readers, and now, as a thank you, we're offering a Lawfare challenge coin! Get yours by making a donation at lawfarestore.com.