Today's Headlines and Commentary

Prime Minister Racap Tayyip Erdogan has won Turkey’s first direct presidential election. The Wall Street Journal explains that the landmark victory will secure Erdogan’s power in Turkey for another five years, adding to the twelve years he has served as the country’s Prime Minister. The BBC reports that Erdogan wants to transfer more power to the presidency but his political opponents fear that his rule could become increasingly authoritarian. Apropos of democratic exchanges of power, yesterday we covered that news that Haider al-Abadi was selected to replace Nouri al-Maliki as Iraq’s Prime Minister. The New York Times tells us that it quickly became clear that al-Maliki is trying to cling to power. Time reports President Obama endorsed the change in government, and has offered American assistant to the newly formed government in Iraq. (President Obama made his remarks from a vacation home in Martha’s Vineyard, where the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank argues he should not be, given the current international political climate.) Some – like those over at the Daily Beast – are arguing that the United States participated in a plot to oust al-Maliki from power. The Guardian explains that American officials vehemently deny any such accusations, insisting instead that the United States is in support of what is a genuinely a democratic exchange of power. The Times explains that al-Maliki had been a “source of frustration” for President Obama, and also to his predecessor, President Bush. In what will undoubtedly reinforce opponents of the recent American airstrikes in Iraq, the Pentagon says that the airstrikes won’t weaken ISIS. The Hill covers remarks made by Army Lt. Gen. William Mayville yesterday, in which he predicts that while ISIS might be hampered by the airstrikes, such effects might well be “temporary.” Amnesty International released report yesterday that alleges that the United States failed to properly investigate incidents of civilian killings in Afghanistan. The report outlines evidence of possible war crimes committed by international forces during military campaigns in the country. Al Jazeera has more on the report. The Times takes a look at another source of tension between Israel and Gaza, one that largely has been ignored in coverage of the conflict: the establishment of a Gaza seaport. Contractors had broken ground on a waterway that would more easily connect residents of Gaza to their Mediterranean neighbors in 2000, but the work was quickly destroyed by Israeli bombs. The seaport is apparently a “focal point for negotiators” in attempting to resolve the conflict. As things get reheated in the eastern parts of Ukraine, the secretary-general of NATO said that a Russian intervention in Ukraine is becoming increasingly likely. The Times covers Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s remarks. In an “unusually harsh statement,” Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned the government of South Sudan and its rival party for failing to form a transitional government.  Reuters explains that a deadline for the formation of a new government had been set as August 10, and Kerry has indicated that he will pursue regional bodies to impose punitive measures on both parties. South Korea has proposed high-level talks with North Korea on the topic of reuniting family members divided by the border between the two countries. The Times covers the story. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that the North Korean government is set to release a human rights report contesting another, comprehensive report released by the UN earlier this year.  The latter detailed a wide range of systemic rights abuses in the country. According to North Korea, its internal report confirms that its people are “dynamically advancing towards a brighter and rosy future.” Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us onTwitter 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.