Today's Headlines and Commentary

The New York Times reports that, in a new video and printed statement, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has formally claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attacks, calling them revenge for the newspaper’s cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Both the video and the statement also assert that Anwar al-Awlaki was involved in arranging the attack, despite his 2011 death. France24 notes that AQAP also claimed responsibility for selecting the target, planning the operation and financing the gunmen. As the French laid the three policemen slain in the attacks to rest, its lower house of Parliament voted to continue the country’s military operations against Islamic extremism in Iraq, according to the Times. The Wall Street Journal reveals that French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is pushing for a new law that would enhance domestic surveillance of the internet and social networks. This legislative move comes alongside greater government pressure on technology firms to share information with intelligence agencies. The Paris attacks have triggered a debate in Britain over what surveillance powers intelligence agencies should have. The Washington Post details British Prime Minister David Cameron’s push for a law allowing intelligence agencies to crack encrypted communications, as well as the heated backlash against that proposal. Elsewhere in Europe, the German cabinet approved a plan to take identification cards away from Islamic extremists. The Associated Press explains that this move, along with an earlier restriction on passports, effectively bars these suspects from leaving the country. In light of the roiling debate across Europe. the Times has a story describing the growing challenges European intelligence agencies face as they chase an enemy that has become more diffuse but no less dangerous. In eastern Ukraine, 12 people were killed when a passenger bus came under intense fire. Reuters reports that Ukrainian officials have blamed pro-Russian separatists, who denied responsibility. The Times notes that the attack is part of a recent resurgence in violence surrounding the crumbling of negotiations that were scheduled for this week. The Times covers the Chinese government’s emerging role as mediator between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban, revealing reports of multiple meetings between Chinese officials and Taliban officials. Reuters reports that China has arrested 10 Turks it suspects supplied fake passports to Uighurs in China’s Xinjiang province, which has seen a rise in separatist-fueled violence. The arrests come as part of a broader government crackdown, which also includes colorful Chinese propaganda. The BBC has the story. The Wall Street Journal covers Boko Haram’s recent incursions into Cameroon, including a five-hour firefight yesterday that left scores of people dead and thousands fleeing the region. The AP discusses how the attention paid to the Charlie Hebdo attacks has meant the violence in Nigeria has received next to no response, even from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. The BBC explores the difficulties of getting hard facts in the Nigerian conflict, where casualty counts are often downplayed or disputed. The Post describes the legal issues facing the US after Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen was captured and handed over to US forces. Ongwen is wanted by the International Criminal Court, but the US is not a member of the tribunal, thus complicating any transfer to the Hague. Additionally, the Central African Republic, where Ongwen was captured, is in disarray and lacks an effective judicial system. The new Republican Congress has begun a new attempt to block President Barack Obama’s plan to transfer Guantanamo detainees, DefenseOne writes. A new bill introduced by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) would bar the administration from transferring detainees to Yemen or the United States, along with placing further restrictions on all transfers. John Hudson at Foreign Policy says that the bill will effectively block any further Guantanamo transfers. In other Guantanamo news, the Miami Herald divulges that defense lawyers for a suspect in the USS Cole bombing have filed a motion protesting the recent Pentagon directive mandating that judges in the Guantanamo cases move to Guantanamo for the duration of the case. The suspect’s lawyers are arguing that this directive constitutes unlawful meddling and have asked for the case to be thrown out. In an announcement coinciding with Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Pakistan, the United States has declared Pakistan Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. The designation will allow the US government to seize any of his property or interests in the United States, including any that may be under the control of US citizens. The Times of India reports that Delhi will employ “never-seen-before” security measures when President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share the stage at India’s Republic Day parade on January 26th. US and Indian intelligence agencies will work in cooperation sharing intelligence while the US Secret Service, US Navy Seals, Indian Special Protection Group, and Indian paramilitary forces secure the ground. New Delhi expects to deploy 40,000 police to secure the city. In addition, metro stations within a six kilometer radius will be closed and air traffic to Delhi will be completely halted during the parade. When Obama visited India in 2010, the US brought 13 heavy lift aircraft and four helicopters aside from Air Force One; security analysts expect the US will do at least as much during this visit. In more lighthearted preparation, Indian officials are also deploying extra workers to keep stray cows, monkeys, and dogs off the streets during Obama’s visit. The Post notes that President Obama may also break with tradition by choosing to make a ceremonial entrance to the event in a separate car than India’s president due to security concerns. If you are confused by why this matters, the Post’s video displays the pomp of the ceremonial entrance. The judge in the Boston bomber’s trial has refused the defense’s request for a delay in jury selection, Reuters discloses. Defense lawyers argued that that the recent attacks in Paris would make it harder to select a fair jury, but the judge expressed confidence the selected jury would be impartial. At Foreign Policy, David Kenner describes the failure of radical Sunnis to foment sectarian violence in Lebanon, despite the civil war raging across the Syrian border. Lebanese Sunnis, Kenner notes, have largely turned their backs on ISIS. In Iraq and Syria, the US-led coalition hit ISIS with 11 airstrikes, according to Reuters. Foreign Policy also posts an account of a shocking new ISIS video, which shows a Kazakh child soldier executing two self-identified Russian spies. The Los Angeles Times carries the story of why the Iraqi army has been so ineffective despite massive sums of US money. The article identifies the usual suspects for the root causes of the army’s failure: poor leadership, inadequate equipment, rampant corruption, lack of discipline, and a general lack of trust of commanders by soldiers. The White House released a summary of the administration’s proposals and initiatives on cybersecurity, which center on information sharing, law enforcement modernization, and national data breach reporting. Politico notes that, although similar proposals have fizzled in Congress before, increased public concern over cybersecurity may create an opening for passage of these proposals. Bloomberg reports that President Obama informed congressional leaders that he will introduce terms for a new Authorization for Use of Military Force that will put the US campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria on firmer legal footing. But the Hill revealed that partisan bickering continues over who, exactly, is responsible for the AUMF and its contents. The Department of Justice pushed forward in the trial of former CIA official Jeffrey Sterling on Tuesday, charging that much of the information New York Times reporter James Risen used in his 2006 book “State of War” was known only to Mr. Sterling. In opening arguments, the prosecution said Mr. Sterling caused lasting harm to the security of the United States with his disclosures. The Times covers the trial. Parting Shot: China’s drone program keeps stealthily inching forward. That’s the headline from Foreign Policy.

ICYMI: Yesterday, on Lawfare

Ben brought us audio from a recent Brookings event on the threat of Western fighters in Syria and Iraq, as well as the introductory text of a new paper by Brookings scholars Daniel Byman and Jeremy Shapiro on the same topic. Wells tipped us off to a new congressional move to block transfers of Guantanamo detainees, and later shared the text of the bill. Cody pointed us to the White House’s summary of President Obama’s new cybersecurity proposals. Paul Rosenzweig broke down some of the legal issues surrounding the capture of a Lord’s Resistance Army commander, and linked to the Post’s in-depth coverage of the same. Paul also mused on what the hack of Central Command’s social media accounts really means. 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.