Today's Headlines and Commentary

Let’s begin with the continuing reports of protests and violence in the Arab world over the non-innocent film “Innocence of Muslims.” Pakistan experienced the “worst single day of deadly violence in one Muslim country” since the brouhaha began, says Declan Walsh of the New York Times, with 19 people killed. Shaiq Hussain and Richard Leiby of the Washington Post also have the story, but are reporting fewer casualties, and Anne Gearan of the Post reports that the United States bought $70,000 worth of advertising on Pakistani TV “disavowing the video” in an effort to stem the protests. Pakistani newspapers have a lot to say on the unrest. Dawn covers Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s comments on the matter, and Sunara Nizami of the Express Tribune tells us that he prime minister has called for an “international law banning hate speech against Islam.” The News also covers the violent protests. From the Department of Duh! Helene Cooper of the Times says that the White House is now calling the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi “a terrorist attack.” David Ignatius of the Post speculates about whether the attack in Libya was conducted “as revenge for the killing of Abu Yahya al-Libi in a drone attack in Pakistan in June.” And according to Reuters, Libya has apologized to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns for the attack. Jeremy Herb of the Hill reports on the end of the surge in Afghanistan---the last of the “surge” troops left yesterday, ahead of the September 30, 2012 deadline. CNN also has the story. Habib Khan Totakhil of the Wall Street Journal tells us that some local Afghans have taken up arms against the Taliban as the Americans depart. John Vinocur has an op-ed in the Times arguing that the presidential election campaign has made the war in Afghanistan “unmentionable.” Reuters reports on the the oral argument yesterday between the ACLU and the Obama administration at the D.C. Circuit over the ACLU’s FOIA request for more information about the CIA’s targeted killing program. The Associated Press also has the story. But for big kid coverage of the argument, read Wells’s in-depth reporting here, and Jack’s thoughts before the oral argument. Spencer Ackerman of Wired’s Danger Room blog discusses a potential civil action lawsuit one Lt. Col. Matthew Dooley might bring against the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey for “concealing ‘the truth about Islam.’” Recall that Lt. Col. Dooley was reprimanded for his extreme views on Islam and Muslims earlier this year. And, Politico’s Morning Transportation seems to be reporting---incorrectly---on the Lawfare Drone Smackdown this Sunday: today’s Moment of Zen. For what it’s worth, the Drone Smackdown is not cancelled. It is merely not taking place in the DC Flight Restricted Zone. For more interesting law and security-related articles, follow us on Twitter, visit the Georgetown Center on National Security and the Law’s Security Law Brief, Fordham Law’s Center on National Security’s Morning Brief, and Fordham Law’s Cyber Brief. Email us noteworthy articles we may have missed at wakeman.lawfare@gmail.com and singh.lawfare@gmail.com, and check out the Lawfare Events Calendar for upcoming national security events.