The Rush to Bomb Syria: Undermining International Law and Risking Wider War, by Andrew Lichterman, Western States Legal Foundation Briefing Paper, September 2013.

This project, with sessions to be held in major cities around the world, aims to establish the truth about what is happening in Iraq, and to inform the public about crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes during the occupation.

Human Rights Watch news releases and reports on the region, plus links to relevant news coverage. Includes HRW December April 2005 report Getting Away with Torture? Command Responsibility for the U.S. Abuse of Detainees and its 2003 report Off Target: The Conduct of the War and Civilian Casualties in Iraq, and materials on the abuse of prisoners by the U.S. military.

This page provides continuing documentation of human rights abuses in Iraq, ranging from the indiscriminate killing of civilians in military operations to abuses of detainees.

See also these Amnesty documents:

"Human Dignity Denied: Torture and Accountability in the 'war on terror'"

Summary

Full Report

Comprehensive collection of documents on Bush Administration policies and legal arguments regarding interrogation and other treatment of "war on terror" and Iraq detainees.

On June 2, 2004, the ACLU and its allies filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act demanding the release of information about detainees held by the United States at military bases and other detention facilities overseas. The lawsuit relates to a Freedom of Information Act request that was filed in October 2003 - almost eight months ago - with the Defense Department and other government agencies. The request seeks records concerning the treatment and interrogation of detainees in United States custody, the deaths of detainees in United States custody, and the “rendition” of detainees to countries known to use torture.

National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 122

CIA Training Manuals from the 60's and 80's and investigative memos concerning earlier controversies over U.S. human rights abuses abroad, from the National Security Archive.

Commentary by Andrew Lichterman and John Burroughs
Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy and Western States Legal Foundation
United Nations Day, October 24, 2002

Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy and Western States Legal Foundation October 8, 2002 Full letter: html pdf

Press release (pdf file)

In a 4-page memo sent to key Senators and Representatives, international law specialists have told Congress that under the United Nations Charter the use of force by the United States against Iraq would be unlawful under present circumstances.

Issued by Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy, New York, Western States Legal Foundation, Oakland, California, Michael Ratner, President, Center on Constitutional Rights, New York, and Jules Lobel, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, October 2, 2002.

Press Release (pdf download)

This web site has extensive information and commentary on the laws of war and their application. It includes a page on Iraq and the law of war, with articles on topics ranging from the obligations of occupiers to the law of prisoners of war, and an on-line book, Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know

This site, maintained by the Society of Professional Journalists, provides the full text of the Convetions, an on-line alphabetical topic index to the Convetions, and historical information.

WSLF works closely with Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy. There web site has a wealth of information on international law and its application to nuclear weapons issues and U.S. military and foreign policy.

Web page with a variety of materials, including links to court filings in Doe v. Bush, Massachusetts federal court case brought in Massachusetts by a coalition of U.S. service people, their parents, and members of Congress to declare Iraq war illegal.

Center for Constitutional Rights Initiative for a Uniting for Peace Resolution in the United Nations to Stop the War in Iraq

While in the U.N. system the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security throughout the world, another procedure exists to ensure peace when the Council fails to do so. That procedure, the Uniting for Peace resolution, allows the General Assembly to meet to consider the threat to international peace and it can then recommend collective measures to U.N. Members to maintain or restore peace.

This page provides information on the Center for Constitutional Rights initiative, and on actions you can take to support it.

Roger Normand., et al, The Center for Economic and Social Rights Emergency Campaign on Iraq, March 2003

The first, written prior to the U.N. Security Council passage of a new resolution concerning Ieaq arms inspections, was requested by Public Interest Lawyers on behalf of Peacerights (UK) and done by Rabinder Singh QC and Alison MacDonald, Matrix Chambers, London. The opinion demonstrates that under present circumstances, use of force against Iraq would not qualify as self defense under the UN Charter. There is no actual or imminent attack by Iraq which would justify a self-defense claim on the part of the United States or any state. This opinion is available at http://www.lcnp.org/global/IraqOpinion10.9.02.pdf

The second opinion analyzes the recent Security Council resolution on Iraq. That opinion, written on behalf of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (United Kingdom), states that --UN Security Council Resolution 1441 does not authorise the use of force by member states of the United Nations. --The UK would be in breach of international law if it were to use force against Iraq in reliance on R1441 without a further SC resolution.

The opinion:

In the Matter of the Potential Use of Armed Force by the UK Against Iraq and in the Matter of Reliance for That Use of Force on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441

Security Council Resolution 1441

We, the undersigned American historians, urge our members of Congress to assume their Constitutional responsibility to debate and vote on whether or not to declare war on Iraq.... Over 1200 American historians signed the petition.