United States of America: Doctrine of pervasive ‘war’ continues to undermine human rights
This document is a reflection on the ninth anniversary of the passage into law of the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). It is clear that the USA is having difficulty letting go of the sweeping “war” doctrine it adopted immediately after the attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001 (9/11). Continuing resort to a global war framework is ultimately why the Guantánamo detentions and trials remain issues mired in “difficult” politics rather than having long since been resolved in the ordinary criminal justice system, consistent with international law.