Commentary

Human Rights First staff and board members regularly write articles and give speeches on a range of issues related to human rights post September 11.

Abuse cases in a legal twilight
By Priti Patel
Published in the News and Observer on February 15, 2007

Terrorism, Counter-terrorism and Human Rights
Remarks by Gabor Rona
International Legal Director, Human Rights First
September 7, 2006 to the International Commission of Jurists, Eminent Jurists Panel

The CIA Torture Loophole
By Priti Patel
Published in the Los Angeles Times on August 18, 2006

Finding Effective Constraints on Executive Power:
Interrogation, Detention, and Torture
By Deborah Pearlstein
Published in the Indiana Law Journal Symposium on "War, Terrorism and Torture: Limits on Presidential Power in the 21st Century" in Fall 2006

The Rule of Law
By Michael Posner
Published in the Boston Globe
July 18, 2006

Advantage, Rule of Law
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
June 30, 2006

National Insecurity
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
February 3, 2006

Constitutional and Policy Implications of Military Tribunals for Terrorism Detainees Remarks
Remarks by Gabor Rona,
International Legal Director, Human Rights First
February 2, 2006 at the Boston Federalist Society

Out of the Frying Pan
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
November 22, 2005

Heading toward the 'dark side'
by Elisa Massimino
Published in The Los Angeles Times on
November 21, 2005

The Senate Steps Up
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
October 13, 2005

A Branch More Dangerous
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
September 6, 2005

Close Camp Delta
By Michael Posner
Published in the Baltimore Sun
June 9, 2005

Ammo for the Enemy
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
June 1, 2005

The Rule of Law in the “War on Terror”
Remarks by Deborah Pearlstein
“New Century” Address to the Stanford University Center for International Security & Cooperation
May 3, 2005

Reconciling Torture with Democracy
By Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The NYU Journal of Law and Security
in April 2005

From the Top on Down
by John D. Hutson and James Cullen
Published in Legal Times on
April 18, 2005

Who's Afraid of International Law?
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
April 5, 2005

Laws of Gravity
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
February 24, 2005

Human Rights, Law and Security
Remarks by Michael Posner
Executive Director, Human Rights First
American Bar Association / Center for Human Rights
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 14, 2005

Rights Without a Country
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
January 21, 2005

Objection Overruled
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
November 23, 2004

HRF Deeply Troubled by White House Counsel Gonzales
Nomination to Attorney General Post
November 10, 2004

Rewarding Bad Behavior
by Deborah Pearlstein
Published in The American Prospect Online on
October 19, 2004

Press Conference on H.R. 10 Section 3032 on Weakening
Protections Against Torture
by Elisa Massimino
Washington Director, Human Rights First
October 5, 2004

Leading by Example?
U.S. Interrogation of Prisoners in the War on Terror
By Elisa Massimino
Washington Director,
Human Rights First

Waking Up to the Costs of Secrecy
By Eric Biel
Washington, D.C. Office Deputy Director
Human Rights First
Baltimore Sun, July 25, 2004
The Sun Herald, July 23, 2004
The News-Leader, July 27, 2004
The Bergen County Record, July 25, 2004

Justice and the War on Terrorism: Extend high court rulings to
all U.S. detainees
by Robert Gard and Deborah Pearlstein
Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (Ret.) is a consultant on international security and president emeritus of the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Deborah Pearlstein is the director of the U.S. Law and Security Program for Human Rights First. She lives in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Chronicle, July 15, 2004

A Thousand Words
By Deborah Pearlstein
Director U.S. Law and Security Program, Human Rights First
Published in The American Prospect, July 1, 2004

Whom Do Government Lawyers Serve?
By Philip Allen Lacovara
Human Rights First Board Member, July 2004

Rumsfeld's Actions Speak Louder
Op-Ed by Kerry Kennedy and Michael Posner
Kerry Kennedy is founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights and author of "Speak Truth to Power." Michael Posner is executive director of Human Rights First.
Boston Globe, May 15, 2004

Contesting Power Over Guantanamo Bay: The President
and the Supreme Court
Remarks by Deborah Pearlstein
Director U.S. Law and Security Program, Human Rights First
Cornell University
April 26, 2004

Detained at the Whim of the President
By Deborah Pearlstein
Director U.S. Law and Security Program, Human Rights First Published in the International Herald Tribune, December 10, 2003

National Security After September 11: A Rights Perspective
Remarks by Michael Posner
Executive Director, Human Rights First
Presented to the American Bar Foundation, San Antonio, Texas
February 7, 2004

Trials and Error
By Philip Allen Lacovara
Board Member, Human Rights First; former deputy solicitor general of the United States; and former counsel to the Watergate special prosecutor.
Published in The Washington Post, November 12, 2003