Sept. 10 and 11, 2010

The National Security Forum held its third annual retreat. The topic was the wisdom and the legality of America’s armed drone program. Our 12 guests participated in a series of private conversations, capped by a reception open to the public. Among the participants were Eric Schmitt (New York Times), Dina Temple-Raston (NPR), Mary Ellen O’Connell (Notre Dame), Jordan Paust (Houston), Jameel Jaffer (ACLU), and Hina Shamsi (NYU/UN).

Terrorism and the Law: A Transatlantic Debate

Minnesota Public Radio host Kerri Miller hosted a National Security Forum discussion in London about how the United States and Great Britain differ in their approaches to counterterrorism. Panalists included American lawyers, a British judge, a member of the Queen’s Counsel, and the author of “The British War on Terror.”

April 12, 2010

As the Obama administration continues the war on terror, the National Security Forum hosted a panel discussion to address questions about strategies and tactics, including targeted kills versus capture, detention versus rendition, unmanned drone attacks versus ground operations. Speakers included  Mark Williams from the Office of Security & Counterterrorism, United Kingdom; U.S. District Court Judge James M. Rosenbaum, District of Minnesota; Matthew Cole and Brian Ross of ABC News;Barton Gellman of the Washington Post; and Dafna Linzer of ProPublica.

February 25, 2010

The National Security Forum sponsored a discussion live from the UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) about the changing nature of the terrorist threat and America’s response, the dangers posed by homegrown radicalism, and whether terror suspects should be tried in civilian courts. MPR host Kerri Miller interviewed former CIA officers Michael Scheuer and Paul Pillar.

Nov. 5, 2009

The National Security Forum sponsored a panel discussion among the nation’s top intelligence reporters at Minnesota Public Radio’s UBS Auditorium. Speakers included Siobhan Gorman from The Wall Street Journal, Mark Mazzetti of The New York Times, and Walter Pincus of The Washington Post. The event was moderated by “Midday” host Kerri Miller.

Sept. 11, 2009

The National Security Forum held a retreat for many leading legal scholars who study terrorism, international crime, and national security. The group included professors from Washington University in St. Louis, Vermont Law School, and S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. Speakers included Chief Judge Michael J. Davis, FBI Agent Tim Gossfeld, and Los Angeles Times national security correspondent Greg Miller.

March 30, 2009

Radsan and Amos N. Guiora, a professor of law at the University of Utah and a former legal adviser to the Israeli Defense Forces, debate Fionnuala D. Ni Aolain, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota and a counterterrorism expert; Deborah Colson, acting director of the law and security program at Human Rights First; and Eric S. Janus, president and dean of William Mitchell and an expert on preventive detention; about whether or not the criminal justice system can handle all terrorism cases.

March 19, 2009

Radsan interviews Tom Gjelten, a correspondent for National Public Radio, about what it’s like covering the CIA, what people need to know about the state of the media, and the differences between Washington, D.C., and Minnesota, which is where Gjelten was raised.

Feb. 18, 2009

Wax and Radsan debate how far Obama’s counterterrorism policies will differ and should differ from Bush policies. Topics include extraordinary rendition, Predator strikes, aggressive interrogations, and electronic surveillance.

Nov. 13, 2008

Former U. S. Attorneys Tom Heffelfinger and Todd Jones outlined their predictions for the Justice Department and its priorities under President-Elect Barack Obama. Moderated by the Honorable James Rosenbaum, United States District Court in Minneapolis.

Sept. 26, 2008

National Security Forum Director and William Mitchell Professor A. John Radsan moderated a discussion on how countries deter, detain, interrogate, and try terrorists. Panelists: Amos Guiora, Univ. of Utah SJ Quinney School of Law, on Israel; Mitchell Professor Jay Krishnan on India; and Radsan on Spain.

April 17, 2008

A panel of experts explored these issues at a Public Insight Forum April 17 on Energy Security and National Security: Making the Connection hosted by the National Security Forum and Regulatory Law Lecture at William Mitchell, in conjunction with Minnesota Public Radio.

April 8, 2008

As U.S. Senator, Mondale served in 1975 on the Church Committee, which investigated abuses by U.S. intelligence agencies. He was also chairman of the Senate’s Intelligence Committee´s Domestic Task Force.

March 26, 2008

Britt Snider was an investigator on the U.S. Senate committee that looked into intelligence agency abuses by the Nixon Administration. The Church Committee found telecommunications companies provided their overseas traffic to the NSA.

Feb. 4, 2008

Special guest speaker FBI Special Agent Stefan A. Pluta was in charge of the investigation into Robert Hanssen, a double agent for the Russians from 1985-2001. Hanssen was arrested in 2001, and in 2002 was sentenced to life in prison.

Sept. 29, 2007

Six years after 9-11, national security issues permeate society. Five national security experts discuss executive branch powers, civil liberties, the new Directorate of National Intelligence, and amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

April 17, 2007

Are Islam and Judeo-Christianity doomed to conflict or is there room for conversation? A National Security Forum and The UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio discussion, broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio.

March 28, 2007

What’s the secret to good spy movies? How do they differ from other films? Why do spies fascinate Hollywood – and vice versa? Has the CIA gone Hollywood?

Oct. 25, 2006

The collision between the First Amendment and executive powers.

Should those who expose secrets be protected or prosecuted?

Sept. 12, 2006

Trial lawyers, investigators, and reporters who worked on the Zacarias Moussaoui case discuss the complexities of trying terrorists in federal court.

May 15, 2006

Frederick Hitz, former CIA inspector general, Christopher O’Leary, FBI Minneapolis agent-in-charge, and Judge Michael Davis, U.S. District Court, give their perspectives on what counter-terrorism tactics are acceptable in a democracy.

April 7, 2006

Michael Hurley, former senior counsel on the 9/11 Commission and now with the Counterterrorism Office, U.S. State Department, discusses the 9/11 Commission’s final report and what we can learn from it.

March 29, 2006

Robert Delahunty, former staffer at the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department and a professor at St. Thomas School of Law, examines measures a president can take to protect national security.

February 16, 2006

Federal District Judges Gerald Rosen, Detroit, and John Tunheim, Minneapolis, and James Rosen, national security correspondent for the Star Tribune, speak on whether we can trust the courts with classified information.

February 1, 2006

Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War tells of the operation in Mogadishu that left 18 American soldiers dead and many more wounded and how it affected American foreign policy in Somalia.

October 28, 2005

William McNair, retired CIA officer, and Professors Neal Katyal, Georgetown University Law Center, and John Norton Moore, University of Virginia School of Law, explore the legality of “War on Terror” interrogation tactics.