Forum on the Arms Trade
@forumarmstrade.bsky.social
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forumarmstrade.org -- The Forum is a network of civil society experts and a point of contact for strengthening public efforts to address the humanitarian, economic and other implications of arms transfers, security assistance, and weapons use.
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Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
annieshiel.bsky.social
Despite the narrow failure of a Senate War Powers Resolution last night, “There will be more opportunities for Congress to rally against the president’s killings of civilians without due process," @jwrchappell.bsky.social told Responsible Statecraft.

More: responsiblestatecraft.org/senate-war-p...
Senate effort to rein in Trump war on 'narco-terrorists' fails
War Powers Resolution fails largely along party lines
responsiblestatecraft.org
forumarmstrade.bsky.social
attn: @globalexchange.bsky.social
For more on this topic, see our resource page www.forumarmstrade.org/catitoiii.html
and this thread with additional reactions bsky.app/profile/foru...
forumarmstrade.bsky.social
“...U.S. companies that gave millions to President Trump’s campaign and benefit from the loosened weapons export rule are also selling the guns trafficked to gangs in Haiti and cartels in Mexico against whom Trump has declared war,” argues John Lindsay-Poland
stopusarmstomexico.org/trump-admini...
Trump Administration Rescinds Lifesaving Gun Export Rule
[versión en español aquí] Contact: John Lindsay-Poland, Project Coordinator Stop U.S Arms to Mexico, a project of Global Exchange [email protected] October 9, 2025 Trump Administration Re…
stopusarmstomexico.org
Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
bcfinucane.bsky.social
From my colleague who used to head the Treaty Office at the US Department of State.
justsecurity.org
Trump issued an order pledging to defend Qatar’s security:
- Is it binding?
- Is the pledge mutual?
- Why wasn’t Congress involved?
- What are the policy risks?

Leading treaty expert Mike Mattler (former State Dept.) analyzes these Qs and more:

www.justsecurity.org/122118/trump...
Some Questions About Trump’s Order Pledging to Defend Qatar’s Security
Trump's EO on Qatar raises a number of important legal and policy questions that merit careful consideration by Congress and the public.
www.justsecurity.org
Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
omegarf.bsky.social
Big news from the @coe.int!
We join @amnestyeu.bsky.social in welcoming this progress towards #TortureFreeTrade!
amnestyeu.bsky.social
@amnesty.org welcomes the @coe.int decision toward torture- & death penalty-free trade.

After a review of CM/Rec(2021)2 on measures against trade in goods used for the death penalty & torture, @coe.int committed to further efforts to control this trade worldwide.
search.coe.int/cm/eng?i=091...
CoE Search - CM
search.coe.int
Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
costsofwar.bsky.social
BREAKING: The post-10/7 wars have killed or injured at least 236,505 people in Gaza alone. The U.S. has spent over $31 billion and counting in the wider region since Oct. 7, 2023, where millions have been displaced, according to new Costs of War research. [THREAD]

Photo Credit: Heidi Levine, 2025
Photo by Heidi Levine (July 30, 2025) showing an aerial view of Gaza destruction, taken during a Royal Jordanian military flight for a humanitarian aid mission.
forumarmstrade.bsky.social
Where does your country stand on humanitarian disarmament treaties and initiatives? Find out here www.forumarmstrade.org/hdtracker.html (and see docs.google.com/spreadsheets...)
forumarmstrade.bsky.social
As the UN First Committee (disarmament) gets started, see the updated spreadsheet on where states stand on humanitarian disarmament treaties and initiatives w/ new intro from @yeshuamp.bsky.social (also available as spreadsheet docs.google.com/spreadsheets...) www.forumarmstrade.org/hdtracker.html
Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
bcfinucane.bsky.social
Good to see this letter from House ranking members on the nat'l security committees asking for the administration's list of "designated terrorist organizations" and the OLC legal memo blessing lethal strikes in the Caribbean.

Executive branch has issued itself a license to kill secret enemies.
However, your Administration has not identified any of the specific organizations you
have determined to be included as designated terrorist organizations, nor the criteria or process
used for making such determinations. You have also failed to specify the authority under which
the Administration is able to designate affiliates of certain drug trafficking organizations as
enemy combatants for the purpose of undertaking lethal strikes. We request that you immediately
provide a list of all designated terrorist organizations to Congress, along with the associated
determination criteria or methodologies used. In addition, you have not provided Congress with
details regarding the intelligence associated with these strikes.
Finally, the Administration has not provided significant details with respect to the legal
justification for these strikes beyond vague assertions of Article II powers. The President’s
Article II powers are significant, but they are not limitless. It is our understanding that the
Department of Defense has determined strikes against designated terrorist organizations are legal
on the basis of a legal opinion produced by the Department of Justice. We ask that you provide
that legal opinion to Congress immediately.
We look forward to receiving the list of designated terrorist organizations and the
Department of Justice legal opinion. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Reposted by Forum on the Arms Trade
dylanwilliams.bsky.social
This week marks two years since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

A new @cipolicy.bsky.social memo sets out recommendations for permanently ending the Gaza war that followed & ensuring the long term security, rights & well-being of Israelis & Palestinians:

internationalpolicy.org/wp-content/u...