Marc Garlasco
@marcgarlasco.bsky.social
Chief of Assessments & Investigations of civilian harm at Department of Defense formerly DIA, HRW, CNA, PAX, UN war crimes investigator specialized in civilian harm mitigation and response. Writing in my personal capacity and not as DoD.
How can we scale Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) for future large scale combat operations (LSCO)? Important new report from @paxforpeace.bsky.social
Key Takeaways for Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response from the Russia-Ukraine War
Ukraine's fight against Russia offers an important entry point to the discussion of applying CHMR practices to large-scale combat operations.
www.justsecurity.org
January 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
How can we scale Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) for future large scale combat operations (LSCO)? Important new report from @paxforpeace.bsky.social
Remembering Captain Ian Fishback on his birthday. A constant reminder how America is failing its veterans mental health needs.
Soldier Who Called Out Torture in Iraq Is Laid to Rest at Arlington (Published 2023)
Ian Fishback, who left the Army with the rank of major, was a dissident-in-uniform who died at the age of 42 after entering a dizzying mental health spiral.
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Remembering Captain Ian Fishback on his birthday. A constant reminder how America is failing its veterans mental health needs.
I used to have this job. It’s the most challenging and rewarding position you will ever have. The work will at times destroy you. It will lift you up. You will give voice to the voiceless, speak truth to power, cradle innocents, stare down despots, and change the world. Do it.
Researcher, Crisis, Conflict, and Arms
Multiple Locations Considered
job-boards.greenhouse.io
January 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I used to have this job. It’s the most challenging and rewarding position you will ever have. The work will at times destroy you. It will lift you up. You will give voice to the voiceless, speak truth to power, cradle innocents, stare down despots, and change the world. Do it.
Reposted by Marc Garlasco
“The strength of IHL lies in its clarity and predictability, but its application falters when exceptions overshadow rules”
lieber.westpoint.edu/year-ahead-l...
lieber.westpoint.edu/year-ahead-l...
Year Ahead – Land Operations - Lieber Institute West Point
There are worrying trends in contemporary land warfare that demand international community’s attention in 2025.
lieber.westpoint.edu
January 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“The strength of IHL lies in its clarity and predictability, but its application falters when exceptions overshadow rules”
lieber.westpoint.edu/year-ahead-l...
lieber.westpoint.edu/year-ahead-l...
It’s Thursday night so I’m hanging with @criticalrole.bsky.social
January 3, 2025 at 3:31 AM
It’s Thursday night so I’m hanging with @criticalrole.bsky.social
The report on civilian casualties caused by US Forces in 2023 has been released and notes the use of external data sources, including from NGOs, in improving our understanding of civilian harm and is an important example of transparency and accountability.
DOD Releases the Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection With U.S. Military Ope
The Defense Department released the Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection with United States Military Operations in 2023.
www.defense.gov
December 20, 2024 at 1:21 PM
The report on civilian casualties caused by US Forces in 2023 has been released and notes the use of external data sources, including from NGOs, in improving our understanding of civilian harm and is an important example of transparency and accountability.
I was on the United Nations Syria Commission where I investigated war crimes by all parties to the conflict. The records of Assad and Putin’s crimes will soon be revealed as internal documents come to light. I pray they both pay but for now I raise my glass.
December 8, 2024 at 8:36 PM
I was on the United Nations Syria Commission where I investigated war crimes by all parties to the conflict. The records of Assad and Putin’s crimes will soon be revealed as internal documents come to light. I pray they both pay but for now I raise my glass.
Today Cadillac announced they were joining the F1 grid and returning to Grand Prix. My grandfather Albino Garlasco was a champion racer for Cadillac from 1919-1924 where he won oval and street races setting several speed records. In one photo you see my grandparents both in their Cadillac uniforms.
November 26, 2024 at 2:15 AM
Today Cadillac announced they were joining the F1 grid and returning to Grand Prix. My grandfather Albino Garlasco was a champion racer for Cadillac from 1919-1924 where he won oval and street races setting several speed records. In one photo you see my grandparents both in their Cadillac uniforms.
Someone is super needy tonight
November 22, 2024 at 1:24 AM
Someone is super needy tonight
Fun times with my favorite person 🫶
November 17, 2024 at 2:13 AM
Fun times with my favorite person 🫶
My take on the first bit of transparency from the Israeli Air Force. It’s welcome - and we need more of this - but it’s hard to see how the conduct of the air campaign in Gaza is lawful.
"The IDF says it upholds international humanitarian law, but it’s hard to see how the conduct of the air campaign in Gaza is lawful."
@marcgarlasco.bsky.social looks at the Israeli Air Force's recent statement addressing criticisms of its use of force.
@marcgarlasco.bsky.social looks at the Israeli Air Force's recent statement addressing criticisms of its use of force.
Legal Questions Answered and Unanswered in Israel’s Air War in Gaza
How does the Israeli Defense Forces justify its attacks as legal in the face of so much destruction?
www.lawfaremedia.org
January 2, 2024 at 3:56 PM
My take on the first bit of transparency from the Israeli Air Force. It’s welcome - and we need more of this - but it’s hard to see how the conduct of the air campaign in Gaza is lawful.
My initial reaction to the new DoD policy aimed at protecting civilians in US military operations. TLDR: it’s damn good. A few quibbles. Would love to see it adopted by more countries.
What’s in the Pentagon’s groundbreaking new policy on civilian harm mitigation and response?
@marcgarlasco.bsky.social breaks it down:
@marcgarlasco.bsky.social breaks it down:
Pentagon Releases First-Ever Policy on Civilian Harm Reduction
What’s in the groundbreaking new policy on civilian harm mitigation and response?
www.lawfaremedia.org
December 22, 2023 at 10:29 PM
My initial reaction to the new DoD policy aimed at protecting civilians in US military operations. TLDR: it’s damn good. A few quibbles. Would love to see it adopted by more countries.
Many thanks to ABC Australia for having me on to discuss the issue of civilian harm in Gaza, International Humanitarian Law, and weapons.
US to push Israel to define war milestones - ABC listen
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has touched down in Tel Aviv, as Washington pushes Israel on civilian casualties in Gaza.
It comes after Joe Biden warned last week that Israel was losing internatio...
www.abc.net.au
December 19, 2023 at 1:57 AM
Many thanks to ABC Australia for having me on to discuss the issue of civilian harm in Gaza, International Humanitarian Law, and weapons.
We are justifiably concerned about the use of unguided weapons in Gaza as Castner and I note concerns with missing targets and hitting civilians, but 30K bombs with wide area effects are killing civilians regardless of accuracy. Our comments in the WaPo👇
Unguided ‘dumb bombs’ used in almost half of Israeli strikes on Gaza
The revelation, disclosed in a U.S. intelligence assessment, emerged as American officials press Israel for a more targeted approach to its military campaign.
t.co
December 15, 2023 at 12:32 PM
We are justifiably concerned about the use of unguided weapons in Gaza as Castner and I note concerns with missing targets and hitting civilians, but 30K bombs with wide area effects are killing civilians regardless of accuracy. Our comments in the WaPo👇
This news completely undercuts Israel’s claims of trying to minimize civilian harm. I’m quoted here on nearly HALF of all bombs dropped on Gaza being unguided 👇
Exclusive: Nearly half of the Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are imprecise ‘dumb bombs,’ US...
Nearly half of the air-to-ground munitions that Israel has used in Gaza in its war with Hamas since October 7 have been unguided, otherwise known as “dumb bombs,” according to a new US intellig...
www.cnn.com
December 14, 2023 at 2:32 AM
This news completely undercuts Israel’s claims of trying to minimize civilian harm. I’m quoted here on nearly HALF of all bombs dropped on Gaza being unguided 👇
My latest on attacks on hospitals: www.npr.org/sections/goa...
December 13, 2023 at 3:01 PM
My latest on attacks on hospitals: www.npr.org/sections/goa...
A look at civilian casualties in Gaza with comments from me 👇
Gaza Civilians, Under Israeli Barrage, Are Being Killed at Historic Pace
Even a conservative assessment of the reported Gaza casualty figures shows that the rate of death during Israel’s assault has few precedents in this century, experts say.
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2023 at 1:07 PM
A look at civilian casualties in Gaza with comments from me 👇
I’m quoted here about the IDF’s challenges of shifting from deliberate to dynamic targeting.
As Gaza death toll soars, secrecy shrouds Israel’s targeting process
Experts say Israel’s rules of engagement in Gaza, which are classified, appear to include a higher threshold for civilian casualties than in past wars.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 6, 2023 at 12:26 PM
I’m quoted here about the IDF’s challenges of shifting from deliberate to dynamic targeting.
An important article from Dr. Larry Lewis on how the IDF can integrate CHMR into operations in Gaza to protect civilians. As they once told him, “they may have “blind spots” that limit their ability to mitigate civilian harm in practice.”
Protecting Civilians in Gaza Requires Not Just a Will, but a Way
The U.S. can help Israel reduce civilian casualties in Gaza with advice on civilian harm mitigation in military operations, using lessons from Iraq, etc.
t.co
October 29, 2023 at 7:06 PM
An important article from Dr. Larry Lewis on how the IDF can integrate CHMR into operations in Gaza to protect civilians. As they once told him, “they may have “blind spots” that limit their ability to mitigate civilian harm in practice.”
The most comprehensive look at the incident. With quotes from yours truly…
A barrage and a midair explosion: What visual evidence shows about the Gaza hospital blast
Videos analyzed by The Washington Post reveal that rockets were launched from Gaza in the direction of al-Ahli Hospital 44 seconds before an explosion there.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 26, 2023 at 11:55 PM
The most comprehensive look at the incident. With quotes from yours truly…
@npr.org gave me the last word on this piece on the Gaza hospital - www.npr.org/2023/10/23/1...
October 24, 2023 at 1:42 AM
@npr.org gave me the last word on this piece on the Gaza hospital - www.npr.org/2023/10/23/1...
“When I investigate a site of a potential war crime the first thing I do is locate and identify parts of the weapon. The weapon tells you who did it and how. I’ve never seen such a lack of physical evidence for a weapon at a site. Ever.”
CNN Investigates: Forensic analysis of images and videos suggests rocket caused Gaza hospital blast,...
In the days since a blast ripped through the packed Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, killing hundreds of Palestinians, dueling claims between Palestinian militants and the Israeli government over culpab...
www.cnn.com
October 22, 2023 at 2:36 PM
“When I investigate a site of a potential war crime the first thing I do is locate and identify parts of the weapon. The weapon tells you who did it and how. I’ve never seen such a lack of physical evidence for a weapon at a site. Ever.”
How do bombs work? How big is a JDAM crater? How many fragments does 155mm artillery create? Learn all about weapons from this report I coauthored with ARES for the ICRC 👇
Explosive weapons in populated areas: Technical considerations
Too often, explosive weapons that have wide-area effects are used in populated areas, with devastating effects on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Explosive weapons use the detonation of a
www.icrc.org
October 21, 2023 at 2:50 PM
How do bombs work? How big is a JDAM crater? How many fragments does 155mm artillery create? Learn all about weapons from this report I coauthored with ARES for the ICRC 👇