A Discussion With Laura Donohue - The Cost of Counterterrorism: Power, Politics, and Liberty

June 11, 2008

Dear Friend,

    Please join the Constitution Project and The George Washington University Law School on June 11, 2008, as we sponsor a discussion of Professor Laura Donohue's new book, The Cost of Counterterrorism: Power, Politics, and Liberty.

    In the aftermath of a terrorist attack political stakes are high: legislators fear being seen as lenient or indifferent and often grant the executive broader authorities without thorough debate. The judiciary's role, too, is restricted: constitutional structure and cultural norms narrow the courts' ability to check the executive at all but the margins. The dominant 'Security or Freedom' framework for evaluating counterterrorist law thus fails to capture an important characteristic: increased executive power that shifts the balance between branches of government. This book re-calculates the cost of counterterrorist law to the and the , arguing that the damage caused is significantly greater than first appears. Donohue warns that the proliferation of biological and nuclear materials, together with willingness on the part of extremists to sacrifice themselves, may drive each country to take increasingly drastic measures with a resultant shift in the basic structure of both states.

     A light lunch will be served. There is no charge for attendance. Please RSVP at your earliest convenience, as seating is limited. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event.

DATE: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

TIME: Lunch, 12:00 pm; Discussion 12:30 - 2:00 pm

LOCATION: The George Washington University
                  Faculty Conference Center
                  716 20th Street, NW, B505
                  Washington, DC

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

            Dr. Laura Donohue is a Fellow at the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School and at the Freeman Spogli Institute's Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. Professor Donohue is the author of The Cost of Counterterrorism: Power, Politics, and Liberty. 

            Michael German is a Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union and a member of the Constitution Project's Liberty and Security Committee. Mr. German previously served as an FBI Special Agent in counterterrorism operations.

            Dr. David Luban is University Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. Professor Luban's scholarship has focused on international criminal law and just war theory.