JUST HAD THE FIRST MEETING of my National Security Law seminar. I’m using this casebook as my main text; the bad news is I just got my copy a week ago, the good news is that it’s very up to date, since it just came out. The first session — which in a seminar is as much about getting acquainted and establishing the chemistry as about substance — featured a nice discussion about distinguishing terrorism from war in general, and about ways in which the law might have to change to accommodate more decentralized approaches to war. (One student, with a special-forces background, is interested in applying letters of marque and reprisal as a model, which should be interesting).

I’ve never taught this course before, though I touch on some of the issues in other courses I teach, and I have some small amount of practical experience in the area. It should be fun.