National Security Law

Russian President Vladimir Putin and forces under his direction have engaged in horrific and senseless crimes in Ukraine. It is imperative that the United States and its allies and partners seek accountability for these heinous acts by bringing Putin and culpable Russian forces to justice, such as through an ad hoc international legal tribunal. This FAL brief outlines why pursuing these goals through the International Criminal Court risks boomeranging against the United States.

Congress is considering a resolution to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (“AUMF”) against Iraq.  Although the Executive Branch does not rely solely upon the 2002 AUMF for any ongoing operations, its repeal will be closely watched by both allies and adversaries. Before repealing the 2002 AUMF, Congress should carefully consider how repeal could inadvertently establish precedent for greater Presidential authority in deploying force, as well as the strategic signaling that could potentially embolden regional adversaries, such as Iran and its proxies.