Use of Force
182 Articles

Opaque Transparency on the Use of Force: Observations on the 2022 “1264” Report
The 2022 report illustrates the limits of congressionally mandated reporting requirements on matters of war and peace and the need for Congress to be more proactive in informing…

Can Aid or Assistance Be a Use of Force?: Expert Q&A from Stockton Center’s Russia-Ukraine Conference
Some States are likely engaging in force by virtue of the quantity and quality of the support they are providing to Ukraine. Those activities are lawful as actions taken in the…

Rephrasing the “Ethical Checklist”: Grappling with Tough Foreign Policy Choices
How can states pursue more ethical, value-based approaches to foreign policy amidst competing priorities and strategic realities?

Permanently Winding Down the War on Terror Requires Greater Transparency
Increased transparency is needed to ensure the United States makes a definitive turn away from endless war.

The Ukraine War and the Crime of Aggression: How to Fill the Gaps in the International Legal System
An expert analysis of the diplomatic and legal options for creating a tribunal for the crime of waging a war of aggression against Ukraine.

Війна в Україні та злочин агресії: Як заповнити прогалини в міжнародній правовій системі
An expert analysis of the diplomatic and legal options for creating a tribunal for the crime of waging a war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Limits of Remote Warfare: Aligning Values with Interests
The Biden administration should be more circumspect in its reliance on lethal force as a foreign policy tool outside of traditional war zones.

Poland’s Position on International Law and Cyber Operations: Sovereignty and Third-Party Countermeasures
Poland's positions push the discussion forward on contested areas of law.

How Support to Partner Forces Enables Secret War
With security cooperation as a means of pursuing U.S. military objectives becoming more frequent, Department of Defense-led security cooperation, particularly under §§ 333, 127e,…

What the White House Use of Force Policy Means for the War in Somalia
In principle, the new policy tightens safeguards for airstrikes and special operation raids. But it contains loopholes that will likely allow business as usual for USAFRICOM in…

The Biden Drone Playbook: The Elusive Promise of Restrained Counterterrorism
The new policy guidance on direct action is welcome, but more work is needed to fulfill the promise of restrained counterterrorism.

What Was the International Legal Basis for the Strike on al-Zawahiri?
Serious questions need to be addressed in order to establish that both the killing of Zawahiri, and the use of force against Afghanistan, were not violations of international law.