Publisher's Synopsis
It is in our strategic interest to have a strong commander-in-chief with the ability to take quick and decisive military action. But that authority must be legally sound and checked by vigorous oversight and engagement from Congress on behalf of the American people. The decision to use military force is one of the most consequential any President can make and should always be among the most carefully considered. As Presidents deliberate whether and how to use military force, they take into account a number of different factors, and it is these factors-the strategic, political, and legal concerns involved with such decisions-that we will explore with our panel of witnesses today. First are the strategic questions. We will look at what test the President should use in determining whether to use military force and what U.S. interest must be at stake. We will also want to examine how Presidents should balance the use of force against other options. We must also look at the political considerations. Public opinion matters for obvious reasons. But when it comes to the use of American force, the support of the public and the Congress play a key role in our ability to be effective, especially when things go wrong. We hope to gain insight into how much political support should factor into a President's thinking when it comes to using force.
