Perspectives on National Security and the War on Terror

The past two administrations, led by President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, have overseen responses to the largest domestic terrorist attack in U.S. history, the beginning and imminent end of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the development of laws supporting non-Article III military commissions, the rise and dismantling of terrorist networks, and the evolution of various forms of warfare. There is much debate surrounding how these administrations may have differed or aligned in their interpretation of the Constitution when formulating national security policy in this area. How have the two administrations differed in their interpretation of executive power and effectuating policies to fight the war on terror? How has the Obama administration justified actions relating to the War Powers Act, military commissions, Authorization for Use of Military Force, and drone warfare? Finally, what is the progressive vision for national security policy, and how might that comport with and differ from this administration’s current policies?