Liberty Tree | VIDEO: Who Decides About War?

VIDEO: Who Decides About War?

October 2, 2009 -October 3, 2009

Location:

Georgetown Law School, Washington D.C.

"Who Decides About War?," the National Conference on War Powers, Law, and Democracy, took place October 2-3, 2009 in Washington D.C.. Organized by the Guard Home! campaign, Liberty Tree Foundation, and many partners, and hosted by the National Lawyers Guild at the Georgetown Law School, this conference was the first of its kind in many years, uniting academics with activists, attorneys with veterans, in exploring key reforms necessary to democratizing defense in the United States, and making war less likely.

For a full listing of speakers at the conference, click here:

http://www.whodecidesaboutwar.org/speakers

To order a DVD of the proceedings, please contact us.

Keynote Remarks: Dr. Morton Halperin and Jeremy Scahill

Panel I - War Powers and the States

Panelists: State Rep. Michael Fisher (VT), Sen. Rich Madaleno (MD), Sen. Jamin Raskin (MD)

Panel II - War Powers Principles: Constitution, Law, & the People

Panelists: Elaine Brower (moderator), Leah Bolger, Ben Manski, Benson Scotch, David Swanson

The Constitution: The roles of Congress, the President, the courts, and the States under the Constitution, from the perspectives of the Revolution, the Founders, and on.
The Laws: The creation of a standing army; federalization of the state militias; creation of the modern Defense Department and the rise of the “military-industrial complex,” including increased use of private military companies; mutual defense treaties and non-treaty military obligations.
The Will of the People: Popular understandings and beliefs about U.S. defense policy, the role of the Guard, the responsibilities of the states, and the allocation of war powers.

Panel III – War Powers in Practice

Panelists: Jean Athey (moderator), John Bonifaz, Prof. Caleb Rossiter, Prof. Don Wallace

How have Presidents, Congress, and the Courts interpreted and applied the Constitution’s war powers clauses?
How has the principle of checks and balances enumerated in the Constitution’s war powers clauses been applied or been defeated?
What are the ways in which Congress has sought to exercise its war powers to control, limit, or promote the use of military force? How have laws like the War Powers Act been applied (or not), and with what results?

Roundtable: Peace Advocacy and Defense Reform

Panelists: Phyllis Bennis, Geoff Millard, Elaine Brower, Kevin Zeese, Jeremy Scahill

A discussion about the how or if veterans organizations, peace organizations, and pro-democracy advocates can work together to develop a realistic agenda for national defense reform.

Additional Information:

http://www.WhoDecidesAboutWar.org

http://www.BringtheGuardHome.org

Areas of Focus:

Afghanistan (Bring The Guard Home), Defense Reform (Bring The Guard Home), Democratizing Defense, History of the Guard (Bring The Guard Home), Iraq (Bring The Guard Home), Law of Democracy

Tags:

AfterDowningStreet.orgBen ManskiBenson ScotchCaleb KleppnerDavid SwansonDemocrats.comDon WallaceElaine BrowerGeoff MillardIVAWJean AtheyJeremy ScahillJohn BonifazKevin ZeeseLeah BolgerLiberty TreeMilitary Families Speak OutMort HalperinNational Lawyers GuildPhyllis BennisRep. Michael FisherSen. Jamin RaskinSen. Rich MadalenoVeterans for PeaceWho Decides About War?

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