Lawfare and U.S. National Security (Symposium: Lawfare‪)‬

The increasing legalization of international relations has made law an increasingly powerful alternative to traditional military means to achieve operational objectives. Terrorist groups and their state sponsors have made explicit use of such "lawfare" to achieve their operational objectives. The U.S. government's response to law's potential as a tool for advancing national security objectives has thus far been predominantly defensive. The United States should not only fight back hard against terrorists' use of lawfare but also more vigorously look for ways to itself so use law. Lawfare is less deadly than traditional warfare. Also, the U.S.'s advantage in sophisticated legal weapons is surely even greater than its advantage in sophisticated lethal weapons. The article suggests how the United States could more effectively deploy some types of lawfare as a tool for promoting its national security objectives. It takes as a case study the uses and potential uses of lawfare against Iran. The increasing legalization of international relations has made law an increasingly powerful alternative to traditional military means to achieve operational objectives. Major General Charles Dunlap, Jr., has famously coined the term "lawfare" to describe the strategy of so using--or misusing--law. Terrorist groups and their state sponsors have made explicit and sometimes effective use of lawfare to achieve their operational objectives.