Discourse on Irregular Warfare: Overseeing the Overseers – A Podcast Analysis
In a recent episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, Dr. Oona Hathaway, the director of the Yale Law School Center for Global Legal Challenges, and Dr. Thomas Campbell, a professor at Chapman University's Dale E. Fowler School of Law and a former member of Congress, delved into the crucial issue of congressional oversight of irregular warfare.
The conversation, hosted by Matt Moellering and Laura Jones, focused on the need for robust mechanisms to ensure accountability in complex conflict scenarios like irregular warfare. Although the search results do not contain direct insights or specific commentary from the scholars regarding gaps in congressional oversight, their work typically revolves around the intersection of law, national security, and the limits of executive power.
Based on their known expertise, it can be inferred that they likely emphasise the necessity for enhanced congressional mechanisms to oversee irregular warfare. These mechanisms could include:
- Closing legal and procedural gaps that allow executive agencies to conduct irregular warfare with limited transparency.
- Strengthening congressional mandates to review and authorize military funding and operations specifically related to irregular or unconventional conflict.
- Empowering oversight to address rapid technological and tactical changes in irregular warfare, preventing unchecked executive action.
The discussion also considered Title 10 and Title 50 activities in the context of congressional oversight. The guests shared their insights on the implications for practitioners and policymakers, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach between executive and legislative powers in managing irregular warfare.
The full episode can be heard below, and the Irregular Warfare Podcast can be subscribed to on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify, or other podcast apps. The image accompanying this article is credited to Staff Sgt. John Wright of the US Air Force.
- The guests on the Irregular Warfare Podcast, Dr. Oona Hathaway and Dr. Thomas Campbell, may advocate for strengthened policy-and-legislation to enhance congressional oversight of irregular warfare, potentially including measures to close legal and procedural gaps, strengthen mandates for reviewing and authorizing military funding, and empowering oversight to address technological changes.
- In the context of the Irregular Warfare Podcast discussion, it can be inferred that the necessity for involvement in policy-making about irregular warfare, as well as oversight in the politics surrounding its funding and conduct, is recognized, with a focus on maintaining a balance between executive and legislative powers.
