Assessing the War with Iran: Military Policy and Legal Perspectives

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has paused active hostilities—but major questions remain about what comes next. This week, we feature a recent live panel discussion, “Assessing the War with Iran: Military Policy and Legal Perspectives,” co-hosted by the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security and Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law. Moderated by Judge James Baker and featuring retired Vice Admiral Robert Murrett and Elisa Ewers, the panel examines the strategic, legal, and economic dimensions of the conflict. Recorded just prior to the ceasefire, the conversation explores U.S. military objectives, the legal authorities underpinning action, potential exit strategies, and the broader global implications of escalation in the region.Introductions by Stephen Preston, Chair of the ABAs Standing Committee on Law and National Security and Partner at WilmerHaleModerated by Judge James Baker, Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law and a Professor of Law at Syracuse UniversityRobert Murrett is Deputy Director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law at Syracuse UniversityElisa Ewers is a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at RAND and the Center for a New American SecurityReferences:ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security Webpage