March 10, 2017 The Honorable James Mattis Secretary of Defense Department of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000 Dear Secretary Mattis: We, the undersigned, are former government officials and national security experts from across the political spectrum with substantial legal, policy, diplomatic, and operational expertise in combatting terrorism. In late January, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum directing you to submit a preliminary draft plan for defeating ISIS within 30 days.1 Among other components, the plan shall include “recommended changes to any United States rules of engagement and other United States policy restrictions that exceed the requirements of international law regarding the use of force against ISIS.”2 As the draft plan is finalized, we recommend that any changes to the rules of engagement or policies on the use of force in counterterrorism operations be guided by the following nonexclusive set of principles, many of which are required by current law, and all of which are designed to enable effective, nimble, and sustainable use of our military forces. Sincerely, Rand Beers Former Undersecretary for National Protection and Programs and Former Acting Secretary Department of Homeland Security Daniel Benjamin Former Coordinator for Counterterrorism Department of State Robert G. Berschinski Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Charles A. Blanchard Former General Counsel of the Army Former General Counsel of the Air Force Antony Blinken Former Deputy Secretary of State Rosa Brooks Former Counselor to Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Former Special Coordinator for Rule of Law and Humanitarian Policy Department of Defense John Carlin Former Assistant Attorney General for National Security David Cohen Former Deputy Director Central Intelligence Agency Rajesh De Former General Counsel National Security Agency Mary DeRosa Former Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs Former National Security Council Legal Advisor Brian Egan Former Legal Adviser to the Department of State Michele Flournoy Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Christopher Fonzone Former Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs Former National Security Council Legal Advisor Suzy George Former Deputy Assistant to the President, Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary, National Security Council Luke Hartig Former Senior Director for Counterterrorism National Security Council Amy Jeffress Former Counselor to the Attorney General Frank Kendall Former Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics David Kris Former Assistant Attorney General Jonathan L. Lee Former Director for Human Rights and National Security Issues National Security Council Marcel Lettre Former Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Thomas Malinowski Former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor John E. McLaughlin Former Deputy Director and Former Acting Director Central Intelligence Agency James Miller Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Lisa O. Monaco Former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism David Newman Former Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel to the President and Former Director for Counterterrorism, NSC Staff Matthew Olsen Former Director National Counterterrorism Center Steve Pomper Former Special Assistant to the President for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights Amy Pope Former Deputy Assistant to the President Former Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Michael H. Posner Former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Samantha Power Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Tommy Ross Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Security Cooperation Wendy Sherman Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Jeffrey Smith Former General Counsel Central Intelligence Agency Suzanne Spaulding Former Undersecretary for National Protection and Programs Department of Homeland Security Michael G. Vickers Former Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence William F. Wechsler Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism Christine E. Wormuth Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Cc: The Honorable Rex W. Tillerson, Secretary of State The Honorable John F. Kelly, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Dempsey, Acting Director of National Intelligence The Honorable General Joseph F. Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster, USA, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Thomas Bossert, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism The Honorable Mike Pompeo, Director, Central Intelligence Agency The Honorable Jeff Sessions, Attorney General Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Representative Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services Principles to Guide U.S. Counterterrorism Use of Force Policies In any counterterrorism or counterinsurgency campaign, public confidence and legitimacy are critical to strategic success. When such confidence breaks down, allies, partner forces, and local populations are less likely to provide cooperation, support, and vital intelligence; terrorist recruitment and propaganda efforts thrive; and attacks against U.S. troops become more likely. The United States has the most professional and experienced military in the world, and as such the American people and our allies rightly place a great deal of trust and confidence in U.S. military operations. As the United States continues to refine its policies on the use of force in counterterrorism operations, the following principles should guide policymakers. These principles, many of which are legally required, are designed to enable effective, nimble, and sustainable use of our military forces in the campaign to defeat ISIS, and other organized armed groups that pose a threat to the United States in Iraq, Syria, and other parts of the world. 1. Continue to Prioritize Civilian Protection The United States has always put a strong premium on minimizing civilian harm in armed conflicts, both because it is the right thing to do and because doing so is strategically beneficial. However, even small numbers of unintentional civilian deaths or injuries—whether or not legally permitted—can cause significant strategic setbacks. For example, civilian deaths from U.S. operations can cause partners and allies to reduce operational collaboration, withdraw consent, and limit intelligence-sharing; increase violence from militant groups; and foster distrust among local populations that are crucial to accomplishing the mission. As a result, reducing civilian harm and appropriately responding to harm that does occur play an important role in helping the United States achieve its mission objectives. Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States has made important changes to the processes and procedures for reducing and responding to civilian harm—with clear, positive results. To that end, the United States should continue to: • Take feasible precautions in conducting operations to reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties. In some situations—for example, outside of traditional war zones or when engaging in areas with high civilian density—rules of engagement that go beyond what is strictly required by the law of armed conflict may be strategically beneficial to accomplish the mission and secure the peace; • Review or investigate incidents involving civilian casualties; • Promptly acknowledge U.S. responsibility for civilian deaths; • Provide remedies to civilians who are injured and family members of civilians who are killed; • Work with foreign partners to share and develop best practices for reducing and responding to civilian harm; • Maintain open channels of communication and engagement with the International Committee of the Red Cross and nongovernmental organizations in conflict zones to improve efforts to distinguish between military objectives and civilians. Maintain Existing High Standards and Procedures for Uses of Force Outside Traditional War Zones The existence of terrorist organizations that orchestrate attacks from nations that lack the ability or willingness to address the threat posed by these armed groups has resulted in the use of armed force by the United States in self-defense in locations where it has minimal or no forces on the ground. The use of force outside traditional war zones, particularly using drone and other air strikes, raises complex legal, strategic, diplomatic, and humanitarian considerations that warrant continued use of heightened standards and procedures. To ensure that such operations are both strategically effective and lawful, the executive branch should, absent extraordinary circumstances: • Ensure that there is an efficient and effective interagency legal and policy review process for approving such operations to ensure that the president has the full range of information, as well as the perspectives and advice of his relevant top national security and intelligence officials, needed to make a considered decision, and that all relevant government components are prepared for the various contingencies that may result; • Use lethal force only when there is a near certainty—or a similarly high standard—that no civilian harm will occur; this standard has proven useful for maintaining support for kinetic operations among foreign governments and populations, and for minimizing the downsides and unintended consequences that occur when the United States accidentally kills or harms civilians. • Require near certainty—or a similarly high standard—that the target has been accurately identified and is present; • Use lethal force only in compliance with the requirements of domestic and international law and to address a threat that cannot be neutralized by other means, including capture by U.S. forces or local law enforcement, where feasible based on the risks and other factors associated with a potential capture operation. Capture operations offer the best opportunity for collecting vital intelligence needed for disrupting future terrorist plots. 3. Commit to Meaningful Transparency and Oversight While certain kinds of information must remain secret in the interest of national security, transparency to the public and oversight by Congress enhances the legitimacy of U.S. actions. Public disclosure regarding the legal and policy frameworks pursuant to which the U.S. operates—and the effects of those operations—enables the United States to broadcast successes; restore credibility when mistakes occur; and correct erroneous allegations of civilian casualties or unlawful operations that fuel enemy propaganda and recruitment, and can turn allies, partners, and local populations against the United States. Effective congressional oversight helps maintain confidence in U.S. operations when certain details must be withheld from the public. The United States has already made important improvements in transparency and oversight, and the following steps would bolster confidence in the legality and effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism efforts: • Streamline congressional oversight and ease transparency by ensuring that the Department of Defense has primary responsibility for lethal operations; • Continue to publicly report the number of civilians and combatants killed in U.S. strikes; 2. Consistent with national security, release to the public any updates or changes to the legal and policy frameworks that guide the United States’ use of force and related national security operations; • Evaluate the Strategic Costs, Benefits, and Consequences of Lethal Operations Evaluating the strategic impact, including both costs and benefits, of lethal force operations is critical to ensuring that lethal strikes are used in ways that advance, rather than undermine, U.S. national security and other important national interests. The new administration should conduct a comprehensive interagency strategic review of the use of force, particularly outside of traditional war zones. The review should be ongoing and should specifically assess the impact of lethal operations on: • The nature and scope of the terrorist threat; • The ability of terrorist organizations to recruit new members, launch attacks, and garner support; • Global, regional and local attitudes towards the United States and its allies; • The availability and effectiveness of other means of countering terrorism; • Long-term success in reducing the threat of terrorism. 4.