Abstract
The U.S. Supreme Court often reminds our government that it must speak with one voice in the world. This is no less true within an administration than it is across the federal branches or with respect to the community of States. From 1793 when George Washington resolved disputes between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton over American neutrality in the war between France and Britain to 2003 when George Bush resolved disputes between Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld over the invasion of Iraq, cabinet secretaries have disagreed over U.S. foreign policy. This is healthy; it informs the president of all angles in a situation and focuses decision-making.
But decisions must be made. Ultimately, it is the president’s job to make them. President Biden now sits at an impasse between his Secretaries of State and Defense over sharing evidence the United States has in its possession of Russian atrocities in Ukraine with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Despite the Pentagon’s objection, he should share that evidence.