Washington Post columnist David Ignatius discusses global conflicts at ABA meeting

November 19, 2025 Law and National Security

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius discusses global conflicts at ABA meeting

Washington Post foreign affairs columnist David Ignatius, and Glenn Gerstell, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, led a discussion on Nov. 13 about the rule of law, national security and global conflicts during the 35th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference in Washington, D.C.

Ignatius, who has written extensively about the rule of law and national security, provided an overview of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war and updates on Lebanon, Iran, China, Taiwan, the future of war and the rule of law and national security.

Ignatius said he has been "astonished" at how quickly institutions that make up the rule of law have been dismantled. "I think the effect on the rule of law and the national security components of rule of law has been quite stunning, and I'm struck by the lack of pushback or ability to push back that I've seen."

Ignatius, who has written 12 spy novels, said he is currently working on a book about U.S. and China relations and the CIA and the Chinese Ministry of State Security, its Chinese counterpart, and their "complicated, but intriguing battle." Ignatius said, "it's going to be a novel. I don't mean to imply that it has anything to do with real life, but it's going to be about that general topic."

The theme for the two-day conference was "Technology, National Security and the Law: Keeping Pace with Innovation." Leading experts in technology, law and national security addressed the challenges and legal issues posed by accelerating development of advanced technologies.

Sandra Joyce, vice president, Google Threat Intelligence Group, Google Cloud, discussed "The Future of Cybersecurity" during a fireside chat. ABA President Michelle Behnke gave welcome remarks, and Christian Brose, president and chief strategy officer, Anduril Industries, delivered the keynote address on "Arms, AI and the Future of Defense."

The Standing Committee on Law and National Security is the oldest Standing Committee in the ABA. Since 1962, the committee has sustained a commitment to educating the Bar and public on national security issues.

To view the discussion, which aired on C-SPAN click here.