Fabula
S3E5 · War Crimes
S3E5
· War Crimes

Leo Nuances Tribunal Jurisdiction, Adamley Pounces on 'Technically'

In Leo's office, Chief of Staff Leo McGarry seeks to strategically broaden the War Crimes Tribunal debate, asserting it technically extends beyond war crimes alone—hinting at wider legal jurisdiction to counter opposition. General Adamley instantly challenges the vague qualifier 'technically?', probing for argumentative slippage with military precision. This terse verbal joust escalates their standoff, unearthing fault lines in sovereignty versus accountability, while deepening subtext around Leo's haunted wartime past and the administration's precarious moral gambit amid reelection pressures.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Leo clarifies that the court's scope isn't limited to just war crimes, introducing a critical nuance to the discussion.

neutral to curiosity

Adamley sharply questions Leo's use of the word 'technically', challenging the precision of his statement and probing for weaknesses in his argument.

curiosity to challenge

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Leo McGarry
primary

Assertive resolve veiling tactical caution

Seated in his office, Leo leans forward assertively, delivering a calculated opener to reframe the tribunal debate beyond war crimes, signaling his command of the room while navigating alliance fault lines.

Goals in this moment
  • • Broaden tribunal jurisdiction rhetorically to dilute opposition
  • • Maintain administration's moral high ground against military pushback
Active beliefs
  • • Tribunal's legal scope exceeds strict war crimes categorization
  • • Strategic flexibility preserves presidential leadership in crises
Character traits
strategic authoritative defensive
Follow Leo McGarry's journey
Alan Adamley
primary

Skeptical intensity laced with confrontational edge

Seated opposite Leo, Adamley fires back with military precision, echoing 'Technically?' to dismantle the qualifier, his posture rigid as he probes for argumentative weakness in the heated exchange.

Goals in this moment
  • • Invalidate Leo's semantic broadening of tribunal scope
  • • Safeguard Pentagon and military interests from overreach
Active beliefs
  • • Tribunal must remain narrowly defined to avoid strategic disaster
  • • Administration's gambit risks alliances and national security
Character traits
skeptical incisive combative
Follow Alan Adamley's journey

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal

The Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal becomes the explosive core of the verbal clash, with Leo invoking its 'technical' breadth beyond war crimes to defend Bartlet's stance, while Adamley challenges this expansion, underscoring fault lines in historical moral authority versus modern military pragmatism.

Representation Through contested rhetorical redefinition in high-level dialogue
Power Dynamics Challenged by military skepticism, testing its jurisdictional authority over U.S. policy
Impact Highlights tensions between post-WWII moral imperatives and contemporary geopolitical reelection pressures.
Uphold broad international justice mandate rooted in Nuremberg legacy Counter domestic opposition by emphasizing ethical continuity Historical precedent shaping policy debate Legal ambiguity exploited for strategic positioning

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 1
Thematic Parallel medium

"Leo and General Adamley's discussion about the War Crimes Tribunal reflects the broader theme of moral complexities in governance and warfare."

Adamley Ambush: Tribunal Draft Ignites Military Fury
S3E5 · War Crimes

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Crisis Cascade Management
75
White House team juggles simultaneous threats—MS press savaging, Haiti Swift Fury firefight with Marine casualties, RU-486 FDA maneuvers, and flawed polls—through rapid intel sharing, Situation …
Institutional Power Struggles
6
Cliff Calley's prosecutorial narration and oath intensification on Donna escalates to diary handover under mutual destruction threats, paralleling Leo's rhetorical broadening of tribunal scope and …

Key Dialogue

"LEO: "Two things: One, technically, it's not just a court for war crimes.""
"ADAMLEY: "Technically?""