Here’s a striking takeaway from Jack Goldsmith’s book: Bush Administration officials now fear international law, as in: they really worry about being hauled before the dock in foreign and international tribunals. Who knew? Of course they’re more worried about facing prosecution in federal courts, and the hefty legal expenses that would come even with exoneration. That was...
Last week, Julian claimed that the ICC and peace in Darfur don't mix, citing a recent article from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (a wonderful organization) that noted the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, did not mention the ICC's arrest warrants for Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb during his first visit to the the region. It's true...
Excellent news for the Cambodia tribunal — Nuon Chea, the highest-ranking surviving member of the Khmer Rouge regime, has been arrested:An AFP correspondent saw Nuon Chea being driven from his home in northwest Cambodia and put on a helicopter. He was expected to be flown to the capital Phnom Penh. "Nuon Chea has been shown a warrant but I don't know what...
A disgruntled Belgian subject has decided to put up the Kingdom of Belgium for sale on Ebay. But watch out. It comes with a $300 billion debt. ...
What can I say, this is a terrific book. The Terror Presidency artfully weaves a personal narrative with some serious historical perspectives; it succeeds at being thoughtful, modest, and human; and the result is pretty compelling. The book is something of a perfect storm as a critique of the Bush Administration’s post-9/11 policies. Unlike run-of-the-mill tell-alls, Goldsmith...
Many scholars, activists, and government officials have hailed Security Council resolution 1769, which authorizes sending 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur, as a major step toward peace in the region. At least one authoritative source, however, is skeptical of the mission's potential: Romeo Dallaire, the former commander of the UN's peacekeeping force in Rwanda. Here are some excerpts from an...
One of the more difficult issues about universal norms is that they frequently collide. How is a country to respond when it must choose between two norms, both of which are said to be universal and yet they are incompatible with one another? To illustrate, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enumerates universal norms and boldly states that “every...
China announced today it has requested consultations with the United States over the imposition of U.S. duties on certain Chinese paper products. This is WTO-speak for: "We're filing a lawsuit". This marks the first time China has ever used the WTO dispute settlement procedures on its own (it joined in Europe's suit against the U.S. steel tariffs). ...
Judging from the comments Professor John McGinnis's posts received, many of you had strong (if not always positive) reactions to his ideas. This is a sign, of course, that John is a natural blogger. We want to thank him for his participation and hope to welcome him back to visit in the future. Thanks, John! ...
Don't be surprised if you see a headline along these lines in the not-so-distant future. The NY Times today has an interesting lead story on how corporations are now pushing for federal regulation in various areas instead of fighting it, on issues ranging from fuel efficiency to predatory lending practices to cigarette lighter safety. The story highlights three elements...
Four detainees have committed suicide at Guantanamo Bay. Unfortunately, that number will likely soon increase to five:Sami al-Haj, a Sudanese national, is 250 days into a hunger strike which he began in protest over his detention without charge or trial in January 2002. But British and American doctors, who have been given exclusive access to his interview notes, say...
This Sunday, September 16, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its conclusion. The Protocol has aged well, frequently celebrated as the most successful international environmental treaty. It has effectively phased out or controlled the production and consumption of most ozone depleting substances that threaten the ozone layer. ...
