Category Archives: United States

US Negotiating with the Taliban: Bargaining with the Devil?

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Mark Kersten

This week’s news that the US is negotiating with the Taliban in Afghanistan may have come as a shock to some. It has, however, been part of a long and heated conversation about how to resolve the seemingly unwinnable war … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Human Rights, Justice, Pakistan, Peace Negotiations, Taliban, United States | 2 Comments

Bashir to Visit China, US endorses it: But What Does it Mean?

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Mark Kersten

While Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir won’t be visiting Malaysia due to “other engagements,” it looks very likely that he will, in fact, be visiting China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Bashir, wanted by the ICC for his role … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Darfur, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Sudan, United States | 1 Comment

You Say Genocide, I Say Genocide: Some Thoughts on the Genocide Debate

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Mark Kersten

In an article on the continued debate about the meaning and use of the term ‘genocide’, The Economist writes: “Prosecutors, judges, historians and politicians have made huge efforts in recent years to describe the boundaries of genocide: when mere mass … Continue reading →

Posted in Crimes against humanity, Genocide, Peace Negotiations, Ratko Mladic, Rwanda, Sudan, United States | 8 Comments

Obama to those Questioning bin Laden Assassination: “Get your head examined”

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Mark Kersten

Earlier this week, President Obama had an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes. In it, Obama was rather candid about the developments that led to Osama bin Laden’s assassination. The President spoke openly about the dissent among his advisors about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Osama bin Laden, Osama bin Laden and international law, United States | 9 Comments

Killing bin Laden: Justice, International Law and Legitimacy – A Compilation of Perspectives

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Mark Kersten

The debate regarding the legality, justness and legitimacy of killing bin Laden continues. I figured it may be beneficial to create a post where some of the most sophisticated and fascinating perspectives on these subjects could be compiled. Keep in … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East, Osama bin Laden, Osama bin Laden and international law, Terrorism, UN Security Council, United States | 6 Comments

Bin Laden and International Law: Death or Trial?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Mark Kersten

A debate regarding the legality of killing Osama bin Laden is raging across the internet. Everyone wants to know: was the assassination of bin Laden in accordance with international law? Yesterday, I weighed in on the broader question of whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, International Criminal Court (ICC), Iraq, Osama bin Laden and international law, Terrorism, United States | 6 Comments

Libya, Peace and Justice: ‘Gaddafi has to go’ but Peace must be Negotiated

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Mark Kersten

Missing from the coverage of the war in Libya has been any discussion as to what the end goal is. Yes, there has been a lot of talk, although little consensus, about what should happen with Gaddafi. But what about … Continue reading →

Posted in African Union (AU), Amnesty, France, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Peace Negotiations, Transitional Justice, Truth Commission, Uganda, UN Security Council, United Kingdom, United States | 2 Comments

The US and the ICC: Towards A Closer Relationship?

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Mark Kersten

A number of recent events and statements have brought the relationship between the United States and the ICC back into focus. Most notably, the US was amongst the permanent members of the UN Security Council which agreed to refer Libya … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Sudan, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, UN Security Council, United States | 57 Comments

The West and Libya: The Politically Imposed Limits of Justice

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Mark Kersten

  There was a time, just a few years ago, when Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was ostracized by the international community. Then he became a key, if quirky, ally and business partner of the West. Fast-forward a few years and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Deals, European Union (EU), France, International Criminal Court (ICC), Italy, Libya, Russia, United Kingdom, United States | 9 Comments

Engaging John Bolton on Libya and the ICC

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Mark Kersten

I hesitate to even attempt to comment on anything that John Bolton says. His commentary is so stubbornly right-wing and predictably political  that arguing with him would be akin to trying to move concrete walls with your forehead. Nevertheless, Bolton’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Deterrence, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, UN Security Council, United States | 2 Comments