In the News

[updated] This week a notorious arms dealer, who was the basis for the Nicholas Cage character in the movie Lord of War, was convicted for conspiracy to kill Americans, providing material support for terrorists, and trading in arms, in a Federal Court in New York. A Russian national, he was captured in Thailand and extradited to the US over Russian objections, for actions taken outside of the US. To what extent is this extra-territorial application of prescriptive and adjudicative jurisdiction consistent with international law principles?

In other news today, another flotilla has left Turkey en-route to Gaza, challenging once again the Israeli "blockade". And also in the context of use of force, the subject we will be taking up on Friday, you should all be following the events surrounding the foray by Kenyan armed forces into Somalia.

In late breaking news, the Supreme Court of Canada today refused leave to appeal in a case involving the extradition of an "admitted" terrorist to the U.S. for trial. The lower courts had found that while there were sufficient grounds for extradition of Abdullah Khadr (elder brother of the more famous Omar Khadr who is in GITMO) to the U.S., the "shocking" violation by the U.S. of his rights under international law while he was detained in Pakistan militated against extradition, as it would reward the U.S. for its violation of international law.