Lecture by Mr John Bellinger III, Former Legal Adviser to the US Department of State

The Public International Law Discussion Group and the Oxford University Strategic Studies Group were absolutely delighted to welcome Mr John Bellinger III to Oxford on 15 May 2013. Mr Bellinger, who served as Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Adviser to the National Security Council at the White House from February 2001 to January 2005 and as Legal Adviser for the US Department of State under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from April 2005 to January 2009, addressed a large audience on topic of “The United States and International Law: Drones and Other Challenges for the Obama Administration’s Second Term”. Speaking in the Old Library at All Souls College, Mr Bellinger compared some of the challenges experienced by the Bush administration in its second term with those currently facing the Obama administration. He structured his remarks around the issues of compliance with decisions of the International Court of Justice, relations with the International Criminal Court, the ratification of treaties by the US, and finally anti-terrorism policy. The evening concluded with a lively discussion between Mr Bellinger and the audience.