John B. Bellinger III and Vijay Padmanabhan examine the legal questions surrounding detention for states engaged in conflicts with nonstate groups.

James M. Lindsay argues that an indictment of Moammar Gadhafi by the International Criminal Court could actually make it harder to bring Libya's civil war to a quick end.

The Obama administration will argue its operation against Osama bin Laden in Pakistan observed both U.S. and international law, and it appears any challenges will be mute, writes CFR's John Bellinger.

A decade on, the ICC is still trying to find its footing, thanks partly from the chief prosecutor's poor management and excessive ambition.

William Shawcross believes the United State should use the Nuremberg trials as a precedent when evaluating future legal proceedings against Al Qaeda and its associates.

Former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft discusses developments in the Middle East and the intervention in Libya with CFR's Director of Studies James Lindsay. Drawing on lessons from the first and second Gulf Wars, Scowcroft warns of mission creep in coalition efforts in Libya.

As fighting continues in Libya between anti- and pro-government forces, the Obama administration has warned that it is considering all options, including military intervention. Conflict prevention expert Micah Zenko and international law expert Matthew Waxman discuss the Obama administration's options in Libya and their implications.

This backgrounder emphasizes the need for the US and other countries to take offensive, and not defensive, measures against threats to global commerce and security.

John B. Bellinger III says that President Obama and the 112th Congress should comply with the Vienna Convention, to help ensure that Americans arrested abroad are given access to State Department officials.

Pending indictments in a UN tribunal could link Hezbollah and Syria to the death of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. Lebanon expert Michael Young says all sides, including Saudi Arabia and the U.S., are scrambling to deal with the impact of the findings.

Governments across the Middle East and South Asia are increasingly losing power to substate actors that are inserting themselves at a mezzanine level of rule between the government and the people.

Experts examine the stability, security, risks, and quality of governance of the Democratic Republic of Congo since the 2006 elections, as well as the need for continued international engagement.

John B. Bellinger III comments on a recent U.S. court decision that may end most human rights litigation against multinational companies in American courts.

A snag in the civilian trial of Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Ghalani could be a setback for Obama administration efforts to close Guantanamo.

Experts discuss the role of the UN Millennium Development Goals as a framework for new government development policy, the importance of increasing aid funding transparency with developing nations, and the impact of the financial crisis on the developing world.

Mark Lagon testifies before the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on human trafficking. He offers recommendations on four areas for action by the United States.

Noah Feldman says the Obama administration faces both old and new legal challenges over U.S. defense strategies.

John B. Bellinger III discusses the anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and argues that the United States should use its political capital to clarify the Conventions and make them applicable to modern warfare.

CFR's John Bellinger expects the U.S. Senate to approve the START nuclear arms treaty with Russia this year and urges says the Obama administration to more actively pursue other treaties, including the Law of the Sea.

John B. Bellinger III comments on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states immunity provided by federal law to foreign governments against lawsuits for torture and human rights does not apply to foreign government officials.