In memoriam
Sen. John Warner: ‘Footprints on the Sands of Time’
John Bellinger Tue, Jun 1, 2021, 2:21 PM
In memory of Sen. John Warner.
John B. Bellinger III is a partner in the international and national security law practices at Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC. He is also Adjunct Senior Fellow in International and National Security Law at the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as The Legal Adviser for the Department of State from 2005–2009, as Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Adviser to the National Security Council at the White House from 2001–2005, and as Counsel for National Security Matters in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice from 1997–2001.
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War Powers
President Biden’s Inaugural War Powers Report
John Bellinger Mon, Mar 1, 2021, 9:18 AM
On Feb. 25, Biden ordered airstrikes against targets in eastern Syria. His subsequent letter to Congress under the War Powers Resolution is notable in several ways.
State Department Legal Adviser
Kudos for Judge Joan Donoghue … and L Alumnae!
John Bellinger Thu, Feb 11, 2021, 2:42 PM
Alumnae of the State Department Legal Adviser’s Office (known as “L”) are now ruling the legal world, or at least important parts of it.
Transition 2020-2021
National Security Memorandum 2—What’s New in Biden’s NSC Structure?
John Bellinger Mon, Feb 8, 2021, 12:20 PM
Biden’s NSM-2 make some new and notable changes that reflect his administration’s focus on science, global engagement, cybersecurity and rule of law. Here’s what’s different about the new structure.
International Law
Filling Gaps in International Law
John Bellinger, Matthew Waxman Thu, Feb 4, 2021, 10:21 AM
We recently contributed to an essay in the 2020 "Strategic Survey" that discusses key international legal gaps in areas relating to international security and suggests how states can work to address them.
Jan. 6, 2021 Violence in the Capitol
Donald Trump Is Still a Danger to Our National Security
John Bellinger Sun, Jan 10, 2021, 1:04 PM
In December 2015, I wrote a post for Lawfare entitled “Donald Trump Is a Danger to Our National Security,” in which I argued that Trump not only lacked “the qualifications to be president, he is actually endangering our national security right now by his hate-filled and divisive rhetoric.” I concluded “Donald Trump not only would be a dangerous president, he is making us less safe as a candidate.” At the time, I may have been the first national security official to write publicly that Trump was and w
International Criminal Court (ICC)
How to Resolve the U.S.-ICC Conflict
John Bellinger Fri, Jan 8, 2021, 1:29 PM
I have an essay today in the Human Rights & International Criminal Law ICC Forum discussing what President Biden and the ICC Prosecutor should do to end the nasty conflict between the U.S. Government and the ICC.