Comments on: Harold Koh on International Norms and “Skeptical” Nation-States http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/21/harold-koh-on-international-norms-and-%e2%80%9cskeptical%e2%80%9d-nation-states/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:27:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Marc, NY http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/21/harold-koh-on-international-norms-and-%e2%80%9cskeptical%e2%80%9d-nation-states/#comment-29675 Marc, NY Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:59:41 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=5555#comment-29675 I've made a couple of comments about the list of questions for Harold Koh you and Steven Groves authored, at the following: <a href="http://solyaris.net/2009/04/koh_questions/" rel="nofollow">http://solyaris.net/2009/04/koh_questions/</a> Regarding this post, I think it is unclear that Koh gives "the same weight to 'informal state-to-state gatherings' as he does to the negotiation of treaties." I am trying to find a copy of the 1998 lecture/Law Review article of Koh's referenced here to read for myself, but from what I've read here it seems that Koh is talking about norms - not legal requirements. "Norms" would be a term that includes all possible influences on the law-making process, formal, informal, binding or not, and this is the key - because something happens in practice does not mean it is (or should be) binding law. Commenting on procedure, in other words, it seems that Koh is entirely correct. The real issue (which goes unaddressed here) would be the substantive norms (policies, treaties, laws, etc) that Koh supports or does not support. I've made a couple of comments about the list of questions for Harold Koh you and Steven Groves authored, at the following:

http://solyaris.net/2009/04/koh_questions/

Regarding this post, I think it is unclear that Koh gives "the same weight to 'informal state-to-state gatherings' as he does to the negotiation of treaties." I am trying to find a copy of the 1998 lecture/Law Review article of Koh's referenced here to read for myself, but from what I've read here it seems that Koh is talking about norms – not legal requirements. "Norms" would be a term that includes all possible influences on the law-making process, formal, informal, binding or not, and this is the key – because something happens in practice does not mean it is (or should be) binding law.

Commenting on procedure, in other words, it seems that Koh is entirely correct. The real issue (which goes unaddressed here) would be the substantive norms (policies, treaties, laws, etc) that Koh supports or does not support.

]]> By: Israel, Illinois http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/21/harold-koh-on-international-norms-and-%e2%80%9cskeptical%e2%80%9d-nation-states/#comment-28598 Israel, Illinois Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:09:07 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=5555#comment-28598 This guy is dangerous! I pray the senate does not confirm this radical for the sake, sanity and safety of our country. America is the greatest country this globe has seen. To even think of the radical changes this Koh person like is to accept that we are no longer a powerful and sovereign nation but a weak appeasing nation. Koh has no business whatsoever even being allowed into the White House. He is a disgrace and a 'menace' to society! Block his confirmation; please!!! This guy is dangerous! I pray the senate does not confirm this radical for the sake, sanity and safety of our country. America is the greatest country this globe has seen. To even think of the radical changes this Koh person like is to accept that we are no longer a powerful and sovereign nation but a weak appeasing nation. Koh has no business whatsoever even being allowed into the White House. He is a disgrace and a 'menace' to society! Block his confirmation; please!!!

]]> By: Amanda,TX http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/21/harold-koh-on-international-norms-and-%e2%80%9cskeptical%e2%80%9d-nation-states/#comment-28438 Amanda,TX Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:45:58 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=5555#comment-28438 This is very distrubing!!! Obama is spreading what is basically considered his UnAmerican and UnConstional believes to encompass all areas of his administration. When and where is it going to stop? ...A tax cheat as head of IRS, A Defense Secretary that can only use the word "terriost" when speaking about Americans, A VERY VERY PRO-Choice Health Director, and the list goes on. This is very distrubing!!! Obama is spreading what is basically considered his UnAmerican and UnConstional believes to encompass all areas of his administration. When and where is it going to stop? …A tax cheat as head of IRS, A Defense Secretary that can only use the word "terriost" when speaking about Americans, A VERY VERY PRO-Choice Health Director, and the list goes on.

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