There is little doubt that an abiding feature of internationalrelations in the current period is the struggle to extend therule of law to crimes of state. The 1998 detention in Britainof former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, in response toa request for extradition issued by a Spanish judge, gaveprominence to this quest. This development was furtherreinforced by the campaign to establish a permanent inter-national criminal court, which eventuated in a treaty signedin Rome by about 120 countries two years ago and is on itsway to securing the 60 ratifications needed to bring it intoforce. Organized international society is far from the end ofthis journey; powerful governments, including our own, arenot ready to submit their citizens or leaders to internationalprocedures of accountability.