This paper, the 2006 Wing-Tat Lee lecture at Loyola University Chicago Law School, notes the current questioning of the U.S. commitment to international law and argues for greater U.S. respect for its international obligations. The author suggests (1) why it is important that the U.S. comply with international law; (2) why it is important that the U.S. government have lawyers involved in foreign relations matters who are in a position to ensure that international law considerations are taken into account in decisions concerning foreign affairs; and (3) some of the qualities that we should look for in government international lawyers if they are adequately to perform these responsibilities. These qualities include respect for international law, an awareness of the limits of international law, legal imagination, a commitment to American principles and values, integrity and courage, and a sense of vision.
