John Bellinger, chief legal adviser to Condoleezza Rice in the State Department, has been the driving force behind the change of attitude.

ECONOMIST: International Criminal Court

But others, like John Bellinger, the current State Department legal adviser, and his predecessor, William Taft, have long urged a more measured approach.

ECONOMIST: George Bush's climb-down over the Geneva Conventions

Mr. JOHN BELLINGER (Legal Advisor, United States State Department): The ICC would not be trying Charles Taylor, they would simply be providing their facilities--their bricks and mortar--to the special court for Sierra Leone to try Charles Taylor.

NPR: Taylor War Crimes Trial Worries West Africa