Allowing Charles Taylor to stand trial for war crimes sets a very controversial precedent for African heads of state and former heads of state because many of them ... have blood on their hands.

It's disappointing that the change of venue might diminish the satisfaction felt by the victims of his alleged crimes. The prosecutor no doubt had to balance this with pressing security needs.

Today there is a tremendous amount of both relief and hope. Relief that an indicted war criminal accused of having wrought great suffering throughout West Africa is finally where he belongs, and hope because justice for the victims of these crimes is now in reach.

Today, Liberia and Sierra Leone are safer and more hopeful places. Today West Africa has moved one step closer to dismantling the devastating grip of impunity.

The current perpetrators of serious human rights crimes should be put on notice that international courts take the crimes they commit very, very seriously.

That's a controversial assertion that I'll stand by.