Netherlands ? The extradition of Radovan Karadzic to the war crimes tribunal at The Hague, Netherlands, is being hailed as a triumph for the pursuit of international justice and a potential deterrent to other brutish leaders tempted to flout the law.

As it prepares to try Karadzic, the tribunal will nonetheless be hard-pressed to prevent the proceedings from turning into the type of unwieldy and ultimately inconclusive spectacle that was the hallmark of the prosecution of Slobodan Milosevic, the former president of Yugoslavia and most prominent defendant to reach The Hague.

Karadzic, a fugitive for more than a decade until his capture earlier this month, will make his first appearance in court today and will be asked to enter a plea.