Hell No, We Won't Go!

Praise Jeebus! The US has held its ground on the International Criminal Court (see previous post below), and vetoed the Bosnian Peacekeeping Force (AP story via CNN). The US government fears the tribunal will be used to attack Americans for political reasons. And Europeans just don't get it:

Supporters say there are many safeguards to prevent such abuse, including a democratic process to elect a prosecutor and 18 judges. Each member country has one vote.

So It'll be just like the UN, only we won't have veto power. Yeah, that makes me real confident...

Unlike the tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, also based in The Hague, the 1998 Rome Statute creating the international court states that prosecutors may only indict individuals not tried by their own governments.

Nations will have first say over where suspects go on trial, not the permanent court.

"We don't understand why the United States doesn't have more faith in its own justice system to punish those who violate international law," Jochems said.

And If we don't agree to all points of International law? Then I guess the blue-helmets come in gunning and carry away Jesse Helms (Yeah, I know the court won't have police of its own, but the visual is just too good). No thanks Jean-luc. I don't want CINCPAC getting hauled away for using land mines as a deterrent in Korea.

On the plus side:

Fearing U.S. soldiers and leaders could be indicted on political grounds, the U.S. Senate adopted legislation authorizing the President to use "all means necessary" to free U.S. citizens held by the court. It also enables the United States to penalize countries for cooperating with the court.

Sweet.

 

Posted by Captain Mojo at June 30, 2002 03:10 PM