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May 01, 2008
Bye Bye US Sovereignty~ US Accepts International Criminal Court
U.S. Accepts International Criminal Court
A senior Bush administration official said Friday that the U.S. now accepts the "reality" of the International Criminal Court, and that Washington would consider aiding the Hague tribunal in its investigation of atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region.
"The U.S. must acknowledge that the ICC enjoys a large body of international support, and that many countries will look to the ICC as the preferred mechanism" for punishing war crimes that individual countries can't or won't address, John Bellinger, the State Department's chief lawyer, told a conference in Chicago marking the 10th anniversary of the tribunal's founding treaty, the Rome Statute. More than 100 countries have ratified the treaty.
Although it reiterated longstanding U.S. concerns about the court, Mr. Bellinger's speech represented a rhetorical turnabout for an administration that came to power determined to hobble the movement for a permanent war crimes tribunal.
"This is a meaty piece of work," said Richard Dicker, international justice director for Human Rights Watch. "It's impossible to imagine such a statement four years ago."
Shortly before the court opened in 2002, the Bush administration "unsigned" the Rome Statute, which President Clinton had approved before leaving office. President Bush subsequently signed legislation authorizing military action, should the court arrest an American, and limiting U.S. dealings with the tribunal.
An architect of the White House's earlier policies dismissed Mr. Bellinger's remarks as "pabulum" from a State Department that is too solicitous of international institutions. "It would be a great speech in the first Clinton administration, and probably a great speech in the second Clinton administration," said John Bolton, the former ambassador to the United Nations who, as undersecretary of state, signed the letter repudiating Rome Statute.
"It reflects the yearning the Rice State Department has for acceptance" by academics and foreign intellectuals, Mr. Bolton said. "The fight resumes after Jan. 20," when a new administration takes office, he added.
All three senators running for president -- Republican John McCain and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- have voiced reservations about the court, but said they would consider closer cooperation with it.
In 2002, both Arizona Sen. McCain and New York Sen. Clinton voted for the anti-court legislation. But Sen. McCain said in 2005 that "I want us in the ICC, but I'm not satisfied that there are enough safeguards," Reuters reported.
This year, Sen. Clinton said she would "reassess how we can best engage with this institution and hold the worst abusers of human rights to account," in a candidate questionnaire from the American Society of International Law.
Illinois Sen. Obama said much the same, adding, "I will consult thoroughly with our military commanders and also examine the track record of the court before reaching a decision on whether the United States should" join.
The Darfur investigation "is likely to do more than any other factor...to shape U.S. perceptions of the role and impact of the ICC," Mr. Bellinger said Friday. "We want to see the ICC's Darfur work succeed," and are "prepared to consider" providing assistance, he said.
The thaw between the Bush White House and the court began in 2005, when the U.S. refrained from vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution referring Darfur atrocities to the court.
Mr. Bellinger said the U.S. wanted the court to "complement" the U.N. Security Council's agenda. That would ensure the court remains aligned with American interests, because the council can take no action without assent from its permanent members -- the U.S., Britain, China, France and Russia.
Mr. Bellinger said the U.S. would look to a diplomatic conference slated for 2010, which is expected to discuss definitions for the international crime of "aggression."
At the Nuremberg tribunal after World War II, the Allies prosecuted Nazi leaders for waging "wars of aggression." More recently, however, the U.S. has worried that a vague definition could be used as a pretext to prosecute American officials for military operations.
The International Criminal Court is intended as a court of last resort for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, when national justice systems can't or won't take action. It has cases open in several countries, including the Central African Republic, Congo and Uganda, but has yet to conduct a trial.
Wild Thing's comment........
Is Bellinger INSANE? State Dept. always looking out for other countries at the expense of ours.
A senior Bush administration official said Friday that the U.S. now accepts the “reality” of the International Criminal Court....Are politicians just born stupid or what?
US Military Personel would be at risk or prosecution for obeying orders in a theater of war that are later portrayed by the press as " War Crimes."
Because our nation has a sense of morality, it can be used against us, and a soldier who is an alleged "baby killer" could actually halt or redefine US policy by virtue of action of the ICC and press coverage.
I am not sure but I think this would mean we would no longer have a sovereign nation.
Wouldn't it be possible then for the ICC to also effectively implement gun control laws enacted by the United Nations, in direct treaty superiority to the 2nd ammendment.
This is really horrible news, and if its an initiative at State, it needs to be halted and decapitated, forthwith!
I sure miss John Bolton!
Posted by Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 01:45 AM
Comments
I miss Bolton, too.
But because he spoke the truth and our politicians can't seem to handle the truth, he had to go.
Why we get involved in things like this is beyond me. I guess they want us to have our hands tied and not be able to do anything we can to solve problems world wide. We are such great people here in America that we not only take care of our own, but everyone else in the world, too. Most of us came from over there somewhere and we have this sense of obligation to care one another.
Now they're using that against us. How truly tragic and sad that my descendency will grow grow up without a country to call their own.
Posted by: Lynn at May 1, 2008 05:33 AM
Apparently, people have forgotten what sovereignty means....."independent: self-governing and not ruled by any other state"!!!!
This is another move to a single world government. Might work in Oz or Star Trek but this is the real world. Obviously, Bush, Clinton, Obama, McCain, and Rice haven't got a clue!! They haven't solved the problems in this country......how in the hell do they expect to solve the problems of the world?!?!?!
Can you imagine a world court system run by bleeding heart liberal-minded idiots? I'm so sure that we would see fair trials in a society that is strongly biased against the United States including our own f**ked up media.........NOT!!!!!! And would they have an International Supreme Court to hear appeals???
God....where is my time machine and JD?
Posted by: John at May 1, 2008 07:26 AM
Sad. Very sad. When our constitutional rights clash with this abonination of a world court one side or the other must give way. Have we just placed the yoke of oppression on our own necks? Can our enemies now use another tool to tear us apart? God help us.
Posted by: PeteSuj at May 1, 2008 09:28 AM
Another one of those gradual steps toward giving up up our sovereignty to the UN.
In Europe they now have the European Union which was formed to challenge American financial power, but which has also dissolved the individual sovereignty of the European nations. We have NAFTA and soon CAFTA. Other treaties and unions are in place or pending to make this just one big happy utopian world. The Sea Treaty which is being pushed is another UN step to weaken US naval power.
Our politicians are weak. They would rather be admired and loved than to stand up for the US Constitution and the sovereignty of America. They also think that all these international treaties and deals will insure a more peaceful world. That's what the world thought in 1938 with treaties with the Nazis.
John Bolton is an exception to this nonsense. I wish he would run for president in 2012. Maybe by the the remnants of America will be ready for a true Conservative.
Posted by: TomR at May 1, 2008 11:25 AM
Not long ago the SCOTUS ruled that the world
court could not infulence the US judicial system
or have any direct bearing on any case before any
Court in this country.so much for Bush and Rice.
And if we had a President with some "BALL'S" what
could they do if we told them to shove it... At this time in the World I would rather be respected
and "FEARED" than loved...
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at May 1, 2008 12:17 PM
Arrrgh!!! Buy all the ammo you can.
Posted by: Jack at May 1, 2008 02:03 PM
Lynn your right that is just how it was, He spoke the truth and they didn't want to hear it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 06:57 PM
John you are right that is just what it is. "This is another move to a single world government". They are bound and determined to do it no matter what. One step at a time and sometimes leaps at a time.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 06:58 PM
PeteSuj, that is exactly what is so concerning. They can use this against us, and our troops too. Our country more then any other has come to the rescue of countries in variouis ways and this could make it impossible to be who we are and do what needs to be done.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 07:04 PM
Tom yes, I wish Bolton would run for President that would be a dream come true.
All that you said Tom is so true, it make a heavy heart to know their lack of standing up for our US Constitution and the sovereignty of America.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 07:09 PM
Tincan Sailor, yes Bush was very strong about this and now all of a sudden he has changed on it. grrrrrrr
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 07:13 PM
Jack, waaaa I wish they had a brain just one brain or a heart or a soul or a love for our country instead of for a whole world melting pot.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 1, 2008 07:16 PM
George W. Bush has crossed to the dark side. Very dark. The next president will be worse sacrificing even more of our sovereignty to the International Criminal Court and UN. Good-bye Constitution. RIP!
Posted by: Les at May 2, 2008 12:02 AM
Les, I was so surprised when I saw this, he has held out this whole time saying no to them. I agree with what you said.
This is so dangerous for our country and being at war very dangerous for our troops. Every move they make can be questioned even more with this horrible thing.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 2, 2008 03:19 AM
