UN Delays Troop Immunity Decision

BBC On-Line | Saturday, 22 June, 2002 | Mike Fox

[yankeedame]

Saturday, 22 June, 2002, 05:25 GMT 06:25 UK

UN delays troop immunity decision

European peacekeepers also enjoy protection, says US

By Mike Fox

At the United Nations in New York

The United Nations has put off making a decision on the demands from the United States that international peacekeepers should be put beyond the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The UN security council avoided the debate which had been expected on Saturday by renewing the mandate of the police force in Bosnia for another nine days, until midnight on 30 June - the court comes into existence on 1 July.

The ICC Comes into being on July 1 and begins work early next year Will be based in The Hague 68 nations have ratified the treaty Over 100 nations have signed up and may ratify the treaty in the future China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iraq and Turkey have failed to sign up to the treaty The US, Egypt, Iran, Israel and Russia have failed to ratify the treaty

The Bush administration is apparently standing alone in its desire to exempt peacekeepers from prosecution by the ICC.

Diplomats from a number of other security council countries agree with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who pointed out that the country donating the troops is responsible for disciplining them, and the ICC could only become involved if that government is unwilling or unable to do so.

The US is hoping to hammer out a compromise next week.

It may get help from some governments who recognise that a deal is needed to appease conservative forces in Washington, who are often so critical of international organisations like the UN.

But few diplomats here can see how to make a deal, if the US continues to dig in its heels.

[wita]

Dig those heels deep baby, and maybe this sucker will die the death it deserves. Yea, I wanna be a peacekeeper, and subject myself to the opinion of the world court, wussy judges, and anyone else who has it in for peacekeeping interlopers.

If the UCMJ can't keep the military in line, the threat of world court action sure isn't going to do any more. IOW what in (you know what) do we need a world court? To go after the good guys of course. You will never find the bad guys IMHO.

[chiefqc]

The UN is a bottomless money pit that serves no purpose other than a meeting place for wimps that have no power to perform functions without the Americans power.

Time to take out the trash.

[PokeyJoe]

So, we invade IRAQ later this year. Some rich dude in Saudi Arabia files suit with the ICC against the US Troops because the US is unwilling to procecute US soldiers for "war crimes" because a PGM malfunctioned and hits an unintended target, killing innocent civilians.

Hmmmmm... I'm wondering. Could past President's be tried before the ICC? If so, how do we lodge a complaint against "Mr. Clinton" for bombing an aspirin factor on the day of he lied to the grand jury?

The US Congress was unwilling to prosecute him for this "war crime".

[cake_crumb]

"Diplomats from a number of other security council countries agree with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan"

And which countries are THOSE, exactly, hmmmmmmmm?

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

Mike New Bump !!

[Twodees]

This is ludicrous. The ICC has no jurisdiction over anyone because the UN has no sovereignty as a basis for making treaties. We either subscribe to our own philosophy for government: government by consent of the governed, or we don't, it's that simple.

The UN presumes to govern without consent of anyone but unelected would be rulers. It's a huge joke that nobody in government seems to even see as ridiculous.

[Principled]

...few diplomats here can see how to make a deal, if the US continues to dig in its heels.

Keep on diggin' baby!

I have a hard enough time with our elected pols' decisions.

[niki]

Of course the United Nations is going to comprise with the U.S.

And when an agreement is reached we will be subject to the ICC for any military action taken outside of the United Nation auspice.

This is the worse thing Bush could have done.

[Bogey78O]

How about we just forget about the ICC altogether?

[Free the USA]

Bump list

[rockfish59]

HIJACKED PLANE HITS UN BUILDING!
Oh, the horror! </sarcasm

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

Oh boy - That's a good one !! !!