GIs in peacekeeping exempt from ICC prosecution

Washington Times ^ | Friday, June 13, 2003 | By Nicholas Kralev

[JohnHuang2]

The U.N. Security Council exempted American soldiers on overseas peacekeeping missions from prosecution by the new International Criminal Court (ICC), despite opposition from France, Germany and Syria.

The one-year blanket exemption, approved on a 12-0 vote with three abstentions, gives Washington more time to sign bilateral agreements with nations that are parties to the ICC protecting Americans on their territory.

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, June 13, 2003

Quote of the Day by Carry_Okie

[Steel Wolf]

Ninety countries have ratified the ICC treaty so far. The court was set up to try perpetrators of the world's worst crimes ? genocide, mass war crimes and systematic human rights abuses ? and is expected to begin operations later this year at The Hague.

Brought to you by the same organization that hasn't once, in 50+ years, seen fit to charge North Korea with a single human rights abuse.

The French deputy U.N. ambassador, Michel Duclos, said that his country, which had supported the U.S. request last year, abstained yesterday because the elections of judges and a prosecutor "left no room for doubt" about the credibility of the court.

Because en out of ten third world dictators who lucked into a comittee can't be wrong!

"Whilst we understand U.S. concerns about the International Criminal Court, we do not share them," said Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock.

"It is more convenient for us politically to pretend that the United Nations isn't a colossal sham then to admit you should run, not walk, away from this treaty"

A U.S. official said the United States intends to ask for extensions of the exemption every year, "for as long as necessary."

"Not just no, but hell no!"