SENATE PASSES HELMS AMENDMENT ON WORLD COURT

Newsday ^ | 12/6/01

[11th Earl of Mar]

WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials.

The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to this year's defense spending bill.

The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.

[11th Earl of Mar]

-poster "JJ", 1999-Feb-11, from the georgiapolitics Message Board

"JJ" from georgiapolitics Message board? Now there's a source we can trust.

[OldFriend]

Kennedy and his wife had a new baby too!

[nicmarlo]

The new court, to be established as a permanent body at The Hague, Netherlands, was created by a 1998 treaty that President Clinton.

Helms' amendment, similar to freestanding legislation he introduced this year, would bar U.S. cooperation with the court. . . . It also would limit U.S. involvement in overseas peacekeeping missions unless the United Nations exempts American troops from prosecution by the court.

Sad when you need senators to over rule presidents who agreed to have American military face prosecution for deeds committed under the direction of the "commander in chief." (Gee, what might Klintoon have been thinking?)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Because, apparently, Hitlery is smart enough to know that she or her husband could be in front of that court one day ;0)

[nicmarlo]

Hitlery is smart enough to know that she or her husband could be in front of that court one day

My thoughts, exactly.

[VA Advogado]

Kennedy and his wife had a new baby too!

The idea that a woman would submit to that. UGH. Just disgusting.

[swampfox98]

(protect)government officials

That is the reason the Senate voted for it, they need to protect themselves. If the Democrats could figure out a way to have only Conservative Americans sent to the World Court for punishment, and protect themselves, they would certainly do so.

[OldFriend]

LOL....you asked!!!

[VA Advogado]

If the Democrats could figure out a way to have only Conservative Americans sent to the World Court for punishment, and protect themselves, they would certainly do so.

Or find a way for only liberals to count the election ballots. :)

[VA Advogado]

Do you not see the pattern? Do you envy the residents of the European Union? Don't worry - we'll be there soon.

I too object to that. But we're not facing that issue. Until then, I don't feel it necessary to trash EVERY piece of legislation that expands our universe of trade.

[horsewhispersc]

LOL, it's everywhere, does anyone read anymore? The veil must be thick huh! You can take a horse to water but ya sure as h#ll can't make him drink. ;-)

[Eala]

Closest would be CBCP ( Soiuz Vashingtonskixh Sotzialisticheskixh Respublik), everything after the first word in genative plural case. Russian has two kinds of sh sounds, represented by a rounded W and a rounded W with a sort of a little kick on the lower right, the latter pronounced by forcing air over the tongue rather than under it..

Thanks for the correction. Never took Russian (though I used to read a lot of Russian authors) -- studied Gaelic instead, which didn't help here.

[Wphile]

I'll give on Boxer but Feinstein can be reasonable sometimes. She voted yes on this for example and the tax cut.

[DoughtyOne]

Elections must be coming shortly. Feinstein is a total nut case, trust me.

[Dr. Octagon]

"W" is standing up to the UN/NWO types; it is a beautiful thing. If Hitlery Klinton runs against him in '04, his re-election is guaranteed. Personally, I want the affairs of the USA to be controlled by citizens of the USA. It is just that simple.