4 nations that won't sign deal with U.S. risk aid loss

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sat, Dec. 18, 2004




INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT


4 nations that won't sign deal with U.S. risk aid loss

Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela and Paraguay could forgo millions in U.S. aid if they refuse to sign an agreement granting U.S. citizens immunity from International Criminal Court.

BY PABLO BACHELET

[e-mail]


WASHINGTON - The United States is upping the pressure on four Latin American countries to sign bilateral deals exempting U.S. citizens from International Criminal Court jurisdiction, or face losing millions in economic assistance.

Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela and Paraguay could be denied $24.5 million in aid unless they sign the immunity agreements, a move likely to stoke Latin America's distrust toward the Bush administration, diplomats and analysts say.

The possible cuts are the result of President Bush last week signing an omnibus appropriations bill that contained the so-called Nethercutt amendment. The provision for the first time severs economic assistance -- not just military aid -- for countries that refuse to sign the immunity pacts.

Previously, the administration used the threat of withholding money to purchase military equipment and train officers in the United States as a tool to persuade nations to sign on the dotted line.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10445119.htm
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[jeff30997]

1. Some peoples really want to cover their ass, just in case.

[AP]

2. I'm sure Venezuela is going to miss that N.E.D. aid.

[kodi]

3. let's see if the economic aid is offered by the EU or China

if so, this signals that the US economic aid policy of a carrot and stick is losing its influence.

[NYC]

4. Brave countries.

Good for them.

[GetTheRightVote]

5. I am with you on this one NYC, the line in the sand has been reached

[TahitiNut]

6. Sure beats arguing principles and values. Just bribe 'em.

Muscle and money instead of morals and rectitude. Disgusting.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. It's about time other countries stood up to the US's extortion tactics.

I know it's not called that when they preform such deals. It's the, you scratch my back I'll scratch yours, mentality. It's still extortion in my book, however.

[Straight Shooter]

8. Why doesn't * just change his name to Georgie Soprano and be done with it.

I'm sick of this arm-twisting thuggery. Compassionate conservatism, yeah, right.

[VegasWolf]

9. Now that the US is the laughing stock of the world, even bribes fail. n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. I just thought of something incredibly funny. Well, in a sad way.

The more that Bush punishes us by overtaxing Blue states, and denying benefits and jobs to corporations that support Dems, the more Dems cut back in spending. Which means...the less the economy grows...which means that this tough guy strategy is only hurting him in the long run.

So, these four countries, if they hold out, may be in a position to hold Bush accountable for war crimes? Gee, with everyone getting paid under the table, what are the chances of other countries helping these countries out and out lasting Bush's reign of insanity?

[daleo]

11. An imperialist form of buying Indulgences, like the middle ages

When people have to retroactively buy their way out of jail, you know they are up to no good.

[LynnTheDem]

12. blackmail; do what we want, or starve.

Nice "spreading of democracy" and "family values".

[NuttyFluffers]

13. 24.5 million? gov'ts sneeze more money than that!

like, isn't around 1/4 of that the same cost for the Rhutabaga Museum recently being passed as pork in our current budget? 24.5 million is nothing to throw away those powers to a criminal junta. it's time for nations to take away their toys and go home, no more playing with america. especially if they are making such concession for "pocket change" in gov't terms.

hell, america could sponsor one of these countries by cutting back one starbucks coffee a month and overwhelm them with money. geez, we could 'unicef' and adopt a country, ha ha ha!