U.S. Alters Its Plan for Exemption At Court

[kskiska]

UNITED NATIONS, June 22 -- The Bush administration has abandoned its plan to seek a Security Council resolution providing an open-ended exemption for U.S. personnel serving in U.N.-authorized peacekeeping missions from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, senior U.S. and Security Council diplomats said.

The United States, under increasing criticism for U.S. abuse of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, was facing a diplomatic defeat in the 15-nation council over the U.S.-sponsored text. The United States is pressing instead for a resolution that would shield U.S. personnel from prosecution only through June 2005.

The court was established under a 1998 treaty to prosecute individuals responsible for the most serious crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Since the court began its work, in July 2002, the United States has demanded that the council grant its personnel an exemption from prosecution to carry out its global peacekeeping obligations.

In reducing that demand, senior U.S. officials said Tuesday that they have obtained written assurances from 90 countries that they would not to surrender U.S. personnel to the court, which is based in The Hague.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61941-2004Jun22.html

[LibertyorDeath]

1. Fuck

[number6]

2. finding out were not above the Law .....

:(

[LiberalFighter]

3. What is wrong with these countries?

The UN might as well disband.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. A war crimes tribunal should be convened

One way or another, the Bushies will be held accountable for their crimes in Iraq and elsewhere.

[aquart]

5. Common sense says.....

They couldn't get BushCo while it was still in office, and it will take about 5 months for Kerry's people to get around to it.

[Mechatanketra]

10. Kerry's people won't get around to bupkus.

I haven't heard anything from Kerry that sounds like his mind is very far from, say, Clinton's Time magazine interview, i.e. in all likelihood, if he wins, he's going to treat the outgoing administration as what they claim to be -- the faithful (if incompetent) public servants of the 'loyal opposition' -- rather than what they are: common criminals involved in a scam that traded human lives for personal profits.

The Dems are getting hung by the Dog Chase paradox. Imagine a choice between a greyhound (the slick, "triangulated" politicos) and a bulldog (the "red meat" wing out for retribution). The bulldog's tough but can't catch up to anything, while the greyhound can run down anything you want ... but what's it gonna do when it's caught up to it?

[Solly Mack]

6. When does the next UN human rights abuse report come out?

"The report notes that leaders of the countries concerned have condemned rights violations and have pledged to bring those responsible to justice. “It is imperative that this be done, with accountability to the international community.”

The report also calls for measures to prevent future abuses, and contains a series of recommendations to achieve this end, including the appointment of an international ombudsman on human rights and humanitarian law who could issue public reports on compliance by coalition forces with international norms of human rights.

The experts also stress the need to establish an Iraqi Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

On the broader context, the report calls for accountability for human rights in conflict situations and in the struggle against terrorism. “The letter and spirit of international human rights and humanitarian law must be upheld. It is an imperative duty on all involved.”


http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10964&Cr=Iraq&Cr1=


Words without deeds...words without deeds.

[riverwalker]

7. ASPA Act: US can invade the Hague.

US threatens military force if personnel held at the Hague

"On 3 August, 2002, U.S. President George Bush signed into law the American Servicemembers Protection Act (ASPA) of 2002. Human Rights Watch and others reacted to this very strongly. For example,

The act was dubbed the "Hague Invasion Act" because, as Human Rights Watch comments, "The new law authorizes the use of military force to liberate any American or citizen of a U.S.-allied country being held by the court, which is located in The Hague."

http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ICC.asp#USthreatensmilitaryforceifpersonnelheldattheHague

Can you imagine? US commandos invading the Netherlands to break Rumsfeld out of prison?

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Jack Rabbit can act

I will lift no finger in defense of the war criminals in the Bush junta and will assist Interpol in their apprehension if needed.

[librechik]

9. no way, assholes

your asses are grasses--don't even think anything else!