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I just saw this article and hope it is just a precursor of "justice for all." I'd like to see the world step-up and take back their self-respect. The thing is, I didn't realize just how far Bush was willing to go to protect HIS agenda. Imagine giving Bush the only get-out-of-jail-free card.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Facing strong opposition, the United States announced Wednesday it was dropping a resolution seeking a new exemption for American peacekeepers from international prosecution for war crimes.
U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham made the announcement after a U.S. compromise that would limit the exemption to one final year failed to get support from key Security Council opponents.
Several council members refusing the compromise cited the abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers and Secretary-General Kofi Annan's opposition to renewing the exemption for a third year.
Before the council meeting, Spain and China said they would abstain if the resolution was put to a vote and Philippines Ambassador Lauro Baja, the current council president, said he doubted that the United States had the minimum nine ``yes'' votes needed to adopt it.
President Bush's administration argues that the International Criminal Court - which started operating last year - could be used for frivolous or politically motivated prosecutions of American troops.
The 94 countries that have ratified the 1998 Rome Treaty establishing the court maintain it contains enough safeguards to prevent frivolous prosecutions and insist that nobody should be exempt.
Cunningham stressed that the United States is ``the largest contributor to global security and has special well-known interests in protecting our forces and our officials.''
``We believe that our draft and its predecessors fairly meet the concerns of all. Not all council members agree, however, and the United States has decided not to proceed further with consideration and action on the draft at this time in order to avoid a prolonged and divisive debate,'' he said after a closed council meeting.
When the court was established nearly two years ago, the United States threatened to end its involvement in far-flung peacekeeping operations established or authorized by the United Nations if it didn't get an exemption for American peacekeepers.
Cunningham refused to say what the United States would do when the next U.N. peacekeeping operation comes up for renewal in the Security Council.
In his statement, he said that ``in the absence of a new resolution, the United States will need to take into account the risk of ICC (International Criminal Court) review when determining contributions to U.N. authorized or established operations.''
William Pace, head of the Coalition for an International Criminal Court, called it ``a victory for international justice'' and said U.S. concern about prosecution of American peacekeepers ``was always exaggerated.''
The United States circulated a resolution last month that would authorize a new exemption, but it ran into stiff opposition from court supporters.
Last week, Annan - in a rare intervention - urged the council not to renew the U.S. exemption, citing the Iraqi prisoner abuse and raising ``serious doubts'' about the legality of an exemption. He also warned against dividing the United Nations' most powerful body.
The International Criminal Court can prosecute cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed after it was established on July 1, 2002, but will step in only when countries are unwilling or unable to dispense justice themselves.
Besides seeking a new exemption from arrest or prosecution of U.S. peacekeepers, Washington has signed bilateral agreements with 90 countries that bar any prosecution of American officials by the court.
Cunningham said Wednesday the United States will ``continue to negotiate bilateral agreements'' to protect Americans.
06/23/04 15:49
"Popular dissidents are merely pacifiers given to us by the Government to keep us in line and thinking someone is making a ruckuss."
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