U.S. at odds over world tribunal (A must read!!)

[shraby]

(snip)

Gone are the Dominican Coast Guard vessels that used to prowl the coast, stalking drug traffickers who whiz toward the United States in boats filled with cocaine. They've been grounded, victims of a spat over an international war-crimes court that has prompted Washington to withhold millions of dollars in aid over the past year from allies around the globe.

"The drug dealers feel they have free passage because we're not out patrolling," said Sgt. Eric Elizee, the Coast Guard commander, as he stared at his idled boats. With no money to fuel and repair the fleet, he said, "we just sit here and pray."

Dominica is not alone. A Bush administration policy of suspending military aid to nations that won't promise to shield Americans from the war-crimes tribunal, called the International Criminal Court, is reducing or canceling dozens of programs that further U.S. interests abroad, Newsday has found.

(snip)

Jordan, one of the few U.S. allies in the Middle East, had a waiver, but Washington still threatened to withhold $100 million in aid for training Iraqi policemen -- who are desperately needed to replace U.S. troops in Iraq -- if it didn't sign an Article 98.

(more)
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woicc16,0,1302911.story?coll=ny-world-big-pix>

[drfemoe]

1. Ah .

It's nice to know that the whole world is not filled with 'cowards'.

<>As soon as Dominica signed, Bush authorized the release of the $400,000 in suspended aid -- almost the entire Dominican Coast Guard budget and a fortune to this country of 70,000 people. But Dominica has yet to receive a penny.

"Usually when you have a bear breathing down your neck, the best way to make the bear go away is to yield, but so far that hasn't worked," said Crispin Gregoire, Dominica's ambassador to the United Nations. "We are trying to help the United States fight the war on drugs, and this is what we get."
<>
****

Bravery is not without a price though, is it?

[sweetheart]

2. They should run with the ball and legallize the trade

Then the boats won't be necessary and they can tell the bush nasties
to shove off forever.

Good for them that they support holding criminals to account for
their crimes! Good for them.

Godspeed to the dominican republic and to jordan.