US will deny aid to countries that refuse court immunity deals

[BurtWorm]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=460255


By Rupert Cornwell in Washington

04 November 2003

The United States aims to secure agreements "with every country in the world" guaranteeing immunity for its citizens from any prosecution from the new International Criminal Court (ICC), and will cut off military aid to countries which do not comply.

In an uncompromising defence of Washington's decision to shun the court, Under Secretary of State John Bolton announced yesterday that the US has already reached so-called Article 98 exemption agreements, under the Rome statutes setting up the ICC, with 70 countries; 50 of them among the ICC's 90 signatories.

Speaking at the conservative thinktank, the American Enterprise Institute, Mr Bolton also accused the European Union of imposing an "unfair choice" on aspirant members by insisting they do nothing to weaken the authority of the ICC. This made it harder for these countries to reach exemption deals with the US, he complained.

[dutchdemocrat]

1. Oh I see

American's get to be elevated above the rest of the world... a "Get out of Jail Free" card for all US passport holders. I read this story a few weeks ago and find it appalling. And the fact that Buscho is using muscle in an ugly way. I am glad the EU is fighting back. This is a gross violation of cooperation in the interational spirit and is just another spike this administration has driven in its relationships with its allies.

I am so pissed off, I say europe get rid of NATO which is run by the US and was put in place during the cold war to balance against the USSR, and form its own military. The population of the EU is twice that of the US. And eventually may envelop Russia. It's time for some balance on this planet to keep Republicans from running amock and unilaterally doing whatever they want on this planet.

Grumpy.

I need my coffee.

[BurtWorm]

2. What you're saying reminds me of something I saw recently

I can't remember where, possibly here on DU. The question was about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Washington Consensus argument that they saved lives by shortening the war. But this argument falls to pieces when you ask the question, would it have been moral to kill the same number of civilians to shorten the war with an atomic bomb if they had been Americans? Well, Americans can't compute this equation. But you will find plenty of Americans computing how many thousands of "Arab" lies are worth each life lost on 9-11.

[BurtWorm]

7. Typo in previous message

It should have read:

But you will find plenty of Americans computing how many thousands of "Arab" lives are worth each life lost on 9-11.

[ima_sinnic]

3. oooooh, this gets me SO EFFING P-Oed!

The stunning audacity of the reigning bullies knows no bounds. There will be a heavy price to pay for such blatant disregard of human decency and ethics.

[izzie]

4. It is nice to live in Gods country.

This should aid in the great love the world has for us. I have not re-newed my passport and I would not if I were you. We will be safe no place.

[ima_sinnic]

6. ?? not renewed your passport?

please help me out here--why not? While thinking there might be a necessity to leave quickly, I am also making sure my passport is as up to date as possible, to allow for the whole 10 years if necessary before I'd have to renew it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. EXTORTION!

WE can be terrorists and there's not a DAMN thing YOU can do about it!

Holy shit. This is unbelievable.

[LeahMira]

8. Bribery? We can afford bribery!

The United States aims to secure agreements "with every country in the world" guaranteeing immunity for its citizens from any prosecution from the new International Criminal Court (ICC), and will cut off military aid to countries which do not comply.


Sorry, but on my paycheck I just can't afford to supply the rest of the world with "military aid"... especially when I've just been told that I have to send $87 BILLION to fight Iraqis who are fighting US troops with the "military aid" I sent them ten or twenty years ago or so.

Aiyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!