They control the budget and can fire anyone who might be tempted to politicize the office. The ICC has no police force or enforcement mechanism. Its acceptance depends upon its reputation for integrity and competence. Politicization of the court would amount to its suicide.
The American Bar Association, the New York Bar Association and the leading international lawyers in the country, including every living former Nuremberg prosecutor, all agree that it is in the interest of the US and its military to support the ICC. I believe the majority of the American public, if they knew the truth, would share the same conclusion.
The Bush Administration's unparalleled renunciation of President Clinton's signature to the treaty astounded and angered many of our allies. Congressional legislation now pending would authorize US troops to liberate any American detained by the ICC. It is ridiculed by opponents as "The Hague Invasion Act." Arrogant unilateralism does not create world leaders -- nor does it encourage others to help us in combating terrorism.
The US inspired the world at Nuremberg by demanding that never again would crimes against humanity be allowed to go unpunished. We weaken our standing in the world when we insist that law applies to everyone else but not to the United States. No nation and no person has a sovereign right to commit crimes against humanity with impunity.
The best way to protect our military, and the peace of the world, is through universal and equal enforcement of the rule of law for everyone.
BENJAMIN B, FERENCZ , a prosecutor at the Nuremberg war crimes trials .
E-mail:benferen@aol.com web site: http://www.benferencz.org
Ed. Note. There have been serious objections to the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials, because only the losers in the war were tried. The International Criminal Court will prevent this.
The American Bar Association, the New York Bar Association and the leading international lawyers in the country, including every living former Nuremberg prosecutor, all agree that it is in the interest of the US and its military to support the ICC. I believe the majority of the American public, if they knew the truth, would share the same conclusion.
The Bush Administration's unparalleled renunciation of President Clinton's signature to the treaty astounded and angered many of our allies. Congressional legislation now pending would authorize US troops to liberate any American detained by the ICC. It is ridiculed by opponents as "The Hague Invasion Act." Arrogant unilateralism does not create world leaders -- nor does it encourage others to help us in combating terrorism.
The US inspired the world at Nuremberg by demanding that never again would crimes against humanity be allowed to go unpunished. We weaken our standing in the world when we insist that law applies to everyone else but not to the United States. No nation and no person has a sovereign right to commit crimes against humanity with impunity.
The best way to protect our military, and the peace of the world, is through universal and equal enforcement of the rule of law for everyone.
BENJAMIN B, FERENCZ , a prosecutor at the Nuremberg war crimes trials .
E-mail:benferen@aol.com web site: http://www.benferencz.org
Ed. Note. There have been serious objections to the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials, because only the losers in the war were tried. The International Criminal Court will prevent this.