Reply Tue 1 Jul, 2003 08:17 am
Link

Quote:
Dozens of countries face the loss of United States military aid, because they have not met a Tuesday deadline to grant American soldiers immunity from prosecution for war crimes, the US says.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the protection of US citizens from the threat of being hauled before the new International Criminal Court (ICC) was a significant matter in relations with other countries.

The US does not recognise the ICC, saying its forces could be subjected to politically-motivated prosecution.

The court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, can try individuals for war crimes committed after 1 July anywhere in the world.

Washington has concluded bilateral agreements with more than 50 nations to secure exemption for US troops.

Balance


Nato members and other key allies - such as Israel, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand - are exempt from any penalty if they refuse.

Others face cuts in military aid, under the American Service members Protection Act approved last year by the US Congress.

However Mr Boucher said the US administration might waive the aid suspension for countries regarded as crucial to Washington's strategic interests.

"In implementing the act, we'll need to balance our broader bilateral interests with substantial consideration to the risk posed to US citizens... by the potential for politically motivated charges," he said.

Mr Boucher declined to identify the countries that would be exempt from cuts in military aid.

For those facing sanctions, he added, the cuts will not be immediate.

"But it's an important issue that will take hold over time," Mr Boucher said.

Balkans dilemma

The BBC's Gabriel Partos says that the American demand for immunity from war-crimes prosecution has created a particular dilemma in the Balkans.

South-east European countries welcome Washington's military aid, but are also under pressure from the EU - a strong backer of the ICC - not to conclude immunity deals.

Croatia, a EU candidate state, has refused to sign such an agreement for the time being.

Others, including Romania, Albania, and Bosnia-Hercegovina, have granted immunity to US forces.



Go, US! The EU has a hardon for the ICC, but the US doesn't want anything to do with it. I guess we will soon see where some countries allegiance lies...
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 1,308 • Replies: 12
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NeoGuin
 
  1  
Reply Tue 1 Jul, 2003 10:10 am
Perhaps the real question is "Could the US have something to hide"?
0 Replies
 
Scrat
 
  1  
Reply Tue 1 Jul, 2003 10:25 am
NeoGuin wrote:
Perhaps the real question is "Could the US have something to hide"?

What does that "real question" mean? Confused
0 Replies
 
mamajuana
 
  1  
Reply Tue 1 Jul, 2003 01:10 pm
Exactly what it says. It's rather simple - understood by many. We've never even seen the Cheney energy papers, have?
0 Replies
 
NeoGuin
 
  1  
Reply Tue 1 Jul, 2003 01:38 pm
I'm just wondering if maybe, just maybe, some of these accusations may NOT be politically.

This is what happens when you rely on media that's not sanitized for the government's protection.

http://thenextwar.blogspot.com has links to many great examples of media that don't have CEO's pulling strings!
0 Replies
 
au1929
 
  1  
Reply Tue 1 Jul, 2003 05:30 pm
The EU or western European nations would never have pressed anything of that nature during the cold war when they were under the protection of the US. Now of course they are safe and Russia has been emasculated, thanks to Uncle sucker they show the other face. You don't have to fear your enemies it's you friends you have to be wary of.
0 Replies
 
owi
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 12:51 am
au1929 wrote:
The EU or western European nations would never have pressed anything of that nature during the cold war when they were under the protection of the US. Now of course they are safe and Russia has been emasculated, thanks to Uncle sucker they show the other face. You don't have to fear your enemies it's you friends you have to be wary of.


What's your problem with the ICC? This is no institution that turns against the US. If a Canadian, an Italian, a Brasilian, an Australian, a South African or a South Corean takes part in genocide (s)he will be accused at the ICC. Isn't that a good thing?
0 Replies
 
Walter Hinteler
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 01:49 am
And not to forget a German, an Iraquian, ...
0 Replies
 
owi
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 02:02 am
Walter, I only wanted to give one example per continent only(except Antarctica as it is rather uninhabitated).
0 Replies
 
Walter Hinteler
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 02:13 am
I thought so.

But I just wanted to add some of the most rough nations :wink:
0 Replies
 
owi
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 02:22 am
I'm really afraid of these evil Germans and Iraquis...
0 Replies
 
au1929
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 06:47 am
owi
Why should the other nations care their people are not in jeopardy since they sit around do nothing and call on the US in times of crisis.
Bush has it right you want to sign up for an exception to the treaty, fine, go elsewhere for military and financial assistance.

U.S. Suspends Aid to 35 Countries Over New International Court

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/international/02COUR.html
0 Replies
 
owi
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Jul, 2003 09:50 am
So what is your problem with the ICC?
0 Replies
 
 

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