Clinton Says U.S. Supports International Criminal Court

[Heidi]

Source: Washington Post

Secretary of State Tells Kenyans It Is 'a Great Regret' U.S. Has Not Yet Become a Formal Member

Thursday, August 6, 2009; 9:29 AM
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 6 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday it was "a great regret" that the United States was not a member of the International Criminal Court, an institution that has long been treated warily by the Pentagon.

Clinton, in a spirited town hall meeting at the University of Nairobi, was asked by a student how Washington could support having the international court intervene in Kenya's problems when the U.S. government had not subjected itself to the court's procedures.

Clinton said it was "a great regret but it is a fact" that the U.S. government was not a member of the court. "But we have supported the court and continue to do so."

<snip>

In December 2000, Clinton's husband, then-President Bill Clinton, signed the treaty setting up the International Criminal Court, despite what he called "concerns about significant flaws." But he did not submit it to Congress for ratification. Months later, the Bush administration in effect withdrew that signature. The Obama administration has not made any move to join the court.

The Pentagon has long worried that the international war crimes court could unfairly target American military personnel stationed around the globe. Some legal experts, however, say the U.S. government had won important concessions to ensure protection of American servicemen and servicewomen.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/06/AR2009080600997.html

[saigon68]

1. When they prosecute Cheney for War Crimes

[excess_3]

12. did Cheney vote for the IWR? n/t

[David__77]

2. BS.

I feel like this is trickery. The US "supports" it only when it goes after its enemies, but does not under any circumstances want to submit to its jurisdiction.

[damntexdem]

3. Good. Does she have any insight on when we will send Dubya, Cheney, Rummy, etc., for prosecution?

Just a general timeline will do, no need for over-precision. ;-)

[Synicus Maximus]

7. Shortly after hell freezes over.

[Solly Mack]

4. uh huh

k/r

[gratuitous]

5. We support it in theory, just not in practice

After all, we wouldn't want any of our citizens to be judged by the rest of the world. Because we know a priori how "unfair" it would be to have our victims prosecute our crimes. But it's perfectly all right for the rest of you lot.

Sorry Secretary Clinton. You got pwned on this question. But there is a solution.

[Vidar]

6. Oh goody, does that mean our support of International Criminals is waning?

[EFerrari]

8. More matter and less art -- Gertrude, HAMLET.

[New Dawn]

9. Clinton voted for the illegal Iraq War and should be prosecuted by the ICC.

[Posteritatis]

10. I could live with seeing Congress start talking about signing the ICC treaty. (nt)

[Mudoria]

14. No

[Posteritatis]

15. What, want the US above the law? (nt)

[Seeking Serenity]

17. I don't think the Senate can, sua sponte, consider treaties

for ratification that the President hasn't signed and submitted to it.

Can anyone confirm or refute that?

[Posteritatis]

18. I think that's the case, but I was presupposing Obama doing so (nt)

[applegrove]

11. I really hope they sign up.

[Captain Hilts]

13. This is something Wesley Clark has really spoken out in favor of. nt

[Doctor_J]

16. Good. Then take Cheney into custody and hand him over

He'll sing like a canary, and the defendents' box will be full of Bushies.