Posted by D. Williams on October 10, 2002 at 23:17:45:
In Reply to: International Criminal Court posted by Dee on May 11, 2002 at 01:57:46:
There are undoubtedly numerous and various advantages and disadvantages of the ICC; I certainly do not pretend to know, or to even be aware of, all the arguments for and against. However, the "disadvantage" being talked about most is that which is said to affect the United States by providing a forum for the prosecution --on political grounds -- of U.S. soldiers. That is a possibility, it has to be admitted. But it is much more likely that U.S. political leaders might be prosecuted, either in show trials with little factual support, or in good faith prosecutions of U.S. leaders, for planning and carrying out crimes against peace, or for being complicit in crimes against humanity, or war crimes. I personally find the opposition of the Bush Administration to the ICC to be much more sinister than does Mr. Schiffman, and to be of the same cloth as the secreting away by the Bush Administration of what had been public records of previous administrations, including those of Presidents Reagan and Bush I. (In passing, let me point out that the activities of many of President Reagan's functionaries would be considered terrorist activities under current law and dogma.) Let me direct you to this web site: www.guerrillanews.com. After you get there, click on the link to The Unindicted to read about the successful efforts of Senator Phil Gramm and his wife, Wendy (who was Chairwoman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission) to enact legislative and regulatory exemptions which allowed Enron "to escape any energy trading disclosure requirements" and which prohibited government regulation of energy commodity contracts and swaps. These laws and regulations have so far allowed Enron executives to escape, or avoid, criminal prosecutions for what was clearly fraudulent manipulation of wholesale electricity prices. In my view, the efforts of the Bush Administration to exempt U.S. officials
from the jurisdiction of the ICC are being made for similar reasons: To allow the United States and its leaders to escape prosecution for crimes committed and to be committed in the course of effecting the long- and short-range international goals of this Administration. I find it impossible to escape the conclusion that the leaders, thinkers and planners of the Bush Administration understand that crimes against peace, in particular, will be necessary in establishing a new American Empire, and that they have accepted that venal and criminal facet of their plans. It is absolutely imperative, to them, that they not have to be concerned about being tried before an international tribunal for those crimes. Their expressed concern for the individual soldier who might be prosecuted is just smoke and mirrors and an insult to thinking people everywhere.