Republicans In Threat To Block Overseas Aid (ICC)

The Telegraph(UK) ^ | 11-27-2004 | David Rennie

[blam]

Republicans in threat to block overseas aid

By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 27/11/2004)

Republicans in the United States Congress have moved to block hundreds of millions of pounds in economic aid to foreign nations, unless they agree to shield American personnel and troops from any possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court.

The economic threat was slipped, almost unnoticed, into a giant, £200 billion spending bill for 2005.

Republicans are concerned that American personnel or even political leaders might find themselves dragged into politically motivated prosecutions before the ICC, an international court established by treaty in 1998 to hear cases of war crimes, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

Their move bars any aid flowing to a nation that is a party to the ICC, unless that country signs a so-called Article 98 agreement with Washington. Those agreements amount to a binding promise not to hand any American citizen accused of war crimes to the ICC.

Those immediately affected include Jordan, which receives £138 million in annual US aid but supports the ICC and is barred by its own Jordanian law from undermining the court's powers.

The clause inserted in Congress does contain a "national security" waiver that would allow President George W Bush to exempt key allies from the penalty. An earlier measure barred US military assistance to nations signed up to the ICC, unless they also sign Article 98 pacts with the United States.

So far 96, mostly small and poor, nations have signed Article 98 agreements with the United States, despite opposition from allies including Britain, which believes American fears of frivolous prosecutions are exaggerated.

European Union states last year engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-war with Washington over the 10 accession states about to join the union, which were under strong US pressure to sign Article 98 agreements. Germany bluntly warned accession states not to sign the immunity pacts, saying they cut across a position agreed by the EU's then membership of 15 countries.

The United States signed the treaty establishing the ICC in the dying days of the Clinton administration but Mr Bush later revoked America's signature on the treaty.

There is no doubting the strength of feeling in Washington against the ICC. Mr Bush recently called it "a body based in The Hague where unaccountable judges and prosecutors could pull our troops, our diplomats up for trial".

Supporters of the court, including British officials, argue that the founding treaty, now signed by 139 countries, and ratified by 97, contains adequate safeguards against frivolous prosecutions or politically motivated attempts to charge US commanders with war crimes.

[TASMANIANRED]

We pay the piper, you dance to our tune,

otherwise put your empty hand back in your pocket and go away.

[eagle11]

What country did I just wake-up in? The good 'ol USA!

[EggsAckley]

Yee haw! Now, THIS is why Bush HAD to put Kerry away!
(among other reasons, of course)

[26lemoncharlie]

bump

[Servant of the 9]

BIG SMILE

So9

[KoRn]

I don't think they are going far enough. They should withhold aid(our tax dollars) from any country participating in the court. As long as the court exists it will be there for liberal politicians to use as a means to undermine our country to gain favor from thug nations.

[F16Fighter]

Supporters of the court [ICC], including British officials, argue that the founding treaty, now signed by 139 countries, and ratified by 97, contains adequate safeguards against frivolous prosecutions or politically motivated attempts to charge US commanders with war crimes.

Wow -- a international kangaroo court signed on by 139 countries, and ratified by another 97, and yet the Dubya and U.S. is still suspicious?

Hey EU: Pull my finger...

[26lemoncharlie]

Not NOW Not EVER!!!

Get us out of the UN and the UN out of the US!! This is another Corrupt Organization -- like the UN !! Another WORLD ORGANIZATION to undermine our CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC!! They HATE US!!!, They want to CONTROL US!!.

I really PITY these FOOLS, Do they really want to try to CONTROL a bunch of AMERICANS!! Don't they realize we are in a constant state of WAR!! Waiting for some FOOLS to come along to try and CONTROL US !!!! If we don't agree to be controled we WONT BE CONTROLLED !!!We may be 100 miilion strong, we may only be a handfull, but you sure will know we are here!!!

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Republicans in the United States Congress have moved to block hundreds of millions of pounds in economic aid to foreign nations, unless they agree to shield American personnel and troops from any possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court. International Court of Criminals

We have got to report the name correctly!

[MissAmericanPie]

I'm glad to see I am not the only one fearful and suspicious of this attempt at world dominance by the ICC. Would that we would take the same tact with the United Nations and refuse to do business with any nation that chooses to remain a member of that corrupt nest of vipers.

[26lemoncharlie]

Why don't they arrest and place on trial the International Gangsters involved in the Oil for Food Scandle: Kofi Annan, His Son, Jock Chirac and the rest of the Gangsters on the long list that accepted bribes from Saddam!!

They are the reason why we are in Afganistan, and Iraq! They are the reason the Sanctions did not work.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Not only ban countries who signed with the International Court, but, ban all foreign aid to any country, who does not hold our values, or is or declared war against us.
Or any nation who does not cooperated with the USA.
I also am in favorer, to stop all foreign aid to Russia, who is only using our money to develop new technology for their nukes. Also, ban any foreign aid to any country who supports the GAY AGENDA, the FEMENIST AGENDA, and persecutes Christians, and bans the BIBLE.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Lord, place the steel of the Holy Spirit in my spine and the love of the Holy Ghost in my heart.

God bless our troops and our President !

Backbone Heart and Brains

and they thought this president was irrelevant!

[Citizen James]

Amen!

[KoRn]

I couldn't agree more. That "foreign aid" is part of OUR paycheck that is confiscated every time we get paid. By default every hour we work a part of our labor goes to this "foreign aid".

This money shouldn't go to a country that doesn't completely support our values, or is of some kind of great help to our nation.

It's bad enough to see our tax dollars being wasted in pork barrel spending for some obscure town in West VA to have their city hall painted(for example), much less to see it go to another country without a damned good reason!!

[longtermmemmory]

and the UN security consel is supposed to have honorable intentions but the french still sold their vote.

The democrats intended to use a democrat texas prosecutor to file a frivolous case and bump tom delay from his leadership positions. Despite the fact the prosecutor has taken all oaths and is under "supervision" by an ethical regulatory bar to prevent abuse.

It seems the french have taught every tinpot government that treaty organizations can be used to "contain" the USA. Bush taught them BS walks.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I also, want,, if it is, ANY !! foreign aid STOPPED ,, going to the FRENCH, and if it was not any consequence to the USA ( as in world reaction ) bomb France, for aiding our enemies.
And, if any of our companies are doing business in France, and Germany , pull them out, and pull all of our troops from Germany ( useless it will give Russia a excuse to be aggressive ).

[hosepipe]

-" Foreign aid is when the poor people of a rich country give money to the rich people of a poor country." Author Unknown

[Logical me]

It's long past time to draw a line in the sand and tell the UN and the ICC to stuff it. Cut all foreign aid in half this year with a notice, next year you pay your own way. It's over.