U.S. Drops Effort to Gain Immunity for Its Troops

[zimv20]

link (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/international/middleeast/23CND-NATI.html?hp)


UNITED NATIONS, June 23 — The United States bowed to broad opposition on the Security Council today and announced that it was dropping its effort to gain immunity for its troops from prosecution by the International Criminal Court.

"The United States has decided not to proceed further with consideration and action on the draft at this time in order to avoid a prolonged and divisive debate," the deputy American ambassador, James B. Cunningham, said on emerging from the council.

The envoys from the 15-member council had spent the morning in closed session discussing a rewritten version of the American troop exemption resolution circulated among them Tuesday night to try to meet the widespread objections.

A resolution granting a year's exemption had passed the council the past two years, but this year the attempt to renew it ran into difficulties because of the prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq and a strong statement of opposition from Secretary General Kofi Annan.

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[skunk]

link (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/international/middleeast/23CND-NATI.html?hp)
Should be interesting. I'm surprised they caved in. When do Bush and Rumsfeld get charged?

[mactastic]

So now what? Does this mean we are going to be signing onto the ICC treaty finally? Or is it just a step along the way? I really can't see Bush giving in so easily on this.

[takao]

So now what? Does this mean we are going to be signing onto the ICC treaty finally? Or is it just a step along the way? I really can't see Bush giving in so easily on this.

i would se that was one of the biggest hurdels on the way but i guess bush administration will "strech" the time as long as possible until they sign the treaty

[Chip NoVaMac]

So now what? Does this mean we are going to be signing onto the ICC treaty finally? Or is it just a step along the way? I really can't see Bush giving in so easily on this.

Just election year politics is my opinion. Regardless it is a good step forward. This and the olive branch to North Korea.

[zimv20]

I really can't see Bush giving in so easily on this.
good call. he hasn't:

link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A757-2004Jun23?language=printer)


U.S. Immunity in Iraq Will Go Beyond June 30

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 24, 2004; Page A01

The Bush administration has decided to take the unusual step of bestowing on its own troops and personnel immunity from prosecution by Iraqi courts for killing Iraqis or destroying local property after the occupation ends and political power is transferred to an interim Iraqi government, U.S. officials said.

The administration plans to accomplish that step -- which would bypass the most contentious remaining issue before the transfer of power -- by extending an order that has been in place during the year-long occupation of Iraq. Order 17 gives all foreign personnel in the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority immunity from "local criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction and from any form of arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their parent states."

U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer is expected to extend Order 17 as one of his last acts before shutting down the occupation next week, U.S. officials said. The order is expected to last an additional six or seven months, until the first national elections are held.

The United States would draw legal authority from Iraq's Transitional Administrative Law and the recent U.N. resolution recognizing the new government and approving a multinational force, but some U.S. officials and countries in the multinational force still want greater reassurances on immunity, U.S. officials said.

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[Chip NoVaMac]

good call. he hasn't:

link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A757-2004Jun23?language=printer)

I sort of knew it was too good to be true.