NEWS
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Well, apparently Walter Cronkite is with me on this one: Saddam Hussein should face charges before the International Criminal Court at the Hague." ... This year, the United Nations established the International Criminal Court at The Hague - a permanent Nuremberg Tribunal. This country, however, withheld its endorsement of the court unless Americans serving as peacekeepers are immune from the law and the court's jurisdiction.
There is an argument to be made for that position - given the fact that American troops bear the brunt of peacemaking and peacekeeping assignments around the world. But the Bush administration's insulting arrogance toward the United Nations in general, and individual members in particular, has so far made an acceptable compromise impossible. ...
Of course, the International Criminal Court has no death penalty, and it's my guess that Iraqis not only will demand that, but believe it their right to exact it. That does not mean, however, that a compromise could not be found - say, trying Hussein in The Hague for international crimes but letting the Iraqis have him last.
Most experts agree that we are not going to be able to bring our occupation of Iraq to an early and satisfactory conclusion until we internationalize the custodianship of the country.
Taking Hussein to the International Criminal Court not only would signal a change in the tone of American foreign policy, it might begin to heal the wounds in our relationship with the U.N. Security Council and with its members. It might even persuade such powers as France and Germany to join in the effort to reconstruct Iraq, to help it become a free, independent and democratic nation. It might also begin to restore our badly damaged reputation within the community of nations."
> From Walkter Cronkite's column, "The trial of Saddam Hussein"
Posted by Rob at 7:59 PM
