Article

2003-08-02 Africa: West

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred Pruitt 2003-08-02 01:36|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Are not Fr.Ger.Mex. some of those pushing for U.S intervention?

Posted by raptor 2003-8-2 7:59:58 AM|| 2003-8-2 7:59:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes, Raptor. Makes you want to be a fly on the wall when the Fr., Ger. and Mex. were discussing which way to vote.

Posted by Michael 2003-8-2 11:37:13 AM|| 2003-8-2 11:37:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 "France, Germany and Mexico abstained to protest a provision that would prevent the International Criminal Court from prosecuting participants in the multinational force from countries that haven't ratified the Rome treaty establishing the war crimes tribunal.
The United States vehemently opposes the court, fearing frivolous or political prosecutions of U.S. troops.
Germany and Mexico explained before the vote that this provision would also violate their national laws by preventing their prosecutors from investigating crimes against German or Mexico citizens in Liberia." (Washington Times)

To clarify: The first argument I don't quite understand because it concerns countries that have NOT ratified ICC. The second has more weight: Washington insists on allowing any crimes committed by peacekeepers to be prosecuted only by the peacekeepers' own governments. This would violate national German law that allows German prosecutors to go after crimes committed against Germans abroad. I suppose France and Mexico have the same laws. Strange though: Doesn't the US have similar laws? Wouldn't the FBI insist on prosecuting murder against a U.S. citizen abroad? If a soldier of an African country kills an U.S. citizen and that African country would let the killer slip away, wouldn't the U.S. insist on prosecution?

Posted by True German Ally 2003-8-2 12:21:40 PM|| 2003-8-2 12:21:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Hey folks - I've been waiting (obviously TGA is, as well) for one of you well grounded in law to answer TGA's question - and define the bounds of what the US does, when and how. Looks like a good question and I think I know, but...

14:53 Gromky
08:41 raptor
08:17 raptor
07:25 raptor
07:24 raptor
00:06 Zhang Fei
23:54 Zhang Fei
23:33 Â·com
23:18 Frank G
23:13 Steve White
23:11 Â·com
23:05 Â·com
23:01 Â·com
22:42 Frank G
22:39 Frank G
22:36 Frank G
22:18 Â©
22:14 Anonymous
22:13 Â©
22:05 Anonymous
22:00 Â©
21:55 Watcher
21:50 Watcher
21:41 Raphael