Ambassador Rice signals shift in US policy toward ICC

The International Criminal Court is one of the earnest creations of the left that seeks to bring to justice those who commit atrocities and war crimes.

The problem, as with all such ventures motivated by do-goodism rather than hard eyed reality, is that the only people who would end up being prosecuted by such a court are those who are inclined to follow international law in the first place. The thugs, brutes, and animals who rape, massacre, and slaughter must be caught first - not a simple task for a court that has no police powers and must depend on the international community to capture the war criminals - a tall order if said criminal decides to disappear and refuses to cooperate.

But does that stop our new UN Ambassador from overturning years of resistance to this body by the US - resistance born of the common sense belief that the anti-Americans in Europe would prosecute Americans before going after the real criminals of the world - and advocating use of this international Kanagroo court?

Ambassador Susan Rice signaled a shift in U.S. policy toward support for the International Criminal Court, a tribunal the Bush administration opposed, in her first speech to the United Nations Security Council.

The International Criminal Court “looks to become an important and credible instrument for trying to hold accountable the senior leadership responsible for atrocities committed in the Congo, Uganda and Darfur,” Rice said in a closed council meeting, according to a text provided by the U.S. mission.

President George W. Bush opposed U.S. ratification of the treaty that created the court out of concern that it didn’t include adequate protections against politically motivated prosecutions. The U.S. sought and received UN immunity for its citizens from tribunal prosecution from 2002 to 2004.

Right on cue , the Court is now looking into charging members of the Israeli Defense Forces with war crimes.

The International Criminal Court is exploring ways to charge Israel Defense Forces officers over alleged war crimes committed in Gaza, The Times reported on Monday.

The alleged crimes included the use of white phosphorus in densely populated civilian areas, the British daily said.

According to The Times, when Palestinian groups initially petitioned the ICC, its prosecutor said that it was unable to take the case because it had no jurisdiction over Israel, a nonsignatory to the court.

Now, however, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC prosecutor, reportedly told The Times that he is examining the case for Palestinian jurisdiction over the alleged crimes.

Incredibly, the Court evidently doesn't think that Hamas firing thousands of rockets into Israel, using their own citizens to hide behind during the war, using mosques and schools for rocket emplacements and other military uses, or murdering their Fatah rivals - all recognized war crimes by the definition and by the world community - should be held to account.

Susan Rice, in her maiden speech before the United Nations, also called upon Israel to investigate its own possible war crimes during the Gaza action.

Change is happening, alright.