Crimes of War > September 11

Five articles and a letter to the editor on the vote on ASPA
collected by the American Coalition for an International Criminal Court

U.S. Senate says no to ICC

Dear all,

The US Senate added the American Servicemembers‚ Protection Act (ASPA) as an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act last Friday, December 7. In this email, I enclose five articles and a letter to the editor on the vote on ASPA "American Servicemembers' Protection Act" (ASPA), legislation barring US participation in the International Criminal Court.

The first AP article quotes Richard Dicker, who directs the international justice program of Human Rights Watch, saying that the Senate vote was "a low point in the U.S. Senate's commitment to strengthening international human rights." It summarized the ASPA as follows. "Helms' amendment, similar to freestanding legislation he introduced this year, would bar U.S. cooperation with the court, including use of federal funds or the sharing of classified information. It would give the president the power to use "all means necessary and appropriate" to free any American detained by the court.

It also would limit U.S. involvement in overseas peacekeeping missions unless the United Nations exempts American troops from prosecution by the court.

Additionally, it would restrict foreign aid to other countries that fail to sign accords preventing American troops within their borders from being delivered to the court.

Countries that have already ratified the court treaty include U.S. NATO allies Britain, France, the Netherlands and Germany."

The articles and letter to the editor are as follows:

1- Senate votes against International Court- Associated Press- 12/08/01

2- Senate says no to world crime court -Chattanooga Free Press -12/08/01

3- Senators vote to bar US from world court - The Commercial Appeal - 12/08/01

4- Senate blocks US role in world criminal court- Mercury news wire
services- 12/08/01

5- Capital Watch- The Seattle Times and St. Petersburg Times 12/08/01

6- Letter: Peace and justice-Bangor Daily News 12/07/01

Regards,

Ms. Mariana Rodriguez Pareja
Outreach Liaison
CICC

December 7, 2001

Senate Votes Against Intl. Court
By Alan Fram, Associated Press Writer

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials. The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to this year's defense spending bill.

The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.

Before the vote on Helms' proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a weaker alternative by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. That proposal would have required President Bush to tell Congress what changes it could enact "to advance and protect U.S. interests" as the court is established. Helms said his amendment, backed by veterans and other military groups, would "protect these soldiers and their civilian leaders from an unaccountable kangaroo court."

Opponents such as Dodd retorted that if the United States does not join in establishing the court, "Our men and women in uniform will be subjected to terrible rules. You've got to be a player."

Richard Dicker, who directs the international justice program of Human Rights Watch, called the Senate vote "a low point in the U.S. Senate's commitment to strengthening international human rights." The new court, to be established as a permanent body at The Hague, Netherlands, was created by a 1998 treaty that President Clinton signed but the Senate has not ratified.

It would try people, not governments, for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Supporters say it could prosecute terrorists such as members of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's organization, but it could not prosecute crimes committed before the court existed.

As of Nov. 30, 47 nations have ratified the treaty, 13 short of the number needed to empower the court. Bush, who has criticized the treaty, has said he will not send it to the Senate for ratification without changes.

Helms' amendment, similar to freestanding legislation he introduced this year, would bar U.S. cooperation with the court, including use of federal funds or the sharing of classified information. It would give the president the power to use "all means necessary and appropriate" to free any American detained by the court.

It also would limit U.S. involvement in overseas peacekeeping missions unless the United Nations exempts American troops from prosecution by the court. Additionally, it would restrict foreign aid to other countries that fail to sign accords preventing American troops within their borders from being delivered to the court.

Countries that have already ratified the court treaty include U.S. NATO
allies Britain, France, the Netherlands and Germany.

On the Net: International Criminal Court

December 8, 2001

Senate says no to world crime court
By The Associated Press
Chattanooga Times/Chattanooga Free Press

WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials.

The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to this year's defense spending bill. All senators in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama voted to block participation in the court.

The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.

Before the vote on Helms' proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a weaker alternative by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. That proposal would have required President Bush to tell Congress what changes it could enact "to advance and protect U.S. interests" as the court is established.

Helms said his amendment, backed by veterans and other military groups, would "protect these soldiers and their civilian leaders from an unaccountable kangaroo court."

Opponents such as Dodd retorted that if the United States does not join in establishing the court, "Our men and women in uniform will be subjected to terrible rules."

Richard Dicker, who directs the international justice program of Human Rights Watch, called the Senate vote "a low point in the Senate's commitment to strengthening international human rights."

The new court, to be established as a permanent body at The Hague, Netherlands, was created by a 1998 treaty that President Clinton signed but the Senate has not ratified.

It would try people, not governments, for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Supporters say it could prosecute terrorists such as members of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's organization, but it could not prosecute crimes committed before the court existed.

December 8, 2001

Senators Vote To Bar U.S. From World Court
By The Associated Press
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials.

The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), to this year's defense spending bill.

The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.

Before the vote on Helms's proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a weaker alternative by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). That proposal would have required President Bush to tell Congress what changes it could enact "to advance and protect U.S. interests" as the court is established.

Helms said his amendment, backed by veterans and other military groups, would "protect these soldiers and their civilian leaders from an unaccountable kangaroo court."

Opponents such as Dodd retorted that if the United States does not join in establishing the court, "Our men and women in uniform will be subjected to terrible rules. You've got to be a player."

The new court, to be established as a permanent body at The Hague, Netherlands, was created by a 1998 treaty that President Clinton signed but the Senate has not ratified.

It would try people, not governments, for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity that were committed while the court existed.

December 8, 2001

Senate Blocks U.S. Role In World Criminal Court
By Mercury News Wire Services
San Jose Mercury News

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials.

The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to this year's defense-spending bill.

The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense-spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.

Before the vote on Helms' proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a weaker alternative by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.

December 8, 2001

Capital Watch
The Seattle Times

Senate OKs defense bill with less for anti-terror WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats settled for a smaller anti-terrorism package as Republicans gave President Bush a victory by standing solidly against a $35 billion plan the White House deemed too expensive.

The Senate used a voice vote early today to approve a $318 billion defense bill and an attached $20 billion package to bolster security at home. GOP senators earlier had voted to bring down a Democratic $35 billion response to the Sept. 11 attacks. Democrats came back hours later with the $20 billion alternative, a direct response to Bush's repeated veto threats.

The new plan shifted about $7 billion that Bush wanted for defense and other programs to efforts tightening domestic security and helping New York and the Washington area recover from the Sept. 11 destruction. White House officials have promised to seek more money early next year. In yesterday's pivotal early vote, Republicans killed the $35 billion anti-terrorism plan in a 50-50 roll call that derailed the entire defense bill. Republicans needed only 41 votes on the procedural motion. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., was the only lawmaker to cross party lines. Senators clear the way for 3.4 percent pay raise The Senate voted last night to give lawmakers a $4,900 pay raise in January as members of both parties banded together to thwart a bid to block it. With a 65-33 roll call, senators used a procedural vote to block an effort by Sens. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., to keep the pay raise from taking place. Under a 1989 law, lawmakers receive automatic salary increases every January unless Congress votes to block them.

The House already has passed legislation opening the door for a 3.4 percent boost that will increase members' annual salaries to $150,000.

Senate rejects participation in new international court The Senate yesterday voted overwhelmingly to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of U.S. troops and government officials.

The 78-21 vote added the language to this year's defense-spending bill.
Washington state Democrats Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell voted to kill the proposal.

The House version of the defense-spending bill contains no such provision, but the House in May voted 282-137 to include similar language in a bill authorizing State Department programs.

The new court, to be established as a permanent body at The Hague, Netherlands, was created by a 1998 treaty that former President Clinton signed but the Senate has not ratified.

It would try people, not governments, for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Supporters say it could prosecute terrorists such as members of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's organization, but it could not prosecute crimes committed before the court existed.

Economic-package talks collapse over squabbles Negotiations on an economic- stimulus package broke down yesterday as Democrats and Republicans angrily accused each other of trying to sabotage the talks for political advantage.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Republicans postponed talks because Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., wants any compromise ratified by at least two-thirds of the 50 Senate Democrats. Independent Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont also caucuses with the Democrats.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., suggested the GOP wasn't interested in Democratic priorities, such as extension of unemployment benefits and health-insurance benefits. At the last minute, ConditY´files for re-election bid Rep. Gary Condit, dogged by scandal since the disappearance of Washington, D.C., intern Chandra Levy, just beat the deadline yesterday to file for re-election next year.

Condit, a Democrat who was first elected in 1989 and has handily won re-election six times, had kept silent on his plans until there were only 45 minutes left to file for the 2002 campaign.

Several Democrats have lined up to run in the March primary.

December 7, 2001

Peace and justice
By Shirley L. Davis Orono
Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine)

The Bush Administration's use of military tribunals may have advantages in ensuring verdicts for accused terrorists, but this tactic is no way to shrink the ranks of future terrorist groups. Without real justice there will be no real peace.

Now a few Congressional fanatics are trying to exclude any US participation in an International Criminal Court (ICC) that will almost certainly come into existence early next year. Its purpose will be prosecuting those accused of mass murder. Leaders from over 140 nations have signed the Rome Statue and 46 nations have so far ratified it, including France and the United Kingdom and other NATO allies.

If Helms/Delay/Hyde and company succeed with their "American Servicemembers' Protection Act" (ASPA) it will only put more Americans and more US service members into grave danger by prohibiting future US efforts in any international anti-terrorism efforts. The ASPA would, in fact, bar U.S. cooperation with the ICC, prohibit military assistance to other countries that ratify the ICC Statute, restrict U.S. participation in peacekeeping, and conceivably authorize the use of force against the Netherlands to free individuals held before the ICC.

Passage of this ill-conceived, isolationist amendment is a slap in the face to our closest allies and is no way to sustain an international coalition against mass murderers. US insistence that Americans be treated differently than other people in the will only inspire more terrorism against us.