U.S. will withdraw from U.N. peacekeeping unless troops are exempted from world court

[Imran Siddiqui]

How is a "crime" committed in a single nation state against only citizens of the same nation state an international crime?

Because Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes are international crimes, banned by Geneva Conventions.

Your analogy is flawed. A better one would be the FBI announcing that if someone robbed a federal building and didn't move across state lines, the FBI would move in and take jurisdiction.

[JohnIII]

Originally posted by Chris 62
As for fossil fuel prices, it's in our interests for the price to rise, because it would spur US industry to find alternative fuel sources to fossil fuel, thus making us less dependant on such a heavy polutant.

Really? I was under the impression that the oil companies were holding back all those alternative fuels .

[David Floyd]

Because Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes are international crimes, banned by Geneva Conventions.

Good point, but again, the Geneva Convention has no enforcement mechanism, and no court set up by the treaty. If the treaty had done that, most nations probably wouldn't have signed it.

Further, the application of "crimes against humanity" is bull**** - how can Milosevic or Japanese General Yama****a be considered criminals but people like Truman and FDR and Curtis LeMay not be? They all ordered the murder of civilians, except the Americans did it in a far larger scale.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The court is the enforcement mechanism now .

So go away.

[David Floyd]

The court is the enforcement mechanism now

Yes, but the actual treaty didn't set it up, and if it had, my point is that most nations probably would not have signed onto it, especially at that point in history.

Further, you still haven't answered my other objection - basic fairness of the the application of international laws.

[Imran Siddiqui]

So what if the actual treaty didn't set it up! The US Constitution never set up judicial review!

The fairness of the application of international laws is the same as the fairness of application of domestic laws. The reason American weren't tried is because they set up that court. Would you rather have that? Ad hoc courts set up by members that won't be tried? Or would you rather have a permanent court that can try whoever does commit the war crimes (whatever side they are on).

[DanS]

"I was under the impression that the oil companies were holding back all those alternative fuels"

How could they?

[Roland]

Extreme muscle strength.

[DanS]

Overrated. Only 2 oil producers are in the top 50 of the Fortune 500 nowadays. They should be losing influence, comparatively speaking.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Dan, John was making a joke. Lighten up a bit .

[DanS]

You will follow my threadjack or else.

[Roland]

Originally posted by DanS
Only 2 oil producers are in the top 50 of the Fortune 500 nowadays.

I didn't know they compose the list along that criterion.

[markusf]

Originally posted by DanS
"I was under the impression that the oil companies were holding back all those alternative fuels"

How could they?

Oh i don't know, maybe bush = oil companies. They are trying everything they can to hold back the development of other sources of fuel. Have you looked at just how much of the US economy depends on oil and oil by products? If a cheap alternitive where found the US economy would go into a tailspin, simply because you'd have millions of unskilled workers removed from the workforce which would lead extremely high unemployment. The cost of plastics would sky rocket etc etc etc

[TCO]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

There is a long tradtion of requiring mariners to assist those in distress, Imran. Go read up on this area and you may feeel different.

Now can you tell me where it is in the Rome Statute? Stop evading the question and put your money where you mouth is. The ICC is based on the Rome Statute. Quote for me the section where it says the ICC can prosecute for that (which isn't a War Crime or a Crime against Humanity, and definetly ISN'T systematic or repeated).

the rome statute has overarching language such as crimes against humanity. It can try people for other than codified offenses. This means there is a buttload of wiggle room.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Roland
GP:

"The Euros all have the "little brother complex"."

Seems more like some Yanks have a severe younger brother complex. Why this need for permament self-aggrandization ?

"(like a teenager questioning a parent.)"

No, like a divorce in the making.

"I just tak em at that and ditcht the childish attitude of looking for perfection..."

If you hadn't an entire industry busy telling yourself and us foreigners how great you are, we'd care a lot less.

You've got this totally wierd thing going on, Roland. Why don't you at least visit the object of your fascination? just amazes me that a professional like yourself has never jumped over the puddle...