This is hilarious (US foreign policy)

[Chris 62]

Read Dino's posts.

[Pekka]

Chris 62, Arr you know why. Not taking any sides to this particular topic, or any other when it comes to it, but being a superpower means getting crap from others.
Even if it's baseless or for a good reason.
It's always been that way, and it will continue to be.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by Chris 62
Read Dino's posts.

I did and

Kostunica, whose predecessor Slobodan Milosevic is on trial for war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia in The Hague, said any agreement to exempt people from prosecution by the ICC would undermine international law.

Those who would enjoy immunity from prosecution would not only sleep soundly, but would also be encouraged to keep committing crimes," state news agency Tanjug quoted Kostunica as saying late Monday.

His remarks reflect a widespread feeling in Serbia that Washington is applying double standards, pressuring Belgrade to cooperate with The Hague tribunal while it seeks to win exemptions for its own citizens from the ICC.

Washington says hostile nations may abuse the ICC to bring politically-motivated cases against Americans, notably its troops on peacekeeping missions around the world. It had threatened to veto such missions.

The real question is whether this court will try everyone and really be a court or try only some and, in that case, will not be a court," Kostunica said.

The president's comments are in line with his frequent attacks against "selective justice," which he normally levels at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague. He has accused the court of bias against Serbs.

and these are just parts of a report. But relevant ones.

While in itself it does not sound as bad as the article in my newspapers (at the end this one is US article) it gives you the leading points of the problem.

And first way US would be able to undermine ICC is with obstructing current trials. While US will not say that officially, I am just telling you that this is what it appears to the Croatian side US is doing now. Not to meniton the possible effect that it can have on internal politics where ICC is a sensitive issue too, but would play right on US card at the moment.

As i outlined above.

[DinoDoc]

1) The Rome Statute allows the US to secure bilateral treaties to exempt its peacekeepers from ICC prosecution. Take it up with the authors of the treaty, if you don't like it.

2) I've still not found any info at all regarding the deal with Croatia you have been saying the US is trying to make.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
1) The Rome Statute allows the US to secure bilateral treaties to exempt its peacekeepers from ICC prosecution. Take it up with the authors of the treaty, if you don't like it.

2) I've still not found any info at all regarding the deal with Croatia you have been saying the US is trying to make.

I am trying to find something in English as well, but just read Thursdays edition (as it is now past midnight) and of course that the opposition is in favour of US approach, and that they would support the initiative. :suprising:

heh, hopefully this will not give a nudge in their favour. Ah well we will see what happens, but I will try and find something in English too before I go to bed.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Pekka
Chris 62, Arr you know why. Not taking any sides to this particular topic, or any other when it comes to it, but being a superpower means getting crap from others.
Even if it's baseless or for a good reason.
It's always been that way, and it will continue to be.

I think we understand perfectly, which is exactly why we don't give a rat's ass.
I bet I've said it a hundred time here. No matter what the USA does, someone will complain.
Get involved, don't get involved; it matters not a damn bit.
So, screw them.

[Ned]

OneFoot:

If you know, why is the US unpopular in Yugoslavia?

[Chris 62]

Originally posted by Pekka
Chris 62, Arr you know why. Not taking any sides to this particular topic, or any other when it comes to it, but being a superpower means getting crap from others.
Even if it's baseless or for a good reason.
It's always been that way, and it will continue to be.

I know it, but it's also fun to send it back sometimes.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by Ned
OneFoot:

If you know, why is the US unpopular in Yugoslavia?

Well the Serbs, rightly, percieve US as the initiators of the NATO bombing campaign. And that is why they hate US pretty much. (Serbia and Montenegro are now Yugoslavia).

While I would add rightly to NATO to have attacked them as that was a main force in stabilising the region, as NATO wanted, as it is in my interest too, as Serbs first attacked Croatia at the beggining of the whole ordeal which later spread to Bosnia, and the last act was Kosovo. Without NATO involvement there would still be war, in my opinion.

But that is the reason why current Yugoslavs, mainly Serbs in this case really dislike or hate the US.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by SlowwHand



I think we understand perfectly, which is exactly why we don't give a rat's ass.
I bet I've said it a hundred time here. No matter what the USA does, someone will complain.
Get involved, don't get involved; it matters not a damn bit.
So, screw them.

In this case if you didn't give rat's ass you could have not started the initiative at all, or at least you could have spared us the special envoy with the proposition. I think someone in White House cares

[Pekka]

Slowwhand, Well of course. There are always people who have different opinions. No matter if you're the US or the Zimbabwe. And superpowers tend to get more attention.. But if you're saying you don't give a rat's ass about other people... well that's not good pr .
But I think that's not what you really meant.

And you know, most of the people are patriotic and love their own countries. Almost everyone thinks it's above other countries, no matter how much things suck, like economy and stuff like that. So basically, it's everyone for themselves.
Besides, I think it's very good that superpowers get lots of critics. People are different, traditions are different, history is different, cultures are different, peoples mindsets are different, religions are different.. and everyone thinks theirs are the good and right ones (not talking about them terrorists), and everyone else can screw themselves if someone crosses the line and speaks bad about you.

And for your information, the US is NOT so unpopular as you all think it is. It's the loud minority speaking sometimes.

And since when did you reserve the right to blaim others and complain about others complaining?

[SlowwHand]

No, no one at the White House cares.
Remember? All the U.S. are tricky devils. They're just playing like they care.

[Pekka]

Chris 62, sure. I know we Eurocommies deserve some crap sometimes too. And by Eurocommies I mean the French, German and other central countries.

[SlowwHand]

BTW, Pekka. My rant was not particularly addressed at you.


Hooray for Finland!

[Pekka]

Yah I know. I didn't even think it as a rant. Just wanted to say that people are always looking after their own, nothing wrong with that. It's just when superpowers do that, it usually affects other countries as well, and when small countries do it, it usually affects only them. Still everyone does it, and you have to look out for yourself and your own.

Hooray for the USA! It even rhymes!