House panel votes to bar U.S from war crimes tribunal

Critics say the new permanent court would be threat to military

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Friday, May 10, 2002

WASHINGTON -- A House panel voted Thursday to bar U.S. cooperation with the new international war crimes tribunal, heeding critics of the court who said it would imperil American troops.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the ban on a near party-line 38-18 vote, with only a handful of Democrats supporting the proposal by House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Five other Democrats voted present.

The vote came days after the Bush administration announced its decision to ignore the treaty creating the first permanent war crimes court, which was signed by former President Clinton.

President Bush has made no secret of his opposition to the tribunal, which is to go into business on July 1. Opponents of the court said other countries could use it to try American soldiers for war crimes, in effect threatening U.S. sovereignty.

"The notion that people would want to put American soldiers ... at the whims of the international community ... is just more than I can stand," DeLay said.

Human rights groups and other supporters of the tribunal have said American renouncement of the treaty would call into question U.S. commitment to international justice and strain relations with America's allies.

"We are a nation of laws," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who said the amendment "demeans" the United States.

The language would prohibit the U.S. government from helping the tribunal in many ways, including arresting suspects, collecting evidence or sharing intelligence. The United States would also have to win permanent immunity for American troops before joining in United Nations peacekeeping operations, though the president could waive that restriction. U.S. military aid would be banned for countries that ratified the treaty establishing the court, though NATO and other "major" allies would be exempted and the president could seek other exemptions as well.

The provision was included in a roughly $29 billion measure the committee was debating for defense and anti-terrorism programs.

The International Criminal Court won the needed backing to commence its work last month when 10 nations joined 56 others in ratifying the treaty, which was negotiated in Rome in 1998.

Bush administration officials have said the United States prefers working with private organizations, industry and universities to help individual countries set up tribunals when needed.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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