Friday, March 29, 2024

US threatens the International Criminal Court with Sanctions, declares it already dead

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ICC Headquaters
ICC Headquaters

Reuters reports that the Trump administration on Monday threatened tough action against the International Criminal Court should it try to prosecute Americans for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan

John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, made the announcement in a speech to the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in Washington, DC, on Monday.

“Today, on the eve of September 11th, I want to deliver a clear and unambiguous message on behalf of the president. The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” Bolton said.

“The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” national security adviser John Bolton told the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in his first major address since joining President Donald Trump’s White House in April.

The U.S. response could include sanctions against ICC judges should such prosecutions proceed, Bolton warned.

“We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. We will not join the ICC. We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us,” he said.

Bolton said the Trump administration “will fight back” if the ICC proceeds with opening an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. service members and intelligence professionals during the war in Afghanistan.

“The ICC prosecutor has requested to investigate these Americans for alleged detainee abuse, and perhaps more – an utterly unfounded, unjustifiable investigation,” he said.

If such an inquiry goes ahead, the Trump administration will consider banning judges and prosecutors from entering the United States, put sanctions on any funds they have in the U.S. financial system and prosecute them in American courts, Bolton said.

“We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. We will not join the ICC. We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us,” he said.

In addition, the United States may negotiate more binding, bilateral agreements to prohibit nations from surrendering Americans to The Hague-based court, Bolton said.

In 2016, the The Hague-based court said members of the US armed forces and the CIA might have committed war crimes by torturing detainees in Afghanistan.

Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent court set up to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

More than 120 countries around the world are members, but superpowers – including the US, Russia and China – have not signed up.

“This president will not allow American citizens to be prosecuted by foreign bureaucrats, and he will not allow other nations to dictate our means of self defence.”

On the ICC, Bolton said if any investigations go ahead on alleged US war crimes, the Trump administration will consider banning judges and prosecutors from entering the country, put sanctions on any funds they have in the US financial system, and prosecute them in US courts.

Bolton said the main objection is the idea the ICC could have higher authority than the US constitution and US sovereignty.

“In secular terms we don’t recognise any higher authority than the US constitution,” he said. “This president will not allow American citizens to be prosecuted by foreign bureaucrats, and he will not allow other nations to dictate our means of self defence.”

36 COMMENTS

    • The only human life important in the world is white and Jewish(the right color). Outside of that, you can be slaughtered anytime any day and no one cares! ICC be damned!

    • THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES, WITH HIS BOSS UNDER A MENACE OF INCESSANT AND VICIOUS PROBE FROM SPECIAL COUNSEL, IT’S TRUE COLORS AMERICA.
      ==============================
      You open your mouth against them, you are gonna get yourselves sanctioned. So with an insecure bully in the White House, the Trumpist henchmen are unleashing venomous rants at any perceived enemy elements. Honestly, I feel for America. Indeed God bless the United States in this their trying moments. The clause “…unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” speaks volumes. I have always felt that the ICC only targets fallen weaker counties’ leaders mainly Africans. The bravery of tapping on the US proves me wrong. Well done ICC. If the US is killing people or commiting crime in Afghanistan with impunity, let them…

    • … be probed. Are sanctioned a tool to quash opposition to the US? Can the ICC stand up to the US, though? Let’s wait and see.

    • I wonder why people are surprised by this stance…really laughable..US policy on ICC prosecuting its citizens is very robust and clear whether under Bush or Obama. The thing different is that there is a President here who is concise and unambiguous doesn’t take prisoners…Trump wont come to you smiling and drink with you then go and stab you in the back he will tell you beforehand what he wants from you.
      When Uncle Bob was telling you about ICC ..you laughed at him!!

    • Harm Nest harming small Nests. Harm Nest failing to harm big Nests. Childish worshipers confused! They don’t know what their stand should be now! Support or condemn? If it were Lungu the little boy would have started with brain dung seizures followed by BoSpakata and NoseDemon. They Ha-quiet. Poor fuu Africans (some little devil worshipers – HH worshipers!)

  1. Oh yes, the dead court for the begging Africans and other poor managed economies wants to take on the number ONE economy in the world! Good luck. Stick to the lane full of the poor. The poor will always line up on your door steps with begging Aid bows.

    Zambia, as a begging nation, shall continue to be asked to sign up for protocols we don’t read and let alone understand, because all we are concerned and obsessed with is the donor funds.

    The US can afford to say these things because they don’t line up at anybody’s door step to beg for donor funds.

    This is the height out country should aspire to.

  2. Some under 5 party cadres hating the ICC today?
    Kaya mwandi….these guys are childish.
    Not so long ago some HH guy wanted to drag Zambia to that kangaroo court….ungaseke mwandi

    • I have always telling the supporters of some party that America will support anyone as long as it’s the advantage of the USA. There are dictatorships which America will support regardless of how the people of that country are treated. Egypt, Kenya and now Sudan are free to detain their citizens without trial. Egypt is about to execute 300 people who had staged a pro Islamic demonstration and the USA has said nothing. This goes for the Aljezera journalist Hussein. He’s been in prison without trial for two years and nix word from the mother of democracy.

    • They Ha Childish they don’t Ha-understand how the game is played in the real world. They Ha-Galu Watchers in Zambia now putting their tails down.

  3. Zuma and the AU wanted to abandon the ICC. Africans, especially the educated imperialist bootlickers accused them of being dictatorial and abusing their powers. Our own ECL was falsely accused of trying to forcibly remove Zed from ICC by opposition synchopaths. How s.t.u1d they must feel today!!! THE CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY THREATENING A COURT CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT AMONGST NATIONS. What a sad day for democracy and African opposition. On top of it all, the Americans are closing the PLO office in Washington because the PLO wants to take Israelis to ICC for war crimes?? WOW!!!

  4. Trump be careful. Under 5 Kaponya (HH) respects the ICC very much.
    He will unleash his cadres on you if you make war with the ICC.
    Or he will throw you off a bungee and you will shlt you pants like Mukuni.

  5. kiki that is the court HH wanted to take his case.Ba UPND careful with this international fimo fimo.Protect yo country not always want to be associate with white courts.even dialogue can be done by Zambian period.This court is dead. Trump cikali

    • Go and read the US Policy on ICC, its been there since ICC was created …its there in black and white, you think that Buffoon Trump just sits there and barks orders. Use this internet wisely its not cheap in Zambia as its highly taxed….use it to research.
      Wake up!!

    • Gay Jay is Hallucinating Larry Mweetwa who is Hallucinating BoSPakata who is Hallucinating Hakainde Childish who is Hallucinating Charmaine who is Hallucinating Mutinta. They will not seriously comment but will beat Ha-about the bush.

  6. The USA is not and has at not time been a signatory to the ICC. They are not pulling out of anything, unlike other countries that are only now making efforts to pull out for one reason or the other.

  7. God already told you the true name of America, but even Christians are blind to it. In the end God will win and so will his people True Israel, the apple of his eye. Repent today and seek Jesus. Work hard and pay taxes too. We need to support RTSA.

  8. “This president will not allow American citizens to be prosecuted by foreign bureaucrats, and he will not allow other nations to dictate our means of self defence.”

  9. “The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court.”
    Because a white man says it the court will be illegitimate. When we blacks say it noone listens

  10. Whites will be whites…..blacks are indeed blacks….we had great men like the Mugabe’s who stood for what is black but with the whites controlling everything this Africa will forever be Africa…..will forever be auctioned in whatever form the muzungu seems fit….who are we to oppose….just recently some black was released from this Hague thing at a time when it suits the muzungu….just to fuel more confusion in a country where they want to continue extracting special minerals for their own good….blacks are watching on the horizon…..it’s in times like this that we miss the Osamas of this world because they knew best how to give signals to make some people shiver….

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