The ICC’s (International Criminal Court) anti-Americanism and the EU’s inability to make constructive decisions have turned the body into a bone of contention between Washington and our European allies. Whatever the reasons why Europe is still trying to mess with America, it’s time to be strong. ICC judges and their political supporters should avoid pursuing agendas that are not aligned with American interests.
Hypocrisy
The ICC was established in 1998 with the clear objective of becoming a supranational judicial body. The organization, supported by European governments, has positioned itself as the cornerstone of a rules-based international order. It embodied a structure that seeks justice for victims of the most serious crimes on behalf of all States Parties on all continents.
However, as is always the case, the devil is in the details. Regarding the internationally recognized “bad guys,” this kind of pathos did not cause any irritation. However, there was a shift in perspective when the ICC opted to give precedence to the interests of other nations, leading to allegations against American soldiers and the issuance of arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials.
The bias of the ICC judges has become apparent, and now it is up to the U.S. to persuade this body to act reasonably before it negatively impacts relations between allies. The strong defense of the ICC by many Europeans indicates that there are political individuals in Europe who would use it for negative purposes, potentially harming America.
ICC vs. USA
The U.S. claims that the ICC’s prosecution of American soldiers circumvents U.S. law and violates the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.
David Scheffer, the U.S. negotiator for the ICC, informed Congress that U.S. military personnel engaged in international peacekeeping missions and other operations could be held accountable by the ICC, even if the U.S. is not a signatory to the treaty. Clearly, this limits the use of U.S. armed forces overseas.
Nevertheless, the ICC has not met Washington’s demands. President Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. However, he said he didn’t recommend the new president submit the document for Senate ratification until its fundamental flaws were corrected and key U.S. claims were addressed.
For the most part, though, things stayed the same. The results came in quickly. In March 2020, the ICC Appeals Chamber authorized the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to investigate potential crimes in Afghanistan. The investigation could involve not only the Taliban, but US military personnel as well.
ICC judges’ subsequent efforts to prosecute U.S. citizens without the relevant authorities’ consent were indicative of the ICC’s questionable practices. The sanctions imposed on the ICC by the U.S. administration are fully warranted, and further action appears to be necessary. Our communication with the ICC must be clear and comprehensible. American citizens must not be subject to its jurisdiction under any circumstances. This is not a way to modify the rules of the game.
Victims of terrorism and dangerous criminals are not the same
The ICC’s history with Israel is also noteworthy. The ICC has historically sided with Israel’s Islamic adversaries, who have been accused of malicious activities. Whether intentional or not, the ICC has been accused of covering up for them.
Until recently, inhumane attacks against Tel Aviv were common. Jewish men and children lived in constant fear of terror, which impacted their ability to live, walk, and attend school.
However, the ICC and its prosecutors have not issued arrest warrants for the leaders of Iran, Hamas, or Syria, who have directed attacks against Israel. Each of these leaders is responsible for the deaths of many Israelis, yet the ICC has not addressed this. Similarly, the ICC has not addressed the terrible terrorist attack that occurred on October 7. It seems that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the people of Israel have already been identified as the culprits by the ICC and its prosecutors. This outcome does not align with the principles of justice.
Netanyahu has been the only leader to take responsibility for justly retaliating against the Hamas terrorists for their brutal attack on October 7. In light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and those who perpetrated the attack, it’s important to recognize that threatening a Jewish leader with criminal prosecution effectively aligns one with the terrorists.
The arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant indicate a double standard and disregard for the fact that Israel is the victim of a barbaric terrorist attack. The government’s decisive action to protect the Jewish people prevented the escalation of hostilities that could have resulted in a new Holocaust in the 21st century. However, the judicial system is failing to uphold the right to self-defense, raising legal concerns.
1000 and 1 reason not to deal with the ICC
Netanyahu and Galant were charged by the office of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. It is a valid question to ask whether he is truly impartial in his decision-making. Instead, he evokes the image of a “mad fanatic” triumphantly taking on the leading role in a courtroom drama. An inflated sense of self-importance and a belief in personal superiority rarely yield positive results.
It is difficult for the great and powerful wizard of the Hague court to maintain a positive reputation while facing allegations of sexual harassment from former colleagues.
This serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential consequences of an individual in a position of authority who aligns with evil instead of combating it. He was likely inspired by his brother, Imran Ahmad Khan. Khan, a former Conservative Party member of the UK Parliament, was expelled from the party following his 2022 criminal conviction for child sexual assault.
The striking similarity between the brothers’ crimes and the values of the modern international judicial body and its political supporters is evident.
It’s time for Europe to decide
However, the Europeans seem to have a different perspective on this matter. Europe has expressed disagreement with the U.S. sanctions against ICC judges and prosecutors. Furthermore, they are prepared to invoke the European Union’s blocking statute to protect the ICC from external pressure, especially from the United States.
Unfortunately, there has been a noticeable increase in anti-American sentiment among our European allies that we cannot continue to ignore. Clearly, the ICC’s actions do not align with the principles of justice, as they appear to substitute for established laws. It seems that Europeans may not fully understand the consequences of such hostile actions against the U.S. Now is the best time to reestablish it.
By Jenny Jackson
