Why won't America join the International Criminal Court?

Answer 1

Hypocrisy.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I wrote my senior thesis on this topic, so forgive me if this is long.

The conclusion I reached: Basically, every country that has joined the ICC did so because they had nothing to lose. It was easy for them. Not a big decision. For the US, it is a big deal.

Most countries sign because they don't fight wars. They don't have militaries capable of fighting wars. They can call on the US to fight. The chance that anyone from their countries will go before the ICC is minuscule.

But the US is the provider of the system of international peace and security. Europe free-rides off this system. (I'm going to except the UK from that.)

Additionally, people hate the US. Even before 9/11 and everything that followed, a few human rights groups accused Clinton of war crimes because the bombing in Kosovo.

I hear critics say that the US thinks it is special; that it is above international law. These critics need to stop pretending that the US is just like any other country. The US is the world's policeman. When it comes to responsibility for global peace, the US is unique. The US is not just like every other country.

And look who else hasn't joined: Israel and China.

It's funny, in my thesis my solution to this problem was for other countries (the ones that can afford them, namely those in Western Europe) should GET MILITARIES. Then, the US wouldn't be singled out. The US wouldn't have so much responsibility. The US wouldn't have to spend so much on its own military. (I would LOVE that.) And the US could *gasp* call on other countries to help us.

Plus, then the US might actually listen when you people talk.

Answer 4

The international "Criminal Court" is a farce. It goes by the theory that has been proven false that 600,000 Iraqis (not terrorists, Iraqis) have been killed by U.S. forces. If that were true half the population of Baghdad would be dead, the bodies would be so numerous you would not even have a place for them in the desert. They also want to put President Bush, our Generals, Senators, and all of our troops on charges of 1st degree murder, punishment being death. They're crazy! They haven't said Boo about the Russian genocide of Grozny and Chechnyia and the Zimbabwean genocide of they're own people and white farmers, or had the government of Sudan charged with genocide or Kim Jong Il of North Korea charged with Genocide for the murder and starvation of millions in his country. It is just an anti-American CIRCUS!

Answer 5

The Excecutive Branchof the US of A would be in a tizzy constantly. They would be spending so much of their time trying to defend themselves they'd never get anything done. As long as they don't belong to the ICC, then any covert action taken on foreign soil can be attributed to National Security or in the National Interest. The CIA would be a redundant organization and any meddling in a foreign country would have to be scrutinized by the world body.

Answer 6

Because it subjects the United States, especially its leaders to come under the laws of that court. We may have our own laws, but they do not supercede international laws. If that was the case, we wouldn't have had a need to refuse to sgn on to it. Irrespective of what some believe, the U.S. is NOT beyond punishment, while other so-called "rogue" countries are.

Answer 7

They don't want their people to be judged in foreign courts.

Also they know that Dubya and a lot of other arrogant yanks would end up on trial for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Answer 8

Because in the US, Americans are entitled to certain inalienable rights. These rights would be compromised by a national court made up of nations hostile to our country.

Answer 9

If they had, Bush and all the soldiers in Iraq would be arrested for murder. Because the war was not sanctioned by the ICC or the UN, the US would be standing trial right now.

The bottom line is that the US does not want to have to follow laws dictated by other nations. Some think that is patriotic, others think it is arrogant. But those are the facts...

Answer 10

It does not want to go on trial for crimes against humanity that would come to light if we did . Imagine killing people in Columbia to stop a guy on the streets of any major city in america from going two blocks to buy some cocaine . We are the reason for the wars around this planet .
If we did not want and pay for the drugs then no one would make them .
Its simple supply and demand . We demand drugs and others supply them .
Then we kill them . Does this make sense to you .
An international court would have america on trial before to long for its many environmental violations . Bad enough exxon trashed part of the Alaska coast line and we the people had to pay (they are still in court trying not to pay to this day )for it ,but we have done the same thing around the world .
We have contaminated drink water supplies to tens of thousands of people . Then we build a pipe line to bring in water from 20 miles away and charge the locals for the cost to bring them the water they had for free .
If you wonder why the world hates America all you have to do is pull your head out of your --- and look around .

Answer 11

Because it offers us nothing. We do not believe our government or our elected officials should be subjected to some foreign kangaroo court show-trial.