Do you think Diplomats should be granted Diplomatic Immunity? Why is it essential?

Question

They can commit crimes and escape. They cannot be arrested or even given a ticket.. Why must they have Diplomatic Immunity? I think it is impunity.

Answer 1

This tradition has existed for thousands of years -- and has historically been necessary to ensure that negotiations and international diplomatic communications continue to happen.

As with anything -- it's a balance, between the need to have diplomatic face-to-face interactions and the fact that without immunity, many countries would not send diplomats.

Especially nowadays -- with the changing political climate and more countries interacting on a daily basis -- such negotiations and exchanges are even more important.

And without the assurity that their ambassadors would always be allowed to leave -- as opposed to being imprisoned on what many countries would consider false charges -- the entire diplomatic process would start breaking down.

Very few diplomats commit serious crimes -- and most who do are prosecuted by their own govts on their return. The few minor crimes that they get away with are a price that we pay for a functioning diplomatic system -- and given the tense nature of the modern world, one that we probably should continue to pay.

Answer 2

Immunity came with the express purpose of preventing unneccary bloodshed through warfare. Any nation that is true will always extend the olive branch before moving to more aggressive measures. Remember what Britian had done with the Continental Congress, many of their members wiped their rears with the documents of peace and scourged those who supported it. Britain became the United States footstool because they saw themselves and fell in love.

Biblical ain't it.