Rumsfeld: Freedom, Belgian courts, are untidy

In 1998 the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a treaty authorizing a permanent international court for war crimes. The United States, China, and five other nations opposed the treaty, and 21 nations abstained. The treaty has been signed by more than 130 nations (including the United States), and formally came into effect in July, 2002, when the court was established. Called the International Criminal Court and located at The Hague, it may prosecute war crimes, genocide, crimes of aggression, and crimes against humanity. Under the G. W. Bush administration, the United States opposed implementation of the treaty, out of fear that American officials or military personnel might be arrested abroad on baseless charges. In May, 2002, the United States repudiated its signing of the treaty and indicated that it would refuse to cooperate with the court; it subsequently insisted that U.S. forces used as UN peacekeepers be exempted prosecution by the court.(1)

Belgium indicts US with war crimes in Iraq, Rumsfeld mad

Why American officials should be exempted from international law

US war crimes from Gulf War I

Interview with former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark on American militarism and international law