Which Team?

Which team would you join?

On one side, you could join with Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and western Europe. There are a total of 125 countries on that team that recognize the International Criminal Court as it prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

On the other side sit Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. They do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction. And, oh by the way, the USA and Israel are somehow also on that team. When it comes to genocide and war crimes, “birds of a feather flock together.” Apparently, Donnie and Bibi are more comfortable with Putin, Xi, the ayatollahs, and Kim than they are with those nice Canadians.

“Double Down” Donnie made that clear in his latest Executive Order. “The ICC has illegitimately asserted jurisdiction over the United States and certain of its allies. It has abused its power by issuing arrest warrants against the Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister. Both the United States and Israel are thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war.”

Nearly 50,000 dead Palestinians would disagree with that “laws of war” comment. Do the “laws of war” allow denial of food and medical shipments for fifteen months? By the way, the bombs that pretty much leveled every standing structure in Gaza were proudly “Made in America”. We are complicit in this tragedy.

Last week, Senate Republicans failed to pass a bill imposing the same sanctions on the International Criminal Court. Donnie wielded his magic Executive Order pen to place those sanctions anyway. Who needs Congress when Donnie can do whatever the hell he wants with a stroke of that magic pen?

I would choose to join the 125 member ICC Team. Genocide is bad. Also, you can’t get good pizza in Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea.

By Ed Dufton