-Caveat Lector- Here is today's Sixty Second Activist ACTION ITEM:
ISSUE: The Washington Times reported today (9/28) that the Bush administration has endorsed legislation to protect U.S. troops sent overseas from politically motivated and frivolous prosecution by the new International Criminal Court (ICC). Minutes before midnight on December 31, 2000, then-President Bill Clinton signed America onto a United Nations treaty establishing the ICC. This treaty could obliterate our Bill of Rights. The treaty must be ratified by the U.S. Senate before it becomes binding. When Republicans controlled the Senate, we could count on Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jesse Helms to keep the treaty from even being voted on, much less passed. Not anymore, though. Now the Democrats control the process -- but what's worse, according to the ICC treaty, *the court would have jurisdiction even over nations that refused to join!* If the U.S. is forced to abide by this treaty, it could: ** Make all of us criminals -- the police arm of the ICC would have the power to arrest (without warrant or due process) any citizen for any violation they name. Charges of "crimes against the environment" could be levied against land developers, or even just someone building their "dream home." ** Our military actions would have to be first approved by the U.N., or our soldiers could be prosecuted for war crimes and "crimes of aggression." Our military actions in Granada or Panama, for instance, could be deemed criminal. ** Our Bill of Right protections, like the requirements for a search warrant, trial by jury, and a speedy trial, would be gone when charged by the ICC. ** The protection against "double jeopardy," being tried for the same crime twice, would be gone. The ICC can try someone over and over until they get the result they want. And there is no appeal. ACTION ITEM: The only good news is that new legislation -- the American Servicemembers Protection Act -- has been introduced in the Senate, which would prohibit any U.S. cooperation with the proposed International Criminal Court. The legislation also blocks U.S. aid to allies unless they agree to shield American troops on their soil from ICC prosecution, and restricts U.S. troops from participating in U.N. peacekeeping missions unless soldiers are explicitly exempted from prosecution by the organization. In addition, the bill authorizes "any action necessary" to free U.S. troops "improperly" handed over to that court. The Senate is likely to vote on the ASPA early next week. It was introduced as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
