A dozen Republican senators sent a written threat to the International Criminal Court warning them not to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Which is itself illegal under international law.
Doomed Be the Peacekeepers
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication and WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a contributor to Centerclip and co-host of "The Final Countdown" talk show on Radio Sputnik. He is a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "2024: Revisited."
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Since the U.S. is not a party to the ICC, why would the Republicans bother?
Since Israel is not a party to the ICC, why would the ICC bother?
This is all a performative figleaf. “Look, we’re doing something!” If anyone cared about the Palestinians or really wanted Netanyahu to go to trial, this would have all been stopped months ago, and Bibi would be in an orange jumpsuit.
Your “if anyone cared” should be qualified: “If anyone with the power to do something about it cared.” Obviously, plenty of people care, but not the ones with the power, since Russia and China aren’t willing to throw down that gauntlet just yet. (I suspect the day will come soon.)
Meanwhile, it is once again made glaringly obvious that “the rules-based order” means that the US makes up whatever rules it needs to justify its actions and order other countries around.
A good point. You are correct about people caring. I plead metonymy.
🙂 Plea accepted.
And I’m smoking crack every 15 minutes or so.
> Since Israel is not a party to the ICC, why would the ICC bother?
The Likud leaders now join the Hamas leaders in not being welcome in many countries. And even if it were only signaling, isn’t that better than turning away with a “nothing to see here” attitude?
Of course, the real solution is to cut off the combatants financially, sending money only to feed people, build economies, and establish a peace that gives freedom and security to all parties. The ICC can’t make that happen, but Biden has a chance — thank you for your continued efforts to make that happen.