Should the US Support the International Criminal Court?

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/03/04/William_Zabel_and_the_Fight_for_Human_Rights

Lawyer and human rights advocate William Zabel claims the International Criminal court to be a "vital international organ for justice," but admits that the United States is unlikely to sign the ICC treaty in the near future.

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New School President Bob Kerrey talks with William Zabel about his distinguished legal career, his work as chairman of Human Rights First, and his role in significant human rights cases, including the landmark Supreme Court decision which put an end to race-based bans on marriage.

William Zabel is chairman of Human Rights First (formerly the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights), a nonprofit international human rights organization. He has traveled the globe on Human Rights First's behalf, including a 1986 trip to Chile, where he investigated cases involving those who were disappeared under the Pinochet regime. Zabel was a strong advocate for the creation of the International Criminal Court, and he helped support its growth as an effective forum for bringing human rights violators to justice. Zabel also played a key role in the landmark 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, in which the Court declared Virginia's anti-miscegenation statute unconstitutional, effectively putting an end to race-based bans on marriage. Two years later, he was the lead lawyer in Weiss v. Gardner, where the Supreme Court held that a loyalty oath then required by Medicare was unconstitutional. Later, he signed the brief in Palmore v. Sidoti, in which the Supreme Court held that a white woman could not be stripped of custody of her child because she married an African American.

Bob Kerrey is president of The New School in New York City. For twelve years prior to becoming president of The New School, Bob Kerrey represented the State of Nebraska in the United States Senate. Before that he served as Nebraska's governor for four years.

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[tzivyabelinfante]

The US not acknowledging the ICC is exemplary of their knowledge of their own war crimes. Must be embarrassing that the country that is so in love with itself for its 'freedoms' (since when is that word plural?) and is constantly nagging about it to other countries, is afraid of this court.

[2xtream]

He does not worry about the American People but the military that may fall into war crimes because what our Leaders had them do. Our country is sick and all the stupid dumb assholes in office need to be sent to prison. ALL OF THEM!! Why is it ok for them to try the American People for Internet Crime in a different Country because there so called laws? They dismiss our laws but want to take Americans to there country and put us in prison for so called internet crime of Hurt Feelings? Outrage!!

[TheIxtlan]

Should US support ICC? What kind of question is that. USA do not recognize ICC. USA is free do whatever it wants. lol

[CaptainCrunchOwns]

@tzivyabelinfante Given that the ICC is probably filled with people like you, that hate America and would love to try us for whatever frivolous reason you can summon, I'd say it was a wise move on our part not to sign the Rome Statute. We do our best to get along with the rest of the world, stop hating already. Besides, a foolish move on behalf of our top officials does not impinge the entire citizenry. America is filled with good people as well as bad.

[2xtream]

@98raza20 I guess the war is against everyone that uses the internet. Countries all around the world can make a law and sit and wait for the law breakers... Let me rephrase my statement to be more correct in my statement.... All governments are corrupt and the citizens are there to be taken advantage of... Welcome to the New World Order... I guess my next investments will be in the prison industrial complex...

[98raza20]

@2xtream "Why is it ok for them to try the American People for Internet Crime in a different Country because there so called laws? They dismiss our laws but want to take Americans to there country and put us in prison for so called internet crime of Hurt Feelings? Outrage!!" Because the internet has no borders, America does it to, it's called Extradition, you commit a crime and a foreign country wants to prosecute you for it they can, and America can extradite and prosecute foreigners.

[wiggledytoes]

Lol should they support it? Theyre in bed with the ICC! Rediculous pathetic silly men work for the ICC. Do they even believe the dribble that comes out of there mouths. Lol real aggression instead of political agression. Its the same thing except instead of a 'dicatator' its a government commiting crimes. Definition of ICC should be one word, hypocrisy. Or even better International Chamber of Commerce, in international business. They have six cases, all in Africa.

[wildnites558]

"Hey, one thing I loved is how Canada said "NOT" to Bush during Iraq, because we, like many others, knew that he was lying."

What kind of sophomoric gibberish is this? Learn how to formulate a coherent sentence, otherwise you look even more stupid than the people you have disagreements with. If you're claiming Bush lied, ****PROVE IT*** rather than making purely indiscriminiate statements that have no basis in fact.

So tell me, why did Bill Clinton bomb Iraq in '98?

[wildnites558]

"Hey, one thing I loved is how Canada said "NOT" to Bush during Iraq, because we, like many others, knew that he was lying."

What kind of sophomoric gibberish is this? Learn how to formulate a coherent sentence, otherwise you look even more stupid than the people you have disagreements with. If you're claiming Bush lied, ****PROVE IT*** rather than making purely indiscriminiate statements that have no basis in fact. 

[paulfornasier]

@paulfornasier Actually to correct, Bush was called a "moron" by a Canadian communications rep..and then additionally called an "idiot" in response to clamours about the "moron" statement.. And the PM stood by the communicaitons rep..LOL... It was a very funny moment as a Canadian...

[paulfornasier]

@wildnites558 Hey, one thing I loved is how Canada said "NOT" to Bush during Iraq, because we, like many others, knew that he was lying. Our PM Chretien even called him an "idiot". It may not have been diplomatic..but it was quite appropriate....not as good as the shoe thrower,..but close...

[paulfornasier]

@paulfornasier Oh..and how about he obvious ones..Abu Ghraib prison. Canada also had to compensate one of our citizens who was sent to Syria for torture by the US....one of many incidents (several involving Canadian citizens) of this sort during the Bush admin...and no censure of Bush at all. I'm not into providing evidence..let a court collect it all. Truth is ..there will never be a referral...because the US will block it at the UN. Running a court on referrals is not true justice.