the cheese stands alone

From Friends Committee on National Legislation


The Nethercutt Amendment was signed into law by President Bush on December 8. The amendment cuts support for over 50 countries who have ratified the International Criminal Court (ICC) without a specific bilateral immunity clause for the United States.

U.S. law previously affected only military funding but for Fiscal Year 2005 (FY2005) will also cut economic assistance to signatory countries.

Jordan, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, and others "are committed to the principle of international justice and therefore to the Court. Many have already lost millions in U.S. military assistance over their position," notes Brian Thompson, Program Manager for International Law and Justice at Citizens for Global Solutions.

"Cutting more aid will not change their minds. It will further strain our relations with allies, cripple their humanitarian and democratic programs, and weaken cooperation in the War on Terror and other U.S. priorities."



see also: Coalition for the International Criminal Court