I know there are those of you who feel the Tobin tax is nothing more than an effort to help undeveloped nations. The problem is that the United Nations has plans
for expanding its influence and power throughout the world. Such funding would do nothing more than enable this socialist organization. Call me a radical for
believing in the protections of the Constitution and U.S. sovereignty.
ISSUE: Reuters news service is reporting that despite heavy U.S. opposition, the first permanent global criminal court to try individuals for the world's most heinous
crimes is only four nations shy of becoming a reality. Now it's up to US to stop the UN from destroying U.S. sovereignty. As of this week, 139 countries have
signed a 1998 treaty to establish the International Criminal Court and 56 of them have ratified it. A total of 60 ratifications by national legislatures is needed for the
tribunal to be established. "We're creeping very close to the 60 ratifications needed," U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters. Bill Pace, head of Coalition for
the International Criminal Court, anadvocacy group, expects all 60 ratifications to be completed by mid-April, the next preparatory commission meetings for the
court. The United States is worried about frivolous law suits from developing countries against U.S. servicemen stationed around the world. The Bush
administration has even asked the United Nations whether it could rescind Washington's signature from the treaty, signed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton at the
end of his term. You read that right. In a last parting shot, Bill Clinton signed away U.S. sovereignty. If this treaty becomes law, 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 in Congress, opposition to the International Criminal Court is led chiefly by Republicans in both
houses, who have sponsored numerous amendments to bills that would cut funding for U.S. involvement in the court and end military aid to some
countries that have ratified its establishment. Other proposals would authorize the use of force to free an American from the court, dubbed by
Europeans as the "The Hague invasion clause." Sponsors of the measures intend to come to some agreement on the proposals with the Bush administration by
mid-April. Last October, Belgium Foreign Minister Louis Michel, acting on behalf of the European Union, and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer wrote to
Secretary of State Colin Powell expressing concern about the proposed legislation and asking the administration to soften it.
We must NOT allow this blatant infringement on U.S. sovereignty by the UN! Click below to send faxes to EVERY Senator, demanding they oppose this treaty and the give-away of our basic civil liberties -- rights that go back to the Magna Carta.
GET US OUT OF THE UNITED NATIONS !
www.getusout.org |
