U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has announced the United States will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court at The Hague as it prepares to launch an investigation into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan.
Bolton slammed a decision by the Court to investigate alleged war crimes dating back to May 2003 committed by Afghan national security forces, U.S. forces and intelligence, and Taliban and Haqqani network militants.
Speaking at a Federalist Society luncheon on Monday in Washington DC, he called the Court itself “illegitimate” and said, “For all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us.”
Bolton questioned the legitimacy of the ICC, stating, “The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court.
He made it clear in his speech that the United States will not allow itself to be used by the ICC as a cudgel against its allies, including Israel.
This week the Palestinian Authority has filed a case with the ICC against the long-planned demolition of the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, which was illegally built on state land. Israel has offered the residents compensatory land instead with complete infrastructure hookups for water, electricity and gas already in place, approximately seven kilometers from the current site.
All legal appeals by the residents were heard and reviewed by Israeli courts, but ultimately were rejected after due consideration; not always so, but which did happen in this case.
“We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. And we certainly will not join the ICC,” Bolton said in his remarks.
In addition, Bolton threatened ICC judges with sanctions if they attempt to prosecute Americans over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization based in the Netherlands that hears cases on genocide and other crimes against humanity. But the Palestinian Authority and Arab governments who provide cover to that entity ask the Court to investigate Israel and its military and political leaders on spurious claims of having committed “war crimes” against Palestinian Authority terrorists and provocateurs.
The U.S., which may now also face such trumped-up charges, invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 just a few short weeks after Al Qaeda terrorists attacked the United States on September 11 in the deadly multi-site attack that came to be known as “9/11.”
The American war against radical Islamic terror in Afghanistan, with aid from Coalition forces, is continuing unabated.