oracle
12-07-2001, 08:43 PM
Senate votes overwhelmingly to bar U.S. participation in new international criminal court (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2001/12/07/national1910EST0810.DTL)
ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer
(12-07) 17:11 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials.
The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to this year's defense spending bill.
The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.
Before the vote on Helms' proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a weaker alternative by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. That proposal would have required President Bush to tell Congress what changes it could enact "to advance and protect U.S. interests" as the court is established.
Helms said his amendment, backed by veterans and other military groups, would "protect these soldiers and their civilian leaders from an unaccountable kangaroo court."
...
Click here to read more (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2001/12/07/national1910EST0810.DTL)
ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer
(12-07) 17:11 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to block U.S. participation in a new international criminal court that opponents fear could stage politically motivated trials of American troops and government officials.
The 78-21 vote added the language, introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to this year's defense spending bill.
The Helms provision's ultimate fate is unclear. The House version of the defense spending bill contains no such provision, but in May, the House voted 282-137 to include similar language in a separate bill authorizing State Department programs.
Before the vote on Helms' proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a weaker alternative by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. That proposal would have required President Bush to tell Congress what changes it could enact "to advance and protect U.S. interests" as the court is established.
Helms said his amendment, backed by veterans and other military groups, would "protect these soldiers and their civilian leaders from an unaccountable kangaroo court."
...
Click here to read more (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2001/12/07/national1910EST0810.DTL)