U.S. drops demand for kangaroo court exemption

Facing overwhelming opposition from other U.N. members, the United States has decided to drop its demand for another one-year exemption from potential prosecution for American soldiers before the International Criminal Court.

The U.S. said, however, that it would review future American participation in peace-keeping forces.

It's unclear whether the Bush Administration has simply changed tactics, choosing to boycott U.N. operations for which American forces might be desired, or caving in on the principle of American liability before courts lacking the protections of defendant rights available under the United States Constitution. In any case, it seems clear that American liability before the court would be a major compromise of our national sovereignty, and may be in conflict with the Constitution itself.

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