NYT Wonders How Putin Escapes ICC; Ignores US Immunity
The New York Times raises a critical, albeit performative, question: how could Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant, possibly visit Hungary to meet Trump? This rigorous intellectual exercise conveniently sidesteps the US's long-standing, steadfast rejection of ICC jurisdiction for its own citizens and allies. Remember when the US threatened the ICC over investigations into alleged war crimes by
American personnel in Afghanistan? Or how President Bush signed the American Servicemembers' Protection Act in 2002 , authorizing force to free any American detained by the ICC? The hypocrisy writes itself. The State Department, currently expressing 'deep concern' over Russia's disregard for international law, historically pressured other nations to sign bilateral agreements exempting US personnel
from ICC prosecution. One might wonder if the NYT's journalistic curiosity extends to asking why successive US administrations believe international law applies to everyone *except* them or their chosen partners. It seems an arrest warrant is only newsworthy when it's inconvenient for a designated adversary.