US Sanctions ICC: Because War Crimes Are a Policy Choice
The ICC chief confidently declared US sanctions won't deter investigations, specifically those into “suspected Israeli war crimes.” This steadfastness comes after the Trump administration targeted nine ICC officials – judges and prosecutors among them – a move widely seen as Washington’s diplomatic tantrum for daring to question its allies. It’s a familiar pattern: the US demands accountability
from others, but when it or its proxies face scrutiny, the 'liberal international order' suddenly becomes optional. This isn't new. In 2020, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, “We will not tolerate any attempts to investigate American personnel.” This bravado is backed by bipartisan consensus, often fueled by organizations like AIPAC, which reported spending $3.5 million on lobbying in
2023 alone (OpenSecrets.org). One might legitimately wonder if the push for sanctions against international bodies is less about protecting US troops and more about shielding allies from inconvenient truths. How many 'rules-based' warnings does it take before the world recognizes when the rule-maker simply makes up the rules as it goes along?