The Conflict

On April 11, 2002, the International Criminal Court (ICC) became a reality. This Court will have jurisdiction over the most serious crimes—genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and (eventually) aggression. While most U.S. allies (including Canada and the United Kingdom) support the ICC, the United States remains opposed to it, arguing that its reach is too wide and that it could become a tool for politically motivated prosecutions against Americans. At the other extreme, many fear that the ICC has not been granted enough strength and so will be prevented from fulfilling its role as a force for international justice.

Political

• Some commentators have raised concerns that the ICC will be used as a political tool by countries and individuals to initiate proceedings against their enemies. However, the extensive safeguards built into the...