Political Quotes

“I guess the answer is no. We are going to have to go through this process, which I regret deeply because I do not believe the Senator from Idaho or the Senator from North Carolina or the Senator from Connecticut could say to you, Mr. President, with any certainty, what we are about to adopt here is in the best interest of our country or our individual men and women in uniform. Let me tell you what this amendment does, as I read it. This amendment would prohibit the United States from aiding in the prosecution of war criminals before the International Criminal Court, even if the criminal may have perpetrated crimes against America. We are prohibited by this amendment to participate in any prosecution. Second, it would limit U.S. participation in peacekeeping operations unless we get an ironclad commitment from the ICC that under no circumstances would U.S. persons be subjected to the jurisdiction of the Court. Furthermore, this amendment would prohibit us from assisting any country that is party to the ICC. We provide assistance to countries all across the globe. Are we really, at this juncture, on a Friday afternoon, now going to bar all future assistance to countries that may participate in the formation of a court? As I said, back in September when this matter was first raised by the Senator from North Carolina, if the Treaty of Rome were put before this body, I would not vote for it. This body is not prepared to ratify that treaty.”