William Helms: “in rejecting U.S. membership in the U.N. Human Rights Commission, the strongest voice for freedom in the world has been…”

“in rejecting U.S. membership in the U.N. Human Rights Commission, the strongest voice for freedom in the world has been silenced at and by the United Nations. Clearly, Members of the United Nations are far more comfortable with a definition of human rights which is agreeable to rogue nations like Libya and Sudan. This is precisely the sentiment which created the International Criminal Court. If the signatories to the Rome Treaty proceed to establish a permanent International Criminal Court, we need an insurance policy against politicized prosecution of American soldiers and officials. This bill is just that protection, and let me be absolutely clear, the Rome Treaty, if sent to the United States Senate for ratification, will be dead on arrival. Notwithstanding the fact that the Senate will not ratify this treaty, it is, to my knowledge, the first treaty which would be applicable to the U.S. even without the United States consent. This is, to say the least, an appalling breach of American sovereignty and it will not stand. But, there will be real consequences if the United States remains silent in the face of this outrage. It is easy to imagine the U.S. or Israel becoming a target of a U.N. witch hunt, with officials or soldiers being sent before judges handpicked by undemocratic countries. I am pleased that the able Senator from Georgia, Zell Miller, is joining in the introduction of this bill.”