William Helms: “Mr. President, there is a little bit of manipulation going on, but let me emphasize the President of the United States…”

“Mr. President, there is a little bit of manipulation going on, but let me emphasize the President of the United States is in favor of the underlying amendment, to which a second-degree amendment proposes to gut the amendment I have just offered. If we are going to play this sort of game around here, that is fine. I can play it, too, and I have been around a little while, and I know how to do it. The International Criminal Court will be empowered if and when just 13 more countries ratify the so-called Rome Treaty. Forty-seven have ratified it as of this past Friday, November 30. It has been a privilege to work with the distinguished Senator from Georgia, Mr. Miller, in crafting this amendment to protect American soldiers and officials from illegal prosecutions by that Court. As I said at the outset, there are going to be attempts to defeat this pending amendment despite the support of the President of the United States, despite the support of all manner of organizations, including veterans and members of the armed services.”