knop@dutesta.UUCP (Peter Knoppers) (04/10/84)
The US have announced that they will not recognize the international
court of the UN for two years to come. This is to *prevent*
Nicaragua from using the court for propaganda.
Nicaragua appeals to the the UN court in The Hague (Holland) with a
complaint about the US, concerning the participation of the US in
secret military actions against Nicaragua.
The court consists of 15 judges of different nationalities. The US
have a vote in the selection of the judges. The international court
(I'm not sure about the official English name) *is* recognized by the
US in the case of financial claims concerning the hostages in Iran.
It looks very much like the US don't give a damn about the
international court when they expect to be convicted.
International law looses its credibility when one of the mayor
participants makes such statements. (Of course, the US looses
credibility also.)
On the other hand, the claims of Nicaragua gain (at least, that's
how I feel about it). Nicaragua now has a first class opportunity
for a lot of propaganda.
I believe that the US should reconsider their decision. There's much
more at stake than just the possible propaganda of Nicaragua.
--
Peter Knoppers, Delft Univ. of Technology
..!{decvax,philabs}!mcvax!dutesta!knoppiet@mcvax.UUCP (Piet Beertema) (04/10/84)
<>
Whereas all civilized countries recognize the International Court the
USA does not. The conclusion is obvious.
Apart from that the USA, by deploying those mines (see the parallels
with Vietnam?) - or having them deployed, that's the same - threatens
the trade of its allies, just because they don't want them to trade
with a country that happens to have a political system not conforming
their own. If someone else would do this to the USA they would call it
"terrorism". Should it be called different now? Of course not.
A solution? Wait till the USA are condemned by the International Court
(which most likely will happen). Then the NATO (minus the USA) could
send a task force to remove those mines, thus reestablishing freedom
of trade.
--
Piet Beertema, CWI, Amsterdam
...{decvax,philabs}!mcvax!piet