European Jurisprudence is Insane, Part 2

I was talking about the general nuttery of Europe’s high and mighty jurisprudence back in July, when British courts were trying Afghan warlords and Spanish courts were chasing Pinochet. Now, we’re witnessing the inevitable result of this silliness—a Spanish judge has issued international warrants for the arrest of US soldiers for the shelling of Hotel Palestine in Baghdad in 2003.

A Spanish High court judge on Wednesday issued international warrants for the arrest of three US soldiers who are connected to the death of a cameraman in Iraq. Judge Santiago Pedraz has issued the warrants against Sergeant Thomas Gibson, Captain Philip Wolford and Lieutenant Colonel Philip de Camp for their involvement in the death of José Couso, who died when Baghdad’s Hotel Palestine, where he was staying, was shelled by US forces on April 8, 2003.

This is why US fears about the International Criminal Court are valid. What about North Korea? Or the thugs in Myanmar? Or the regime in the Sudan? What about Somali pirates or Congo rebels? The ICC has no interest in going after these guys. Like Europe’s international war crimes jurisprudence, the ICC would only target those who may have made mistakes in the enforcement of real international justice.