WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger recently visited Europe and almost ended up in the dock for alleged war crimes committed three decades ago. This preview of the operation of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, a U.N. body ready to go into effect after receiving the necessary 60 ratifications, helps explain the Bush administration's renunciation of the tribunal.
The desire for international justice is understandable, but foreign relations has never had much to do with justice. Throughout history winners have murdered and oppressed losers, with no pretense of fairness.
The allies tried to do better at the end of World War II, most famously with the Nuremberg trial. Those in the dock were evil, yet sitting in judgment was also the Soviet Union, an early partner of Hitler.