‘Rocking the Rule of Law’

Your editorial (Oct. 9), “Rocking the Rule of Law,” was a well-justified condemnation of White House withdrawal of U.S. acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

One would think that, especially in these days of international terrorism and the breakdown of law and order in many areas of the world, a civilized country such as America would be the one to give the lead in upholding and strengthening the rule of international law, not in betraying it. Surely the United States, as Canada, is, to quote from the preamble to the 1982 Canadian Constitution, “Founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.”

By what constitutional right does the President unilaterally declare for Americans that they should be untrue to their origins too and condone the erosion of the rule of law?

Congress should act swiftly and decisively to offset this ill-advised move before it takes its damaging effect six months hence.

If we are to be judged sincere in our berating of South Africa for its apartheid policies, surely then, as you said, we should be all the more committed to strengthening the World Court, not undermining it.

VINCENT RYAN Northridge