U.S. Threats Against Peacekeeping Missions

Re “Peace Missions Are Put in Doubt,” July 3: I am utterly astounded at the scofflaw attitude of the United States government toward the new International Criminal Court, to the point of its willingness to sabotage U.N. peacekeeping missions all over the world and plunge entire countries like Bosnia and East Timor back into the abyss of civil war just because our government wants to secure for Americans absolute immunity from any court prosecutions.

America is now ruled by an outlaw government that simply tears up any treaties it no longer wants to live by; asserts the right to first-strike use of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world for any purpose, while denying that right to other nations; and now insists that our military and civilian personnel are completely above the law anywhere they go in the world. All the policies I’ve mentioned have wide “bipartisan” support from the U.S. foreign policy establishment.

Reading your July 1 and 3 articles on the U.S.’ defiance of international law and justice in regard to the International Criminal Court and the peacekeeping responsibilities of the world’s remaining superpower, I feel profoundly embarrassed to be an American.

Mark Gabrish Conlan

San Diego

*

I don’t agree with this president or his bonehead advisors about our role in the United Nations and in peacekeeping missions throughout the world. Who are these guys who say that the U.S. should be exempt from rules that everyone else has to follow? What a great way to lose the friends we have and increase the hatred of our enemies.

These selfish idiots are like the bullies my son comes in contact with--those playground boys who set rules for all the other kids to follow but get to break the rules themselves. Proves we need a lot more women in government, so some mom can give ‘em the evil mom-eye, and say, “Boys, play fair or you won’t have any friends left.”

Amy Jones Sedivy

Los Angeles

*

While the United States continues to bomb innocent Afghan civilians, it appears we will soon be doing the same in Iraq. Now, with the decision to no longer support peacekeeping missions, it is absolutely clear that we have a president who intends to secure his legacy in history as the man who started World War III.

Glenn M. Langdon

Garden Grove