The fight between President Bush and the United Nations over whether or not U.S. peacekeepers would be immune from the U.N.’s International Criminal Court has ended…for now. The President, to his credit, had already unsigned the ICC treaty that Clinton had signed in the eleventh hour before he left office. Still, the U.N. is claiming jurisdiction over the U.S., despite the fact that our Senate has never ratified the treaty. The fiercely anti-America U.N. wants to start rounding up U.S. troops, dignitaries, and citizens for prosecution, whether the U.S. takes part in the ICC or not.

President Bush initially demanded that U.S. forces abroad be granted permanent immunity from this kangaroo court. If not, Bush vowed to start pulling American troops out of peacekeeping operations. After weeks of playing chicken with the U.N., Bush backed off his demand, and settled for a measly one-year term of immunity. Once that year expires, it could be open season for the U.N. on our brave men and women overseas.

Fortunately, reliable sovereignty champion Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), has introduced a bill that would give permanent immunity to U.S. citizens and soldiers from the U.N. court. "The American Servicemember and Citizen Protection Act of 2002" (H.R. 4169) simply states: "The International Criminal Court is not valid with respect to the United States." The bill is currently in the House International Relations Committee.

We must get this bill passed as soon as possible! Without this bill, in one year, rogue nations could begin targeting Americans through the ICC. Act NOW!