Who Are the Rogues, and Who Are Not?
The United States is suspending military aid to 35 countries because they refuse to grant immunity to American citizens under the International Criminal Code. The basis for this unusual action is a provision of our anti-terrorism law that calls upon our government to withhold all military aid to any country that joined the International Criminal Court but did not grant an exemption for American personnel.
The obvious question is why, if America gets an exemption, should not other countries also get the same? The implied answer is not that we are good folk who can be trusted but that other nations are “rogues” who cannot be trusted.
Indeed, these rogues may actually use the court to pounce on Uncle Sam. Here’s the way Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr., assistant secretary of state for political military affairs, put it: “It is our concern that there could be politically motivated charges against American citizens.”
In other words, some “rogue” states could gang up on us and use the court to go after American citizens.
As we puzzled over this daunting dilemma, it occurred to us to consult a lifelong friend.* “Who,” we asked, “are the rogues, and who are not?” He said he could help with a few words stated in the majestic style of this poignant poem.
Please tell us now who is a rogue
At least the ones right now in vogue.
The faithless false-faced phony French
With whom we once did share a trench?
Those haughty, bumbling, fumbling Brits
Because they say that Blair’s the pits?
Or can it be the Czechs or Slavs
Because we treat them like they’re slobs?
Or could it be Korea North,
Whose bomb we say may not come forth?
Perhaps it is Arabia
That has a different savior.
Or maybe it is China red
Who won’t lay down and play it’s dead.
Or even our dear Mexico
Who now unto our call says, “No”
And don’t forget our foe Iran
Who once our favorite shah did ban.
They all emit a stinking scent
We won’t give them a single cent.
We’ll save those many bucks and then
We’ll cut the taxes once again.
* Please note that this columnist’s lifelong friend is a bit of a “rogue” himself. His name is “Alter Ego.”
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
