To the editor:

Two separate entities are the U.N.’s International Court of Justice (World Court) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which was created by treaty with over 120 nations and separate from the World Court. Both courts reside in the Peace Palace in The Hague.

The ICC reviews no crimes of the past but serves to prevent war crimes. It can detain any person (not just “U.S. servicemen”). Mr. Bush unsigned this treaty removing America from an important court of justice, putting America above the rules of the ICC. Other nonparticipants in the ICC are Israel, China, Iraq (under Saddam!), Libya and the Sudan. The American ICC offices, empty, are up for rent.

The United States is exempted from prosecution of war crimes. This exempts, of course, Mr. Bush himself, Mr. Cheney, Ms. Rice and a host of others. Mr. Bush’s unsigning of this treaty took place in May 2002, before America’s unilateral invasion of Iraq. His arrogant action is regression in the cause of world peace.

Please note the distinctive auspices of these two important courts.

Sue Hess,

Lawrence