U.S. Congress Passes American Service Members Protection Act

On November 8, 2001, after a late intervention by House Republic Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex), House and Senate negotiators agreed to enact the ?American Servicemembers? Protection Act? (ASPA), which prohibits any U.S. cooperation in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. DeLay and other Congressional members are concerned the ICC?s broad scope could apply to the prosecute U.S. servicemen abroad. Even though the Bush Administration also opposes the establishment of the ICC, it told Congress that the passage of the Act would injure U.S. efforts to protect its interests vis-a-vis the ICC. As the forthcoming Preparatory Commission meeting is soon to consider key de of interest to the U.S. including the definition of aggression and financing of the Tribunal, the U.S. is increasingly isolated form the preparations for the Tribunal.