Oct 14, 2016
United States Teaches International Law is What You Do to Your Enemies but Withhold from Yourself and Friends
In the manner of a papal encyclical, Secretary of State John Kerry stood at the State Department podium on October 7, 2016 and pontificated for an international war crimes investigation by the International Criminal Court of atrocities allegedly perpetrated by Presidents Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Vladimir Putin of Russia in Syria. Mr. Kerry preached:
“Russia and the [Syrian] regime owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals, and medical facilities, and children and women. These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes, and those who commit these would and should be held accountable for these actions. This is a targeted strategy to terrorize civilians.”
The Secretary was espousing the longstanding United States doctrine that international law is what you do to your enemies but withhold from yourself and friends.
He omitted the following context which made his summons for a war crimes investigation ring hollow.