Solana’s Universal Jurisdiction — What Herb Thinks

Pardon me, but I really love this report about the EU backing Spain in sending Spanish warships to reclaim a tiny Island off the coast of Morocco.

Why? Because the European press has been having a great time in ridiculing President George W. Bush and criticizing America’s war against terror. And America’s refusal to ratify the International Criminal Court has especially infuriated them.

Recently the Guardian, the UK’s leading on-line newspaper, went so far as to published a commentary written by an individual who thinks that America is the world’s greatest terrorist state.

But it’s not just the European press that’s angry at America. When president Bush threatened to withdraw all American troops from the Balkans unless they were granted immunity from prosecution by the newly activated ICC, the EU screamed its 15 heads off.

Even Javier Solana, the EU’s first High Representative of Common Foreign and Security policy, jointed in the EU’s joint attack against America. Solana, as prior head of NATO and usually smart enough to keep his mouth shut when his peers are blasting America, stepped in and publicly called for the ICC to have “universal jurisdiction,” even over nations that have not ratified the Rome Statute — such as America.

Yet, as I’ve mentioned before, it was the 15-nations of the EU — working together in the UN as a block — that were the primary force behind the creation of the ICC from the start. In other words, it’s possible the ICC is actually part of Solana’s foreign policy. If so, this would explain why Solana remains a strong supporter of the ICC, even in the face of a possible future confrontation with American.

Now here we are, watching these same15 heads of the EU voicing their support for Spain sending warships to reclaim an Island 220 yards of the coast of Moroco.

Why? I believe it’s because the EU wants to control both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar — the strategic gateway to the Mediterranean.

You see, this tiny island, about the size of a football field, is only 220 yard off the Morroccan coast. And any honest observer would think it should belong to Morocco, not Spain.

But Spain is no longer just Spain. Spain is part of the EU.

And the EU wants the Mediterranean.

— Herb Peters
7/10/02