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"The Bush administration is doing some serious diplomatic
arm-twisting to ensure that Americans do not fall under the jurisdiction of the
International Criminal Court. Washington is threatening to cut off aid to
dozens of our allies, including countries that supported our efforts in Iraq
and Afghanistan, if they don't go along with an exemption for Americans. The
administration argues that American troops must be protected from politically
motivated prosecutions by the court, which came into being a year ago. Another
reason may be that the highest officials in Washington don't want to worry
about being tried themselves."