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      <font size="1"><a href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Furious-at-Probe-Into-US-War-Crimes-Pompeo-Threatens-ICC-Staff-20200318-0024.html?fbclid=IwAR3VeRlHBgp0DhFcE2mR_NSa0ZJW703gcHUpD3GAkzt3ybcV8aFtPiN6xW4">https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Furious-at-Probe-Into-US-War-Crimes-Pompeo-Threatens-ICC-Staff-20200318-0024.html?fbclid=IwAR3VeRlHBgp0DhFcE2mR_NSa0ZJW703gcHUpD3GAkzt3ybcV8aFtPiN6xW4</a></font>
      
      <h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Furious at Probe Into US War Crimes Pompeo Threatens ICC Staff</h1>
      <div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">March 18, 2020<br></div></div>

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                                                <p>Amnesty International
 condemned Wednesday United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's 
comments threatening the International Criminal Court (ICC) 's staff and
 their family members for investigating alleged war crimes committed by 
the U.S. in Afghanistan.</p>                                                      
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                 
<p>"Threats against family members of ICC staff who are seeking justice 
is a new low, even for this administration," said Amnesty International 
USA's advocacy director Daniel Balson.</p>                                                    
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>The court had 
announced at the beginning of this month that a probe into alleged U.S. 
crimes could resume after the court's Pre-Trial Chamber previously 
halted it. The news infuriated the Trump administration, which had been 
attempting to quash the investigation.</p>                                                        
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>"We oppose any effort
 by the ICC to exercise jurisdiction over U.S. personnel," Pompeo told 
reporters. "We will not tolerate its inappropriate and unjust attempts 
to investigate or prosecute Americans."</p>                                                  
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>The secretary of state then suggested that retaliatory actions would be taken.</p>                                                       
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>"We want to identify 
those responsible for this partisan investigation and their family 
members who may want to travel to the United States or engage in 
activity that's inconsistent with making sure we protect Americans," he 
said.</p>                                                 
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>Balson said the Trump administration was proving it was not interested in achieving justice.</p>                                                 
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>The fact that Pompeo is mentioning retaliation on families of ICC staff "is an ominous move," said Balson.</p>                                                 
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>"If there remained 
any doubt that the Trump administration's hostility towards the court is
 fundamentally punitive and callous in nature," he added, "these doubts 
have now been dispelled."</p>                                                        
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>"Instead of pursuing the torturers, the U.S. is condemning the investigators and even their families."</p>                                                    
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                <p>The ICC started its 
functions in 2002 to prosecute individuals for the international crimes 
of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of 
aggression. The U.S., as well as Israel, have refused to sign up to the 
court.</p>                                                        
                                        
                                                                
                                            
                                                 
                                                
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                        
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