The US Senate has agreed to sign a bill that authorises an invasion of the Netherlands. The invasion would be warrented to free American prisoners accused of war crimes held by the International Criminal Court (ICC), housed in The Hague.

The invasion plans are part of the contested "American Servicemembers' Protection Act" (ASPA), introduced to undermine the jursidiction of the ICC. After being rejected in December 2001, it reappeared in Senate recently and will be signed shortly after some minor changes have been made. The basic aim of ASPA is to prevent any Americans to ever appear in front of the court. Beside the clause that allows the US to invade any country hosting the ICC to free American prisoners, the bill includes a legal prohibition of cooperation with the ICC and immunity and special presidential protection for American servicemembers who participate in peace missions. It also outlaws military support to countries that have signed the ICC-treaty, excluding NATO members, important allies and Taiwan.

Although president Clinton signed the international treaty for the installation of the ICC, he advised his successor not to ask the Senate to make the treaty into national law, a specific American requirement for the ratification of most international laws. The US objects to the idea of an international instution trying American citizens, which it considers solely its own prerogative. At the moment the Bush administation runs a strong anti-ICC campaign that uses diplomatic pressure and financial support to change the minds of countries that have already signed the treaty or prevents those that are considering doing so.

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