A nation must think before it acts.
The international community has focused an extraordinary amount of time and effort on establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its long-term vision to create an institution that will advance international justice. For the first time, an international court system possesses jurisdiction to try individuals accused of committing the most egregious crimes, including certain war crimes and human rights abuses. The United States has long been an advocate of bringing to justice those individuals who commit war crimes, and has cooperated with the international community in achieving this shared interest. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, for example, the United States fully supported and led the international effort to prosecute war criminals at Nuremberg.