BRUSSELS, Belgium — A leading Belgian politician has proposed abolishing his country's war crimes law, which has soured relations with the United States after it was used to file charges against President Bush and other prominent Americans.
Former Belgian PM Urges Repeal of War Crimes Law
Former Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene made the proposal after repeated U.S. demands for the repeal of the 1993 law. The criticism has sparked a widening political debate in about the future of the legislation, which allows Belgian courts to prosecute war crimes regardless of where they occurred.
"I think our ambitions are higher than our possibilities and that can jeopardize the role we have to play as European capital," Dehaene told the Canvas television network late Friday.
"It's a bit crazy to think we could be the conscience of the world," he added.
The leading party in the center-left government on Saturday rejected calls drop the law but said it would have to be further amended. (More at link)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,90084,00.html
I think this was pretty well summed up with "It's a bit crazy to think we could be the conscience of the world," ... .