US official defends aid cuts

The United States is against any of its young soldiers being tried for a crime committed outside of their country and to be tried by a foreign court, according to US trade representative Robert B Zoellick.

Zoellick yesterday sought to respond to the issue of US military aid cut to six Caricom countries, including Trinidad and Tobago. While admitting that the issue does not fall within his portfolio — “that’s a matter for Colin Powell, or Donald Rumsfeld” — he ventured to give his own reason for the aid cut. He was asked how  the US move meshed with all this hemispheric co-operation the US was seeking with Caricom and other countries. Zoellick said that countries all around the world often seek US help with security. “Understandably, there is sensitivity to this issue in the US. But we have a responsibility to our young men and women we send overseas. We do want them to be treated fairly,” he added.

He said their 18-year-olds, 19-year-olds, and 20-year-olds are putting their lives on the line in going overseas to serve. If a war crime is committed he said, it was his feeling that these young  soldiers be sent back to the US to be dealt with, and not have any foreign court adjudicate their matter. He said it was not people who sought to develop their economies who go around the world to blow up buildings. He said it was certainly clear to the US that if countries lose hope in having a developed economy, they eventually become the breeding ground for terrorism. Zoellick said he knew of many governments who were under stress, hence he was doing his utmost towards linking trade and development.

Several Caribbean countries, he noted, were stronger politically and economically and would not associate themselves with that kind  of life. They would rather create rather than “burn and destroy.” Asked if the issue was mentioned at his meeting Wednesday with Caricom Trade Ministers, Voellick said “no, it was not mentioned.” But Zoellick said he did not think it wise to create special prosecutors in this concept. “Everyone knows who the war criminals are,” he declared. “If you want to deal with them, then go after them,” he added.