Now In Session.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)

Sovereignty: The International Criminal Court opened for business Monday, much to the satisfaction of human rights activists -- and the disapproval of the U.S.

Seventy-four countries have signed on to a world court that will prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity (aren't they all?) and war crimes. When the U.N.-funded court kicks into full gear next year, it will hold the unprecedented power to prosecute virtually anyone it pleases. The long arm of its law will have, in essence, no limit.

While the court's thin staff of four reported for work at temporary quarters on the edge of The Hague, Netherlands, the U.S. was seeking immunity for its peacekeeping troops and other officials stationed abroad. The White House wants the U.N. Security Council's assurance that U.S. nationals won't be rousted and prosecuted by the court for doing their jobs. Barring that, it's threatening to pull our troops from all U.N.-authorized peacekeeping missions.

Last week, the U.S. rejected a six-month extension of the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia when the Security Council refused to grant immunity to Americans there. Unless the council can satisfy U.S. concerns, the operation likely will be without Americans while it's being transferred to the European Union.

The Bush administration should be worried about more than U.S. soldiers and officials overseas. The nations that are part of the 1998 Rome Treaty granted the court the legal authority to try citizens of countries, the U.S. among ...