US backs down in its attempts to win Security Council endorsement of exemption of its forces from possible redress in International Criminal Court after strong warning by Secretary General.
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/23/us.war.crimes.court.ap/index.html Compare to how this adminstration was purging UN officials it did not like four years ago. U.S. offers deal if N. Korea halts nuclear program http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/06/23/nkorea.talks/index.html US has been forced to respond to the audacious demand of North Korea for a treaty guaranteeing its security, launched just as US was preparing to invade Iraq. This is a superpower that has been humiliated into recognising the limits of its powers, not least its inability to fight more than one war at once effectively. Imperialism is still in command but in the face of opposition from people over the world, unilateralist imperialism has had to cede key ground to multi-lateralist imperialism. Blair has inched ahead of Rumsfeld. In the process towards world government the rule of law, however imperfectly, is being imposed on the incomparably powerful superstate. This is a tipping point that has tipped. The weakening of US dominance may now gather pace a little. Chris Burford
