Why isn't Rudolph facing the World Court?

I'm about to go into a theory, and it's all predicated on one key fact.  So if I am wrong about that fact, the entire theory is null and void and I will retract and apologize for the following blogging (which is what separates the left from the right in the blogging world).

The fact - during the Olympic Games, I was under the impression that the Olympic Village is considered international territory.

If so, then why isn't Eric Rudolph facing his sentence in front of the World Court, rather than being given a death-penalty reprieve by the United States Justice Department?  He bombed Olympic Park in Atlanta, which would be considered international territory, considering the time period that he unleashed his attack....wouldn't that give the World Court jurisdiction for that specific crime?

Now, don't mistake my words here....I'm not calling for the death penalty for Rudolph, and this is not a hysterical protest along the lines of "how could they let him off for that" (after all, only the conservative right wing thinks that getting a life sentence instead of death is "a slap on the wrist").  Besides, the World Court does not hand out death sentences.

But why are they not getting their crack at this terrorist?  And, yes, I think a man who sets off bombs with the intent to kill and the intent to intimidate is a terrorist, don't you?  And if a cop-killer like Rudolph isn't a terrorist, then who really is?  Doesn't the world community get to try this murderer for crimes on international ground?

Perhaps someone who is well-read on the Munich Olympics and the terrorism that took place there can shed some light on the contrast between those crimes and Rudolph's attack?

Just because a white Christian set off that bomb instead of an Islamic fundamentalist doesn't mean the crime is less severe.  Both commit their acts of terrorism for the same reason....because they think they're enacting justice of a God who actually wants nothing of the sort. 

It's time to start treating domestic terrorists with the same punishment that we demand of al Qaeda.  That would include Rudolph facing The Hague for his terrorist activity in Atlanta during the 1996 Games.

Comments

[judy armstrong]

Rudolf is indeed a terrorist, a domestic one, not an International terrorist. In my scope of understanding, the Olympic Park or Olympic Village is a symbolic title for the group of International guests of the host country. Additionally, only Americans were victims of the bombing thus we did not have to wade thru International red tape regarding the issue.

I agree in part on the white-Christian take of the matter. I tend to simplify the issue and feel they coped a plea because the anti-abortion issue is counter-productive to the neo-cons agenda which runs rampant in the south.

[Andrew]

I never did hear what Rudolf's reason for the bombing was.

I suppose now they would have to use the Patriot Act's definition of "terrorist" in applying it to the case. And this new definition is broad enough to include just about anyone, so it should be applicable.

[james]

If by the World Court, you mean the International Criminal Court, one reason it could not occur is the date of the alleged offense. The ICC only has jurisdiction over crimes occurring after 2002 (or was it 2001?).

Other issues are that the ICC can only prosecute War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Crimes of Aggression, the latter of which have yet to be defined. But even if this were found to constitute Genocide, the ICC could only acquire jurisdiction if it appeared that no legitimate prosecution was forthcoming in the area of the crime.

Of course the US is not a party to the ICC, thanks to Mr. Bush, but that doesn't even come to fore here.

The main thing is that the ICC is set up more as a forum to prosecute State sanctioned killing.

The ICJ, or the International Court of Justice, is often referred to as the World Court, but it has jurisdiction only over disputes involving two states, and only when they have consented to its jurisdiction.

Good luck in 06!