Dear Pres. Bush,

Even though Saddam Hussein has been captured, you must follow through with proper procedures in trying individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Hussein should not be tried in an Iraqi court: that country is, obviously, under occupation. The country has any number of troubles that would complicate it conducting a well-researched and well-funded trial. Such a trial would likely sacrifice legitimacy for political expediency, both to place the hightest emotional note on the proceedings and to appease the occupiers.

Hussein should not be tried by a US court of any kind--civilian or military. These courst should have no jurisdiction over Hussein's crimes. They are themselves open to being compromised in affairs of such high importance. And if the treatment of Al-Qaeda and Taliban prisoners is any indication, Hussein will, at best, face a military tribunal whose legitimacy in this affair will be suspect.

Pres. Bush, you must send Saddam Hussein to the Hague. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has the patience, resources, and legitimacy to conduct a trial on the charges that will likely be levied against Hussein. At the moment the court is trying Slobidan Milosevic for ethnic cleansing in Serbia-Herzigovina and Kosovo.* Furthermore, there are doubts about some of the accusations that you have thrown at Hussein. A more legitimate environment would be more suitable for this trial.

You must stop persecuting countries that ratify the ICC treaty. Your administration has been threatening countries who have sign the treaty but who have not signed the bilateral treaty that would exonerate Americans from crimes that they might commit. The ICC Treaty is not an anti-US document. Furthermore, the treaty cannot work if such bilateral treaties are forced on member nations. Pres. Bush, give up the isolationism. Join the ICC.

* Milosevic is not literally being tried by the ICC, but the apparatus in the Hague that is trying him will become part of the ICC infrastructure--the International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia is a precursor to ICC