The President seeks to convince Congress and the nation that military intervention in Syria will "send a clear message... to other countries that may be interested in testing some of these international norms, that there are consequences."
He asks: "If we won't enforce accountability in the face of this heinous act, what does it say about our resolve to stand up to others who flout fundamental international rules?"
The ICC seeks to "end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community" -aims consistent with the President's stated values.
As we ponder military action in the name of decency, justice, and accountability, now is the time to ratify the ICC and send a clear message to the world that we stand behind the "values that define us."