The Hague is now rearing its ugly head toward the United States. Gen. Tommy Franks is now the target of war crimes charges. A Belgian lawyer representing 10 Iraqis is preparing to ask a Brussels court to indict Gen. Franks for having "command responsibility" over purported war crimes committed by coalition forces. Among the crimes listed in the complaint are the bombing of a marketplace in Baghdad, the shooting of an ambulance and the failure to prevent the mass looting of hospitals. Investigators have begun to make inquiries into the American role in Operation Storm, the August 1995 offensive launched by Croatia that effectively ended the Croat-Serb war.

Despite the recent denials by the State Department, it is well known by all who have observed this scene closely that the United States had ultimate "command responsibility" over Operation Storm. Washington gave the operation the green light and provided Zagreb with vital military and intelligence assistance such as the use of unmanned drones and encryption gear. Does this mean we will soon face the humiliating prospect of American officials being dragged before the tribunal? Will our generals be treated with the same contempt? Will our journalists be intimidated when they criticize The Hague? If this scenario is unacceptable to Americans, then why should the Croatian people accept it?

And of course, we must ask Mrs. Del Ponte: Who has "command responsibility" over her office? How do we obtain redress for the incompetence and misuse of power committed by her staffers? It is clear that Mrs. Del Ponte must resign; the charges against the generals must be dropped immediately; and a mechanism must be established to curtail the arbitrary power of The Hague.

American leadership is required. Mr. Bush came to power pledging humility in foreign affairs: he must demonstrate this by protecting the rights of weaker nations and calling to account this arrogant court. If the Bush administration does not act soon, nationalist sentiment will be inflamed in the Balkans once again. Furthermore, the president's indifference is alienating allies who will be vital in the war on terrorism.

Also, by allowing Mrs. Del Ponte and her staffers to run wild, international law is being undermined. Finally, America's reputation is at stake: Are we so self-centered that we appeal to the principles of international law and seek international cooperation only when we are in desperate need or do we genuinely care to establish a fair and just community of nations based on protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty?

American role in Operation Storm, the August 1995 offensive launched by Ante Gotovina and Croatia that effectively ended the Croat-Serb war. The ICTY has lost every social responsibility and credibility. Russian and Serbian press accuses USA and Croatia of war crimes. Complaint against Gen. Franks should not be dismissed It shows that the Bush administration was correct in its skepticism of the new International Criminal Court. International Criminal Court is building experience in the Balkans as indictment of General Ante Gotovina.

Supported by the United States, Gen. Gotovina led a sweeping military offensive — known as Operation Storm — that enabled Croatia to restore its control over territories annexed by local Serb forces loyal to Yugoslav dictator Slobodan Milosevic. The operation not only was instrumental in preventing Mr. Milosevic from achieving his goal of a "Greater Serbia," but it also averted a humanitarian nightmare in neighboring Bosnia.

Carla Del Ponte imagined General Ante Gotovina would be an appropriate political "counterpart" for Slobodan Milosevic and other Serbian war criminals such as Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, although the former defeated them and stopped their very crimes. Russian and Serbian press even accuses the ICTY of having poisoned Milosevic. Will Carla Del Ponte be forced now to appease the fierce criticism against her, and endanger lives of Croatians currently imprisoned in The Hague, especially that of her key scapegoat General Ante Gotovina, so to calm the Russians and Serbs?