OP-ED: "Will Africa Let Sudan Off the Hook? The criminal court is not singling out a continent," by Desmond Tutu, New York Times, 3 March 2009.

OP-ED: "Put Peace Before Justice: Arresting Bashir would just create more chaos in Sudan," by Franklin Graham, New York Times, 3 March 2009.

Tutu notes that 20 of the original ICC founders were African states and that 30 (out of a total of 48 African nations, I think) of the 108 signatories are also African states. He also notes that it's not weird that all four of the ICC current investigations are Africa-focused, because three of the four (Congo, CAR and Uganda) themselves made the request. Only Darfur was started by the ICC without host nation participation. The ICC is also considering investigations in Afghanistn, Colombia and Georgia.

Graham argues that the indictment simply makes Sudan's government more intransigent regarding outside relief efforts, which, of course, is a weird catch-22: we have to let Bashir keep committing war crimes so we can access his victims. Graham cites "progress" since 2005 that consists of various government peace deals with various groups. Not a strong case, methinks. He says Bashir will ultimately answer to a higher power. Graham, of course, is Billy's kid and the head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

As usual, I would go with the Africa perspective versus the well-meaning outsider.