The Republican Congress is moving to exempt American military personnel from the new UN war crimes tribunal. Under the new law now working its way through the system, the government could not send US military personnel on peacekeeping missions unless the UN agrees that it will never prosecute them. The law denies military assistance to countries that ratify the treaty (although NATO members and some key allies are exempt from this, specifically Australia, Egypt, Israel, South Korea, and New Zealand). Finally, if a US service member is ever arrested by the UN, the law authorizes the US military to rescue him by force of arms. Passage of the bill is considered a certainty, but it is unclear if the President will sign it.--Stephen V Cole