Perspective: Why Does America Think It's above the Law?; George W Bush and Saddam Hussein Might Appear to Make Uneasy Bedfellows, but for Once They Are United. Chief Feature Writer Paul Groves Looks at How a New War Crimes Court Has Made Allies out of the Best of Enemies

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Byline: Paul Groves

They represent an unlikely collection of allies. At one time or another they have been more inclined to wage war than band together, yet this surprising coalition is flexing its not inconsiderable muscles and the world is having to take notice.

You would not have got a very good price on finding the United States of America lining up shoulder to shoulder with Russia, China, Israel, North Korea, Iran and Iraq.

Yet President George W Bush has discovered staunch friends in the six other states after outlining his opposition to the creation of an International Criminal Court to prosecute individuals for war crimes.

President Bush hardly endeared himself to his long-term partners after the US vetoed the extension of the United Nations' small contingent of police in Bosnia because its peacekeepers around the world have yet to be given blanket immunity from the provisions of the new criminal court.

It prompted a fiercely intensive round of diplomacy in an attempt to find a solution. …