why the US changed its mind about the ICC

""Other experts note that the court's prosecutors have indicted only suspects from conflicts in Africa, which have not offered a true test of United States support for the court. "The U.S. wants to be at the table when the I.C.C. doesn't touch on issues of vital interest to it," said Philippe Sands, author of "Lawless World," who teaches international law at University College in London. "I suspect the U.S. position would change direction rather quickly if issues of vital interest began to be investigated." He offered as possible examples investigations of Israel, Afghanistan and the treatment of prisoners during the United States-led war on terrorism. Others see the growing cooperation with the court as a way for the United States to regain the moral standing they contend it lost as a result of the war in Iraq and the scandals surrounding waterboarding and other harsh treatment of prisoners. "It deflects attention from the past American violations of international law and their own judicial anomalies like torture and disappearances," said Antoine Bernard, a director of the International Federation for Human Rights, a group with members in more than 160 countries."" (thanks Amir)