ICC

National Security Adviser John Bolton says the U.S. will do all it can to protect Americans from ICC action — calling the proposed investigation of war crimes in Afghanistan "utterly unfounded."

The move comes after the ICC opened an investigation into Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. Withdrawing does not keep the country from facing charges of human rights abuse.

The scope of such a probe by the International Criminal Court isn't clear, but it could have the potential to involve U.S. troops.

In a blow to the government, the court ruled that the executive didn't have the power to order a withdrawal without prior parliamentary approval and questioned the "unexplained haste" to quit the ICC.

Dominic Ongwen, who was kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army when he was a boy, pleaded not guilty to 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Uganda. He was nicknamed the White Ant.

Membership in the ICC could allow the Palestinians a means to pursue war crimes charges against Israel. But the move is likely to draw sharp response from Israel and the U.S.

But the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court reserved the right to bring new charges against Uhuru Kenyatta. The Kenyan leader said he was excited and relieved at the decision.