The effect could be to give encouragement to those willing to use terrorism instead of deterring them.

Singapore has invested enough in its military defense to make itself seem as indigestible as a poisoned shrimp to neighbors that it wishes to deter.

Moreover, while the fear of being hauled off to The Hague may havesome effect in deterring rulers from committing crimes against humanity, the claim that the Bashir warrant will deter the current crop of human rights violators is derisory.