For offices that claim to be apolitical, US Attorney Generals have a habit of visiting active war zones.
Merrick's trip surely wasnt just about the US attempting to utilize the ICC after it called it a "Kangaroo Court" only two years ago for investigating Afghanistan.
Perhaps some pressing legal matters needed attending to? Some doubts assuaged?
https://www.nbcnews.com/politi....cs/national-security
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https://www.statesman.com/stor....y/news/2012/09/01/us