August 05, 2006
Mideast Headline With No Surprise - #2
The second "headline with no surprise" comes courtesy of former President Jimmy Carter. Surely, at this point, no one is surprised when Carter criticizes President Bush (and America) and tries to make people think that he really has all the answers. Let's see. Carter let our Iranian Embassy be taken over by radical Islamic fanatics, and it took him 444 days to get our hostages out of there--but, wait. That didn't happen until President Reagan was sworn into office!
Carter: Bush 'worst ally Israel has had'
Carter said the United States should work for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah and the world community should concentrate on a long-term solution, but he is uncertain whether Bush can accomplish a cease-fire."It depends on whether world opinion is strong enough to get the administration to change its erroneous policy, which has been to encourage the continuation of attacks on both sides."
President Carter also called for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Carter has the answers? Well, consider the following book discussion from the ultra-left wing magazine "The Nation," which I use out of every consideration to make Carter look good, which turns out to be impossible. (It also mentions a previously disproved claim about a Republican "October Surprise," which the Democrats claim in one form or another every September.)
Henry Kissinger in particular felt that Carter's foreign policy was "weak-kneed" and that Carter himself was "ill prepared and poorly suited" for the presidency.("Taken Hostage" author David Farber) doesn't necessarily disagree with Kissinger's assessment. He portrays Carter as catastrophically unaware of the escalating situation in Iran until events had spun completely out of control. Reading Farber's account of Carter's earnest yet clumsy handling of the hostage crisis, one can't help but share Gary Sick's assessment that the White House seemed to be approaching Iran from a position of "unrelieved ignorance." Certainly Carter's unconsidered praise of the deeply unpopular Shah and his appraisal of Iran as "an island of stability in one of the more troubled areas in the world," indicates a shocking lack of insight into a country that almost everyone, including the President's own ambassador to Iran, recognized was on the verge of chaos and revolution.
But Carter's failure to anticipate and adequately deal with events in Iran was not entirely owing to his lack of political acumen. America's intelligence community had been severely handicapped....
...which he handicapped more. Yeah, let's listen to this man. He makes President Bush look like a genius in Iraq.
Sometimes we just need to be reminded about what President Carter actually did when he was in office before we consider taking his advice today.
Posted by Woody M. at August 5, 2006 09:40 PM | TrackBackIn considering "what President Carter actually did" what are we to consider? I can't think of a danged thing he actually did except have fireside chats because of his disasterous energy policy and claim that we were in a malaise. Did I miss something else?
Posted by GM at August 6, 2006 07:36 AM
He warned us of killer rabbits.
Posted by Woody at August 6, 2006 08:06 AM
concentrate on a long-term solution
If Carter had half a brain, he'd remember that the world has been working oin long-term solutions for 50 years or more. Certain groups won't let those long-term solutions work. None of those groups include Israel.
Posted by DADvocate at August 6, 2006 09:19 AM
"He warned us of killer rabbits."
Woody, I'm glad I swallowed my last mouthful of coffee before I read that, LOL!
Posted by Seth at August 6, 2006 09:29 AM
Sorry, I can't remember that far back. Did President Jimmah serve as the supreme apologist while in office or just since he became the ex-President? One other thing, has any demagogue in any third rate country ever accused the U. S. of anything that Jimmah hasn't felt compelled to apologize for?
Posted by MLSmith at August 6, 2006 05:17 PM
To borrow from an apology he once made to the American people, I think it concerned his famous "lust in my heart" comment,
"In hindsight and retrospect, I wonder if he would have beaten Ford had voters been able to look into the future at his treasonous activities of today."
Posted by Seth at August 6, 2006 06:25 PM
MLSmith, yeah--Carter never apologizes for our foreign aid to those nations that spit on us.
Seth, despite Ford's pardon of Nixon, I believe that Ford would have won if Carter's record included what he was going to do. President Reagan's overwhelming election victory bears that out.
Posted by Woody at August 6, 2006 07:09 PM
Certainly Carter's unconsidered praise of the deeply unpopular Shah and his appraisal of Iran as "an island of stability in one of the more troubled areas in the world," indicates a shocking lack of insight into a country that almost everyone, including the President's own ambassador to Iran, recognized was on the verge of chaos and revolution.
It was US policy to support the Shah and had been for 30+ years. What else would you expect Carter to say in public? Hind sight is 20-20... Can't wait to see you guys looking at GWB's handling of the Middle East 20 years from now.
Posted by e. nonee moose at August 7, 2006 05:47 AM
Moose, I fully expected Carter to support the Shah, that was indeed U.S. Policy. However, his mishandling of the crisis once it unfolded was indicative of his inadequacy as a leader, IMHO!
(well, there isn't any actually humble about me is there? ;-))
Posted by GM at August 7, 2006 07:05 AM
Woody --
I owe Carter big time -- when he became President, I was still a Democrat. Before he was voted out, he taught me why I needed to become a Republican.
Reagan got MY highly enthusiastic vote!
Posted by Seth at August 7, 2006 05:50 PM
Carter turned his back on the Shah when our support was most needed, one reason why we're having the problems we are with Iran today.
Posted by Seth at August 7, 2006 05:52 PM
Jimmy Carter: "...the world community should concentrate on a long-term solution." Wow! I wish I'd thought of that idea! That'll fix everything!
Carter is deeply partisan, but his main danger has always been his vacuousness.
Posted by Assistant Village Idiot at August 7, 2006 08:43 PM
