Posted on 12/07/2005 11:26:17 AM PST by ncountylee
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Former President Jimmy Carter said he doubts whether the U.S. military will ever completely pull out of Iraq.
Carter's comments came Tuesday during a brief visit at the U.S. Military Academy where he signed copies of his newest book for West Point cadets. The former president said he believes America will have a major military presence in Iraq for decades to come.
"There has never been a single declaration among the higher levels of government now that we ever intend to withdraw completely our military forces from Iraq," Carter told reporters.
"My belief, and it may be erroneous ... is that the top leadership in this country intends 20 years from now, 50 years from now, we'll still have a major military presence in Iraq."
In a speech last week at the U.S. Naval Academy, President Bush told midshipmen: "We will increasingly move out of Iraqi cities, reduce the number of bases from which we operate and conduct fewer patrols and convoys."
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Carter should be a textboot case of a president's childhood relationship with his parents impacting how he deals with his responsibilities as president. Anyone ever notice how Carter goes OUT OF HIS WAY to be all kiss-butt, smile and supportive and openly praise any brutal dictator whom the US doesn't like?
Carter himself has discussed his father some but I would love to hear contemporary accounts of the man. It is clear he was distant and carter felt he couldn't please him for squat. This emotional issue colored his dealing in major foreign policy decisions and has led to him being the number-one endorser of communist regimes in the free world.
Carter's funeral will look like "Dictators are Us."
We have shown, since WWII, that we are willing to put military bases in any country that serves our, and their, national interest. Until we are asked to leave...then we leave...ask the Filipinos...
Only a Democrat skunk like him would say things like that in West Point. But I doubt this "story". Sounds oniony to me.
Ouch!
And I doubt if we will ever be rid of this babbling old fool.
i despise you, jimmy
What did he say about Bosnia and South Korea?
Even more disturbing and depressing is the thought that Peanut Head will never leave us...
Exactly!
LOL........something HE cannot ever claim he was able to do.
The real question is whether Jimmy will ever leave the United State in body as well as spirit. He should take up permanent residence with his buddy Fidel.
Carter and Castro, a nice fit.
The peanut farmer got us out of Iran. His support for tyranny and opposition to the democraticization of Iran is proof text of his ambitions for Iraq. Carter should be true to his beliefs and demand the return of Hussein to power.
And those countries throw little hissy fits whenever we even have rumors of leaving.
Germany, more annoying then some, when they opposed the war in Iraq, but didn't want to pull our base out and move it and wanted us to still use it heavily.
Korea went ape when Rumsfeld started talking about troop reducitons.
Japan always plays both sides of the fence but fights harder then even John Thune could dream about when it comes to our base over there.
re: President Carter doubts U.S. military will ever leave Iraq
I'll bet he was starting to feel the same way about the hostages in Iran too!
i doubt jimmy will ever grow a set!
More inane gibbering from the peckerwood of Plains.
I doubt Carter's head will ever leave his ass.
This guy is so screwy that Geo. H.W. Bush and Clinton don't even invite him for their disaster relief work.
Even they think he is nuts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.