Jimmy Carter: US Must Rebuild Afganistan, Must Do More For World's Poor

Newday ^ | 11/15/01

[11th Earl of Mar]

By Associated Press

November 15, 2001, 2:37 PM EST

ATLANTA -- Former President Jimmy Carter said more must be done to help Afghanistan and other poor countries, calling the chasm between rich and poor nations "by far the most important single problem in the world."

If more were done for the poor, he said, "there would be a lot less animosity and a lot less inclination to commit suicide to kill an American."

In his first public appearance since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Carter said Wednesday that the United States must be willing to help rebuild Afghanistan to ensure future stability in the war-torn country.

Carter said aid should be significant and chided the United States for "making a big deal" about dropping 35,000 food packets on a country with 3 million refugees.

Afghans will need help with housing, health care and rebuilding roads and schools, in addition to a new government that encompasses different ethnic groups, he said.

Joined by his wife Rosalynn, Carter made his remarks in a town hall meeting before a sold-out audience at the Carter Center, an event originally scheduled for Sept. 11.

Expressing confidence that Osama bin Laden eventually will be brought to justice, Carter called bin Laden and his followers "deviants" who have committed acts of murder in the name of religious faith.

He compared the terrorists to Klansmen who burned crosses in the yards of black families' homes. "I've been embarrassed all my life by the Ku Klux Klan," Carter said.

Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

[Guinastasia]

I agree.
Funny, perhaps Jimmy Carter is just trying to do what his Christian faith teaches him-you know, like that one guy-what's his name? Oh yeah-Jesus!

[Guinastasia]

Um, I think it's the other way around. The US has lived off of the backs of people in Latin America for generations.

[Go Gordon]

Former President Jimmy Carter said more must be done to help Afghanistan and other poor countries, calling the chasm between rich and poor nations "by far the most important single problem in the world."

Somebody tell ole BONEHEAD, that its these people's governments that keep their people poor. So unless he's suggesting we topple a bunch of governments around the world, tell him to shove it. I know what he wants to do. He wants my gut wrenching hard earned money to give it away to more dictators of his choosing so he can FEEL better....

[GeorgiaDawg]

This is WHY many hate Americans...They don't want US to rebuild! Please stay out of this Jimmy...we're doing just fine without your help.

[Go Gordon]

The old saying applies here. When your only tool is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail. When Jimmy is proposing the same tired leftist remedy for all problems: take tax money from US workers and give it to the undeserving

[klgator]

Yeah, and if the Demoncrat Party gave me a million dollars, I wouldn't despise them as much as I do.

[lowbridge]

And what did he do for Afghanistan when they were invaded by the Soviets in 79?

Oh, yeah. He boycotted the 1980 Olympics.

He sure helped them.

[Matsuidon]

If Carter wants to unconstitutionally spend money overseas to alleviate poverty, he should adhere to the old saying. " Charity starts at home." He should unconstitutionally spend money in the inner cities, West Virginia's abandoned coal communities, American indian reservations and other glaring areas of American poverty.

[Guinastasia]

Oh yeah, real smart! Pollution is caused by trees. He was amazed that in Central America-they're all "individual countries." He claimed that Nicaragua had a 300 year history of dicatorship. Sure. Brilliant.

[Lucky2]

Jimmy Carter is the world's leading socialist, do gooder, tax spender. Shut up Jimmy, they attacked us you stupid creep, we owe the world nothing but our own safety. Whenever we give to the world, they come back and throw it in our face.

[Dixielander]

Ditto!!

I generally don't support new laws, but one I'd give my wholehearted support to would be the muzzlement of former presidents.

[kingh99]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

At first blush it would appear the good ole US of A is poised and aligned with the wrong side. This reminds me of Vietnam where we sided with the corrupt immoral Diem regime. Look, we don't have to align with the crazies on the Taliban, but I think the moderates bring a whole lot more to the table than the drug peddlers out of Mazir a Sharif. Think Pakistan Govt vs Saudi Arabia. We need something closer to the secular Pakistan model than the Saudi feudalism.

[Les_Miserables]

"Um, I think it's the other way around. The US has lived off of the backs of people in Latin America for generations."
Can you please explain this nonsense? You might correlate your explanation with the millions of dollars loaned to LA and defaulted regularly so the US taxpayer can fund the banking system's support of the Bannana Republics.... give me a break...and take the "backs" we are living off of back across the border. We'll try to make do. What crap.

[RightWhale]

Thanks for the encouragement, Jimmy. I, too, would rather nail shingles on a roof than be president. American will rebuild Aafghaaneestaan anyway, that's the way America is.

[wildwood]

well, ALL those leading terrorists are from rich families, not just osama...that's the rub! what a dope! doesn't he do any research before he offers advice?

[SteamshipTime]

Sorry folks. We try to keep him locked in the Carter Center but every now and again he slips out.

[Giddyupgo]

Why don't Jimmy go tell all those Arab Princes (billionaires) to go rebuild and do more for THEIR poor!!!!

[caddie]

I blame Carter equally with Clinton for September 11.

Why? It's simple.

He did nothing when we were attacked by Iran, setting the precedent in the minds (if you want to call them minds) of the muslimes that whitey was too much of a wimp to retaliate.

Same sort of behavior from our sink-emperor Demo president dirtxPOTUS beelzeBubba.

Bush41 didn't help matters much by wimping out of killing Saddam Hussein and making Iraq the United States' own personal Amoco station.

If wimpCarter had immediately built up a large expeditionary force, and boldly retaliated, for the attack on our embassy, none of the towelhead uppitiness would be an issue right now.

So, to summarize: The fault for September 11 rests squarely upon Carter, Clinton, the FBI, the CIA, and the INS.

The American people are blameless.

[cmotormac44]

gee whiz-another piece of nothing being heard from--he got a free ride to be a half-assed president and now he tells americans they must 'feed the damn world'--try feeding the ones here who really need it first--i mean our citizens, not the immigrants that jump fences and then get on welfare/food stamps--hell, jimmy caaaahta will probably want us to build houses for them, next--(he seems to be halfway decent for a 'demonrat')

[cmotormac44]

you are "right-on" brother, "right-on"