Posted on 12/19/2002 11:28:14 PM PST by JohnHuang2
Let me preface what I am about to say about Jimmy Carter by telling you I voted for him for president twice.
I think he sincerely believes what he says. I think he is sincere in his commitment to God and takes his faith seriously – a faith I share with him as a brother in Jesus Christ.
He has led an exemplary private life since leaving the presidency.
Having said all that, let me get on with my point: Jimmy Carter is an idiot. He's a fool. He's an embarrassment to this country. And what he did in Oslo last week is morally reprehensible.
In case you missed it, Carter accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in Norway – the one he earned nearly 25 years ago for brokering the Camp David Accords. In his remarks, delivered on foreign soil, the former president of the United States issued a not-so-veiled attack on the current president and his policies on Iraq.
"For powerful countries to adopt a principle of preventative war may well set an example that can have catastrophic consequences," he said. He went on to quote Ralph Bunche, another Nobel Peace Prize winner, to make his case: "'To suggest that war can prevent war is a base play on words and a despicable form of war mongering. The world has had ample evidence that war begets only conditions that beget further war.'"
Again, I have no doubts about Carter's sincerity. He has become a full-blown pacifist. He doesn't believe there is any moral justification for war. And that's why I say he is an idiot, a fool and an embarrassment to his country.
If we have learned anything from history – even modern history – it is that wishing and hoping for peace doesn't make it more likely. If we have learned anything from history, it should be that preparing for war is the best way to protect the peace. If we have learned anything from history, it is that practicing appeasement only brings pain and defeat.
Furthermore, to add insult to injury, Carter launched into this criticism of the current president's foreign policy on foreign soil. He didn't do it in the United States – where free and open debate among private citizens is encouraged, where it is welcome, where it is fair game. He chose to do it in Oslo in front of a group of foreigners. That's disgusting. That's despicable. That's un-American and unbecoming of a former president.
On "The McLaughlin Report" last weekend, even Pat Buchanan, one of the leaders of the new breed of antiwar activists, was repulsed by Carter's criticism of the country abroad.
But one of the other panelists had a surprising comment about the president's remarks and the propriety of making them in Europe.
"Jimmy Carter is bigger than this country," explained Eleanor Clift. "He's a global figure now. And he had every right to attack that policy."
"Bigger than the country?" asked Buchanan in shock. "Bigger than the United States?"
"Bigger than the United States," insisted Clift. "He's a global figure and he's entitled to speak out when he's accepting a world peace prize."
"He's got a tin badge from Norway," said Buchanan.
"I accept everything he said," chimed in Clift.
I have no doubt she does accept everything Carter said. But that's only part of the issue. Sure there are people who agree with Carter. He's dead wrong, provably wrong, through a simple reading of history. But if he wants to make silly, idiotic, foolish statements, he has earned that right as an American citizen and a former president – but not on foreign soil.
There are men and women getting ready to put their lives on the line in defense of their country today. We are on the brink of an invasion of a brutal, ruthless, totalitarian country working overtime to develop the weapons of mass destruction to be used against us and our allies. We are on the brink of another phase of our defensive war against terrorism, as Iraq is a long-time sponsor of al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. We are on the verge of carrying out a policy laid before the American people two years ago and met with near-unanimous support.
This is no time for a former president to make a fool of himself on foreign soil.
Was he a hippie that found God and now sees the light?
TWICE??????????????
Lemme guess, it was that confusing Butterfly ballot, again! ;^)
I can under stand perhaps someone voting for him once, but I can't imangine anyone voting for him twice. My only regret is that I was too young to vote against him in 1976. I am proud to say I voted for Ronald Reagan twice. I have never voted for any DemocRAT for president.
I'm telling ya, it's that darn butterfly ballot! =^)
As an offshoot of Jimmy's efforts, North Korea now has nuclear weapons and a lauch vehicle capable of delivering them to the United States. While the likelihood that will take place is slim, it is quite reasonable to think that the North could launch attack against the South, Japan or some other imagined enemy.
Another outcome is that North Korea is free to proliferate it's knowledge to some of the world's leading terrorist states. It has shown it's willingness to sell scuds. It has helped Iraq better it's scuds. What else has it provided to Iraq? Could it be that they have provided nuclear information or parts? Could it be that Iraq is on the tip of the iceberg?
North Korea is in dire straights. They need cash. They have knowledge and assets to sell. There are states that have desired these types of knowledge and goodies for decades. Carter has facilitated their wildest dreams becoming a reality.
Despite these outcomes, Carter still acts as if he alone is smart enough to guide the US through troubled waters. His mishandling of Iran in the 1970s, his mishandling of the Panama Canal negotiations and his nearly insane comments regarding Iraq leave no doubt that Jimmy is not nearly as capable as he has convinced himself that he is.
Outside of the United States' leading enemies, it's difficult to fathom who his most ardent fans are, if not himself.
The only thing that is surprising here is that Farah admitted voting for Carter at all.
For what it's worth, David Schippers admitted that he voted for Bill Clinton twice, too. That's the one reason why I'll never take the bastard seriously enough to even read the cover of one of his books, let alone buy one of them.
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