Posted on 08/22/2006 1:12:53 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
August 21, 2006
The Honorable Jimmy Carter
The Carter Center
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
Dear Mr. President:
I just read the transcript of your interview with the German magazine, Der Spiegel, in which you accuse Israel of launching an “unjustified attack on Lebanon.”
Even after the interviewer reminded you that Israel was the first to get attacked, you charged Israel with lacking “any legal or moral justification for their massive bombing of the entire nation of Lebanon.”
As someone who served in the White House as a spokesman for a President, I am reluctant to criticize another President, but in this instance my conscience compels me to do so.
Mr. President, your words are music to Hezbollah’s ears and your message is a blow to long-term peace.
Just as you underestimated the threat of the Soviet Union in the 1970s, you underestimate the threat of radical Islam today. Your condemnation of Israel, the victim, only encourages Hezbollah, the attacker, to bide its time and attack again.
Ahmed Barakat, a member of Hezbollah’s central council, last week told the Qatari newspaper as-Watan that “Today Arab and Muslim society is reasonably certain that the defeat of Israel is possible and that the countdown to the disappearance of the Zionist entity in the region has begun. The triumph of the resistance is the beginning of the death of the Israeli enemy.”
I was raised a Democrat but I changed parties in 1982 because I believed your policies and the nuclear freeze movement invited increased Soviet militarism and adventurism. President Reagan’s military build-up and credible threat of the use of force helped bring about the demise of Communism and brought freedom and a better life to hundreds of millions in Central and Eastern Europe. It also secured a lasting peace.
I’m sorry to see you articulate about Hezbollah and its aggression the same weak world-view that encouraged Soviet aggression. As Ronald Reagan showed us, peace through strength is the only formulation understood by those bent on destruction.
I understand your longing for peace and your fond hope that Hezbollah can be reasoned with. However, when you call Israel’s defense “an attack”, when you call what is justified “unjustified”, and when you call morality immoral, I conclude that the pro-defense, strong foreign policy lessons of the 70s and 80s remain unacceptable to you. Also, when you criticize Israel for targeting so-called “civilian” areas in Beirut and other areas where Hezbollah hides its operations, the result would be – if Israel listened to you – the creation of safe havens from which more violence and rocket attacks would be planned and launched.
Sadly, Hezbollah today is planning its next war. For the sake of peace, Israel deserves your praise, not your condemnation.
Sincerely,
L. Ari Fleischer
Many kudos to Mr. Fleischer for saying what needs to be said to Mr. Carter. Thanks for posting this.
A little weak, but I understand that a man in Ari's position can't use the f-word too liberally.
I love it! He mentioned Reagan twice!
I hope Jimmuh actually reads this.
Jimmy Carter hates the American people because they dumped him for Reagan.
Carter's ideas come from the most superficial reading of the New York Times. His arguments would not last 10 seconds in a serious undergraduate course in History or Philosophy.
Where did you find this?
Jimmah isnt going to care...he's senile.
Der Spiegel got what they want and Israeli hit piece from a "prominent" American...
Everyday for the last couple of weeks...the MSM has been running anti-Iraeli stories...one about an Israeli running a prostituion ring in LA (CNN), another an Olmert being guilty of sexual harassment (Drudge)...again the media shows its allegiances time, after, time.
I commend Ari on this letter...but Jimmah Carter will only know/or willingly hear the truth when he's taking a dirt nap, which would be the best thing the bozo could do for his country.
May 1,000 dogs raise their leg on his grave...
Ah, I see you are of the Party of the Unappeasables. Nothing ever quite meeting your demands.
- you charged Israel with lacking “any legal or moral justification for their massive bombing of the entire nation of Lebanon.”
Israel most certainly did not do a "massive bombing of the entire nation of Lebanon.”
Carter is a liar who should be the last to talk about "moral justification."
As a reader who has seen too many falsely attributed e-mails, I would like to know if there is any way to verify this e-mail's authenticity.
How does one get on Ari's email list? Is this letter going to be published anywhere else?
Jimmy Carter needs to be publicly rebuked and made to feel like the petty little excuse for a man he really is.
(1980 ...Back when election maps still showed the Dems in commie red)
A great idea long overdue.
And Jimmy--thank God the people voted you out of office.
No, it's actually a compliment to Mr. Fleischer and a veiled indication of my disgust for Carter, but I can see how the subtlety of that post could elude some on this board.
If I may modify/expand upon your statement a bit.
People like Carter hate America because we can not understand nor accept their vision of the USA. At least as folks like Carter see it. They are ever so frustrated. Why don't we understand how unsophisticated we are? Why can't we be like Europe?
My answer is simple. We are Americans. That's why, thank God.
Bump!
Love the "killerrabbit" keyword!
The Honorable Jimmy Carter
The Carter Center
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
Dear Mr. President:
STFU!!!
Sincerely,L. Ari Fleischer
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