Posted on 05/19/2007 5:33:14 AM PDT by Valin
LONDON (AP) - Britain's support for the war in Iraq was a "major tragedy" for the world, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Saturday, as he criticized Tony Blair's unwavering support for George W. Bush. Asked how he would judge the British prime minister's support of Bush, Carter said: "Abominable. Loyal. Blind. Apparently subservient."
"And I think the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world," Carter told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Blair was in Baghdad on Saturday morning for what will be his last trip to Iraq as British prime minister. Last week, Blair announced that he would step down June 27, making way for Treasury chief Gordon Brown.
The war in Iraq has been the defining foreign policy issue of Blair's premiership, and the decision to join the U.S.-led invasion was an unpopular one at home. So far, nearly 150 British service personnel have died in Iraq.
Carter said Britain's support made it more difficult for critics of the war, and that things could have been different if Britain had spoken out against the 2003 invasion.
"I can't say it would have made a definitive difference, but it would certainly have assuaged the problems that arose lately," said Carter, who was U.S. president from 1977 to 1981 and has been a critic of the war.
"One of the defenses of the Bush administration, in the American public and on a worldwide basis, and it's not been successful in my opinion, has been that, OK, we must be more correct in our actions than the world thinks because Great Britain is backing us.
"And so I think the combination of Bush and Blair giving their support to this tragedy in Iraq has strengthened the effort, and has made opposition less effective and has prolonged the war and increased the tragedy that has resulted."
It was not the first time Carter has criticized Britain. Last year, he said he was disappointed with "the apparent subservience" of the British government to Washington on issues such as Iraq and last summer's Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
He’s a fine one to talk about tragedy of leadership./s
"Members of Congress, ours are not Western values, they are the universal values of the human spirit. And anywhere, any time ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same: freedom, not tyranny; democracy, not dictatorship; the rule of law, not the rule of the secret police."
"So America must listen as well as lead. But, members of Congress, don't ever apologize for your values.
Tell the world why you're proud of America. Tell them when the Star-Spangled Banner starts, Americans get to their feet, Hispanics, Irish, Italians, Central Europeans, East Europeans, Jews, Muslims, white, Asian, black, those who go back to the early settlers and those whose English is the same as some New York cab drivers I've dealt with, but whose sons and daughters could run for this Congress. Tell them why Americans, one and all, stand upright and respectful. Not because some state official told them to, but because whatever race, color, class or creed they are, being American means being free. That's why they're proud."
Tony Blair 7/17/03
Mr. Cartier from Welcome Back?
Unbelievable how no one ever swings back at the cowardly Carter, a petty cheap shot artist who was overwhelmingly rejected by the American people.
Carter is pathetic.
Current Freeper calls Carter’s continued consumption of oxygen a major tragedy.
Carter’s entire public life has been, and continues to be, a tragedy.
Follow-up headline: “Americans apologize to world for having once elected Jimmy Carter”
Hell, the Peanut started the whole Muzzie Mess when he helped dump the Shah. This was all predicted—check the WSJ Editorials of the day.
You’re only saying that because....it true.
I can only imagine what a joy it was to serve on a sub with him as Capt.
I didn’t even have to read the article to know it was Carter.
Carter is a sort of ‘reverse barometer’ of what makes sense. Anything that he says can be depended on to be the opposite of what a rational conclusion on examination of the facts would be.
I dimly recall that he was right about something once recently- provoking a lot of ‘stopped clock’ comments, but whatever it was- it was so buried by the usual nonsense that it doesn’t count.
I sometimes wonder if he’s adopted contrarianism as a sort of personal motif; ‘What kind of crap can I say today, that’ll drive them ballistic’?
Sad to think that someday this little fart is going to deserve the same send-off that Ronald Reagan got.
why do they let that ossified old goat speak. I am sure SOROS is using this alzheimer’s patient.
He may have been a decent naval officer. It wasn’t until after he got into ‘rat politics that he became insane.
I don't know- Reagan's send off was quietly attended by huge, well-behaved crowds. Some of them were pretty recognizable names, and they were conspicuous by not pulling that 'do you know who I am' head-of-the-line stuff.
I can't see Jimmuh's mob being so numerous or well-behaved.
...and was NOT President from 1981 to 1985, because he refused to stand up to nationalized terrorism from the Muslim world.
A failure as president criticizes a prime minister, president, and country, all in one felt swoop.
Is this kinda like a congress, with a 28% approval rating, expressing a lack of confidence in Attny. General Gonzales?
Carter is a sort of ‘reverse barometer’ of what makes sense.
Yeah, Carter and Ted Kennedy. Unfortunately, Ted is still in the US Senate and our current President apparently values his opinion.
“I can only imagine what a joy it was to serve on a sub with him as Capt.”
Well I would imagine it was easy. He certainly wasnt going to take any risks. You might have to worry about him descending past crush depth though.
Well, the trappings may be the same, but I highly doubt people will be lining the funeral route at the same rate.
However, the media will go out of their way to paint him as a saint who was president in a bad time, and had no control over his fate. They will play on his Habitat for Humanity stuff, and what a down to earth guy he was.
They will, of course, ignore the fact that he was (and is) mean, petty, vindictive, incompetent, indecisive and anti-American.
He is a disgusting embarassment. Carter started the whole process of former presidents shooting their mouths off.
Notice, it is only the DEMOCRAT ex-presidents who have done it. Even if it was only TWO of them...
Oh how I wish he would drop dead of a massive heart attack this very day.
“...and was NOT President from 1981 to 1985, because he refused to stand up to nationalized terrorism from the Muslim world.”
Carter is the main reason we are in this war right now. If he would have been a president we could have avoided this.
Carter used to be the worst President. He gave away the Panama
Canal. WHO GAVE AWAY AMERICA?
He was never a Captain, thank God. A Lieutenant, and a snotty nosed one at that.
Given the level of competence he showed in office, I wouldn't be surprised if he issued orders to 'drive this thing onto land and park it.'
Is this a joke? If not can we impeach Carter?
Bigg Red Calls Jimmy Carter’s Presidency a Major Tragedy
Just STHU, you senile old buffoon! Why don’t you go over to Iran and offer yourself as a hostage to help settle the nuclear dispute?
Well, we have to give Jimma' credit for one thing.
He sticks to subjects that he knows well.
Carter has senile dementia and should not be allowed to speak in public. His brain is full of plaque and has shrunk to the size of a peanut, rendering his IQ now equal to his brother Billy’s(who’s beer company went bust).
Next week the former president will train his sights on another cause of war, upheaval, chaos and global warming, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
Leni
Yes, at least he had the sense to find something to think for him and make him feel like he had some cajones.
...going to deserve the same send-off that Ronald Reagan got.
&&&
He’s going to be granted it; he will definitely not deserve it.
I predict, BTW, that the ground where his body is put to rest will be soggy for decades to come due to the actions of many loyal American men who come to the graveyard to visit, unless he’s buried at Arlington. I saw something here on FR recently about an interview in which he talked about being buried in his hometown, which would be so much better, as patriots would not show disrespect while at Arlington.
*LOL* Same here. I don't even remember Carter's presidency (I was born 24 Nov 1976) and I hear more and more how that is a GOOD thing.
Sad to think that someday this little fart is going to deserve the same send-off that Ronald Reagan got.
Damn straight. Reagan was the first president I can remember so his passing was an incredibly sad time for me.
Billy should have been the brother that lived.
LLS
He was too busy bumping our economy up to record levels of growth to worry about such unimportant global issues. /s
LOL
You’re right! I thought he ended up being a Capt. on a sub., But I was wrong. all I can say in my defence is it must of been all those drugs I used as a youth coming back to haunt me....that’s my story and I’m stickin with it. :-)
It still must of been a real pleasure to serve under him.
And like others, I didn't even have to read the article to know it was Carter.
STFU you panty-waist peanut farmer. Blair is the anti-Carter.
Yep, and that is why we got 21% interest rates while ol’ Jimmah was Prez....right? Carter was, and is, a fool with a mouth to match. I would love to have the chance to bust his teeth with my fist, and let him know how much I care about him. In short, he sucks big time, and that is the reason this P.O.S. is the EX-President. 4 years of this SOB was more than we could handle. Thank God for Ronald Reagan.
“Sad to think that someday this little fart is going to deserve the same send-off that Ronald Reagan got.”
He won’t get the same send-off. I doubt there will be thousands upon thousands lined up for the viewing. Unless of course they permit spitting to show our proper respect.
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