Posted on 12/02/2003 4:04:12 AM PST by Stultis
Former President Jimmy Carter called the American invasion of Iraq one of the country’s worst foreign policy blunders, and predicted it may take a dozen years to bring stability and democracy to the region.
“I was strongly against going in unilaterally,” said Carter, who was in Columbia on Monday to sign copies of his new Revolutionary War novel, “The Hornet’s Nest.”
“I thought it was a serious mistake, maybe the worst mistake in foreign policy that our country’s made in many years. But now we are there, we have to support our troops there and pray that we can cut down on our casualties.”
The former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner drew a crowd of about1,100 to the downtown Richland County Public Library, many toting copies of the 17 other books Carter has authored. He spoke to reporters as he took a short break from signing more than 1,800 volumes. The event was sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of the Richland County Public Library.
“The Hornet’s Nest” (Simon and Schuster, $27) is Carter’s first attempt at fiction, overlaying a cast of invented characters onto the actual Southern conflicts of the Revolution. It is a war, Carter said, that shaped the moral and ethical values of the country.
Carter suggested that a broad lesson of the Revolution — “even for folks now who claim they won’t eat french fries” — is applicable today: You can’t go it alone.
The American Revolution against the British could not have been won without the full support of France, he said — the same nation that has been the focus of American ire for refusing to back President Bush in Iraq.
“I think it shows all the way down through history up until recently that America has always cast its lot with other, very firm, allies around the world.”
If the Iraqi invasion had been multinational, Carter said, “I think the aftermath would have been much more pleasant and much more successful and much quicker.”
Carter predicted American soldiers will be in Iraq for many years.
“I’ve got one grandson (his youngest) who is 4½ years old. I hope that before he’s out of high school, we’ll be out of Iraq.
“Bottom line is, we should turn over as rapidly as we can both the economic and political affairs to the Iraqis — as much as they can handle — and bring in other nations to help us.”
The former president appeared relaxed in an open-collared dress shirt. He exchanged pleasantries with the crowd even as he efficiently scrawled his distinctive signature on book flyleaves and moved the line along.
Some arrived as early at 7:30 a.m. — an hour and a half before the library opened at 9 — to secure a place in the line that snaked through the first-floor stacks. Carter stepped into the room at 11:36 a.m., about a half-hour ahead of schedule.
Joan Dornbusch brought the book “Seabiscuit” to read as she and her husband, Clyde, waited to greet Carter.
“I’m here because I admire President Carter,” she said of the one-term Democrat. “He is such an amazing man. I can’t see any Republican holding a grudge.”
Many who came spoke of their admiration of Carter’s post-presidency years following his 1980 defeat by Ronald Reagan. He has promoted democracy and peace throughout the world through his nonprofit Carter Center in Atlanta and has worked with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for the needy.
“I know as a president he had certain difficulties,” said Jeff Cameron, a teacherwho brought his wife, Cristina, and daughter, Zarina. “But afterward, his life has been phenomenal. I have a lot of respect for the man.”
Martin Langston, a West Columbia pharmacist, said he campaigned for a South Carolina House seat in 1980, the same year Carter ran for re-election, and met the same fate.
“I ran with him and I’m not sorry,” Langston said “I never was ashamed of Carter.”
Carter said he has not determined who he will support among the Democratic presidential contenders.
“I’m going to endorse whoever I think will have the best chance in November. I’ve been observing it very carefully.”
Reach Click at (803) 771-8386 or cclick@thestate.com
More Mush From the Wimp
"Former President Jimmy Carter called the American invasion of Iraq one of the country's worst foreign policy blunders, and predicted it may take a dozen years to bring stability and democracy to the region," reports the State newspaper of Columbia, S.C. A dozen years? Hmm, Carter took office more than two dozen years ago; if the Middle East can be made stable and democratic in just a dozen years, it's a shame he didn't start the process back then.
The disgraced former president also says of Iraq, "I was strongly against going in unilaterally." He should call the families of the seven Spanish intelligence officers who died over the weekend in an Iraq ambush and deliver the comforting news that they didn't really lose their loved ones, since America is in Iraq "unilaterally."
Never was there more absolute proof that it was the right thing to do. Like, what's Jimmys win/lose running at? 0 and 754? Something like that.
Cleared up any lingering doubts for me.
I guess Britain and Australia don't count.
What?! Not the man/woman with the best ideas? Not the candidate with the firmest moral grounding? Thanks for the lesson, Jimmy.
Uh, yeah? And that would differ from our gameplan how? Talk about a non-statement. Sure wish those on the Left would make up their mind. Oh well, I guess we must be doing something right if Carter's against it.
My question is this: How many more "Children of Chamberlain" are there out there, and how do we keep them out of office?
Carter even needs UN help with Roslyn.
Jimmah "old coot" Cawtah
He's always been a self-righteous, micro-managing fool (I was old enough to realize what a hash he made of being Governor here in GA, we expected the worst from his presidency and got it) but there's so much hatred and downright irrationality in his pronouncements lately, it seems as though he may be experiencing some mental problems.
Jimmy Carter (no stars). Well-meaning ineptitude: no saving grace.
I could never be so kind as to term him "well-meaning."
This socialist jerk gave the Panama Canal to a nation that wasn't even in existance when Americans died digging it. He thought it was only fair.
I thought it interesting that recently he and Rozalind thought it important that they leave the Baptist Church due to the Church's narrow-minded views on abortion.
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.