Posted on 09/18/2006 9:13:44 PM PDT by FairOpinion
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said on Monday the Bush administration had eroded America's global influence with its conduct in Iraq and by condoning the torture of terrorism suspects.
"They have redefined torture to make it convenient for them," Carter said of the Bush administration in an interview with Reuters.
"Things that are unanimously almost or globally assumed to be torture, they claim that this is not torture. I don't think there is any doubt that is what they are doing," said Carter, a Democrat who was president from 1977 to 1981.
He has since been a leading voice on global human rights issues and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Carter, 81, said he was "filled with admiration" for Republican Sens. John McCain and John Warner and former Secretary of State Colin Powell for their effort last week to block President George W. Bush's policies on the treatment of suspected terrorists. The White House and senators are continuing talks in search of a compromise.
"We've lost the support and trust and confidence and admiration that we've had for generations," Carter said, adding the administration "has stonewalled so they can continue to perpetrate this illegal punishment."
"They have obviously subverted facts, that has been proven, and subversion of the law is now becoming more and more apparent," he said, referring to the administration's repeated appeals of court rulings concerning the treatment and legal rights of prisoners at the Guantanamo prison in Cuba.
CARTER SEES AMERICA LESS SAFE
Carter, who has called treatment of detainees at Guantanamo an embarrassment and disgrace, said Americans were less safe since September 11 because Bush mishandled the Iraq war and failed to promote peace efforts between Israel and Palestinians.
Those two factors, he said, "combined to stir up additional animosity and threats of violence not only against us but against allies like Great Britain."
Carter, who is serving as the honorary chairman of Democrats Abroad, said in the telephone interview from his home in Plains, Georgia, that he would encourage Democrats overseas to vote in November, when the party must pick up six Senate seats and 15 House seats to reclaim majorities.
Republicans rejected Carter's criticism and said Bush would not change course.
"While Jimmy Carter is committed to attacking this administration's efforts to keep us safe, President Bush remains committed to waging an aggressive battle with those whose stated goal is to harm Americans," said Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.
Carter criticized Bush's approach to foreign diplomacy as the president headed to the United Nations for a general session expected to highlight by international skepticism over U.S. policies toward Iran and Iraq.
The White House has ruled out a meeting between Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who will also address the General Assembly, and says there will be no lower-level contacts with the Iranian delegation.
"Our government now has a strange and unprecedented and pervasive policy of not speaking to anybody who doesn't agree with us in advance on controversial issues. So we close the door, we go into a closet and pout," Carter said.
"So we don't talk to Iran, we don't talk to Syria, we don't talk to the Palestinian government, we don't talk to North Korea, we don't talk to any leaders around the world who disagree with us and this is where the problems arise," he said.
The day I hear of that filthy cowards death I'll dance in the street.
If only he would try that approach himself... it would save us all a lot of anguish reading his nonsensical comments.
If only Bush would support torture of that disgraceful, traitorous son of a bitch Carter.
How about with a cig and blindfold?
You sent a note to the foundation! You're awesome!
I'll give it some thought. Right now I can't think of anyone here who uses WebTv.
Be well.
The only good thing I can say about Jimmy Carter is that thanks to him, we got eight years of Ronald Reagan.
What has long been suspected has now been confirmed. Carter has become senile. The question now becomes; who is going to break the news to Jimmy that he can't get out and about alone anymore and that the specialized rest home nearby can best address his needs?
Wasn't it Carter who holed up in the White House for a number of weeks during a period when he was under a lot of public critcism? I vaguely recall that.
I dunno - when McLame runs, I hope Jimmy Carter's endorsement follows him thru every Republican primary...
He's 81, a failing mind, yet the drive by media still let's him embarrass himself and hurt his country. That;s torture.
Perfect................. (but we must say, only after the proper trial of course.)
;-)
I suppose so.
I NEVER could manage to learn how to CCP while on WebTV and still don't know how to do it.
LOL......get yourself a laptop; you'll love it!
Great find, my FRiend! :-)
Yes, he did!
Carter backs terrorists and terrorism and his influence passed over into the anti-matter terroritory several decades ago.
If he's agin it, I'm for it!
Glow in the dark bubble head moron. He smacked his head on one too many bulkheads during his tour, didn't he?
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