Jimmy Carter: Don't Invade Iran

CBS News ^ | October 9, 2007

[presidio9]

Diplomacy, not military action, "definitely" remains the best approach to dealing with Iran, former President Jimmy Carter said in a wide-ranging interview on The Early Show Tuesday.

"Even after the Shah (of Iran) was deposed," Carter told co-anchor Harry Smith, "I quickly restored diplomatic relations with Iran. As a matter of fact, that's been proven by the fact I had about 60 diplomats in Iran, and they had an equal number in Washington, so we were continuing to try to communicate with them and work with them. And I think that, now, with increasing evidence that Iran is a dangerous and unpredictable country, the best thing to do is to have a maximum diplomatic relationship.

"They're potentially dangerous and they're certainly unpredictable. But I think that if we could find some way to communicate directly with them, to reassure their fears that we might attack them, which is constantly a drumbeat out of Washington, maybe deliberately from the administration or inadvertent -- Sy Hirsh has written three or four articles in the New Yorker, though I haven't read the latest one, but he's always maintaining that the United States is preparing to attack Iran. They read those articles and they see all the other news, and if they feel that they're going to be attacked, then I think that's one incentive for them to be more militant. So, I think, to assuage their fears, and to tell them the truth about our intentions, would be more helpful."

Still, Smith noted, "It seems to me we've done a pretty clear job of letting our intentions be known, yet they remain recalcitrant, at best. Is a military strike an option?"

"I don't think so," Carter said. "Not at this early stage, and I don't think that anybody in the administration has maintained openly that that is a present option. Every indication I've heard from Condoleezza Rice or President Bush has been, 'We want to resort to diplomatic means to -- as thoroughly as we possibly can before we would consider a military strike.'

"So, I think a military strike against Iran at this time would be completely unnecessary and counterproductive. Iran is a different proposition from what Iraq was when we attacked Iraq. It wouldn't be an easy thing to invade Iran. And where would we get the troops? We don't even have enough troops for Iraq. Where would we get them from? And I don't think we would have any other nation in the world that would join us in any sort of military adventure against Iran. So, diplomacy is the best approach."

Carter's latest book, "Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope," covers the work he's done around the world since leaving office -- and continues to do.

He discussed it, and much more on The Early Show Tuesday, including his recent criticism of Sudan for the violence and humanitarian crisis in its Darfur region, his thoughts on the Clinton administration's handling of Sudan, and the big apartheid/Israel controversy he sparked.

A previous book of his, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," and subsequent remarks about the Israel-Palestinian conflict, prompted an uproar from Jewish groups and the resignation of 14 people from an advisory board of the Carter Center, the 25-year-old Atlanta-based humanitarian organization.

Asked Tuesday by Smith if he has any regrets over the book or the remarks, Carter replied, "No, not at all. The book is absolutely correct, and I think it was necessary and has played a good role and was overwhelmingly approved, although there were some that objected to it. The book was written about Palestine, not Israel. And the second word in the title, as you just mentioned, was 'peace,' not apartheid. And I think a lot of people adopted the word 'apartheid' as the No. 1 thrust of the book and it's not even mentioned in the book, as a matter of fact.

"But, I think the peace effort that's belatedly gonna be attempted in November is a very good development. As you know, for seven years, since Bill Clinton left office, we've had not a single day of good-faith negotiations between Israel and its neighbors, and it's highly overdue. And my hope is that we'll see some constructive efforts being made on the Palestinian side and the Israeli side when they convene in the United States in November."

[bmwcyle]

Don’t hold back.

[Resolute Conservative]

My dog told me to invade, I’ll go with his instincts of Jimmah.

[Badeye]

The worst President in US history continues to undermine his own country, continues to ignore his own errors as President as an an author, and continues to give hope to our enemies, and drag down our friends.

He’s despicable, infantile, and a megalomaniac.

[jrooney]

Jimmy, peanut gallery worst president ever, we are not going to invade them but will bomb their nuke sites, revolutionary guard and country leadership back to the stone ages from the air.

[henkster]

Can anyone insert a clip of Neville Chamberlain waving around the Munich sellout?

NEVER forget....

[lowbridge]

"I quickly restored diplomatic relations with Iran. As a matter of fact, that's been proven by the fact I had about 60 diplomats in Iran, and they had an equal number in Washington, so we were continuing to try to communicate with them and work with them. And I think that, now, with increasing evidence that Iran is a dangerous and unpredictable country, the best thing to do is to have a maximum diplomatic relationship.

Er, you had a diplomatic relationship with them. They, by your admission, are a dangerous and unpredictable country. So, your way didnt work, and now you are proposing more of the same?

"They're potentially dangerous and they're certainly unpredictable. But I think that if we could find some way to communicate directly with them, to reassure their fears that we might attack them, which is constantly a drumbeat out of Washington, maybe deliberately from the administration or inadvertent -- Sy Hirsh has written three or four articles in the New Yorker, though I haven't read the latest one, but he's always maintaining that the United States is preparing to attack Iran. They read those articles and they see all the other news, and if they feel that they're going to be attacked, then I think that's one incentive for them to be more militant. So, I think, to assuage their fears, and to tell them the truth about our intentions, would be more helpful."

[SolidWood]

Carter who betrayed the Shah.
Carter who let down our embassy staff.
Carter who called Khomeini a “godly man”.

Carter should never EVER again open his peanut-mouth on issues regarding Iran... or better on anything.

[50mm]

All I can say is 444 Days in Iran hostage crisis with pitiful rescue attempt. Now shut up Jimmah!

[elizabetty]

Is Jimmy Carter the only US President to authorize and invasion of (military incursion into) Iran?

[MrEdd]

We should listen to Carter. His record on dealing with Iran is pristine.

But remember his achievements:
1. He kept the Erie Canal.
2. He kept us out of war...with our allies...barely.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Jimmy Carter, please move to Iran.

[Mr. Mojo]

Jimmy Carter: Don't Invade Iran

Don't worry, Jimmah. This operation will be far more successful than the one you tried. ....not that that would be difficult. And also don't worry about an occupation -- it won't happen. We'll just take out their nuke sites and their lone refinery, sink their navy, and be on our way long before you or any of your fellow traitors can scream "quagmire."

[50mm]

Carter should never EVER again open his peanut-mouth on issues regarding Iran... or better on anything.

I disagree! Jimmah is a world-class expert on rabbits and lust.

[shankbear]

They bent him over and made him their boy. Wasn’t his administration one to copy. This guy is totally irrelevant. He is close to receiving a feckless crapweasel award. One more of his gems of diplomatic wizardry and he will get one.

[WrightOnTarget]

How many people throughout history have died as the result of compulsive diplomats?

[henkster]

Thanks, lowbridge. Just what I had in mind.

[RinaseaofDs]

I think Ann Coulter’s Doctrine of Foreign Policy applies here: Do the 180 degree opposite of what Carter advises.

[Pharmboy]

Listening to that old, buck-toothed fool Jimmah Carter lecture us on US foreign policy on Iran is like listening to the Cubs managment tell us how to win a pennant and the World Series. Sheesh, Jimmah, STFU already!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Did he do anything while he was actually IN office?”

Do you mean besides these things:
* being instrumental in the replacement of the Shah of Iran with a totaltarian theocracy, with a deep-seated hatred of all things Western;
* gas lines several blocks long;
* nuclear fuel policies that have created thousands of tons of unspent nuclear fuel (conveniently mislabeled “waste”) — rather than allowing reprossessing;
* not preventing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan;
* pardoning all draft dodgers;
* creating skyrocketing inflation (over 20%);
* giving away the Panama Canal;
* allowing the Iranian fanatics to hold diplomatic staff hostage for 444 days?

Can’t say offhand.

[doorgunner69]

I had about 60 diplomats in Iran

Did a lot of good, didn't it, you silly dipsh!t!