White House brushes aside Nobel official's criticism

Reuters ^ | 10-11-02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House says it is pleased that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has won the Nobel Peace Prize and is shrugging off criticism about U.S. Iraq policy from the head of the Nobel selection panel.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who has threatened Iraq with military action if it does not end its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs, called to congratulate Carter, who was cited for decades of work to resolve conflicts from the Middle East to North Korea.

The chairman of the Nobel committee, Gunnar Berge, later used the prize to make a scathing attack on Bush's campaign to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, whom the United States accuses of developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

"With the position Carter has taken ... (the award) can and must also be seen as criticism of the line the current U.S. administration has taken on Iraq," Berge, a former Labour cabinet minister, told reporters after announcing the award.

Asked about the criticism, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer would only say that Bush was pleased Carter had been honoured and that he had begun his day by telephoning the former U.S. president to congratulate him.

"The president thinks that this is a great day for President Jimmy Carter and an important moment, and that's why he called to congratulate Jimmy Carter," Fleischer said on Friday, declining direct comment on the criticism.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Fri Oct 11,12:28 PM ET

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, left, places his hand over his heart during the playing of the United States' national anthem as he stands next to Cuban President Fidel Castro (news - web sites), right, upon Carter's arrival to Havana, Cuba in this May 12, 2002 file photo.

[Miss Marple]

As I predicted, President Bush called President Carter to congratulate him. President Bush is a good man.

[HamiltonJay]

Bush definately has class... will Carter show the same?

[Thebaddog]

Drudge has some headline that Carter would have voted against the resolution. Whadda mope.

[facedown]

Bush judo'd Jimmah again!

[KC_Conspirator]

You got that right. President Bush has already once forgiven jack@$$ Carter for his stupid public statements, embarassing Jimmy with his grace by giving him a tour of the WH. And now he futher shames this pathetic man after he again criticizes by congratulating him.

Bush has class. Jimmy does not.

[Gracey]

... will Carter show the same?

NO. He'll do just the opposite.

[bybybill]

Jimmy Carter is a bitter old man who, to this day, doesn`t understand why the American voters fired him.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Bush definately has class... will Carter show the same?

I doubt it.

I used to think that in spite of his inept conduct as a leader, Jimmy Carter was a good person at heart. In recent months, I've changed my mind about that.

We'll see though.

[Voltage]

Now both Arafat and Carter are Peace Prize Winners!! What a great prize!

[Dr. Frank fan]

The White House says it is pleased that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has won the Nobel Peace Prize [...] White House spokesman Ari Fleischer would only say that Bush was pleased Carter had been honoured and that he had begun his day by telephoning the former U.S. president to congratulate him. "The president thinks that this is a great day for President Jimmy Carter and an important moment, and that's why he called to congratulate Jimmy Carter," Fleischer said on Friday

They are handling this perfectly.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall George HW Bush making critical statements about Clinton ...

[Gracey]

Should have been given to President Reagan or President Bush (1st). Each has done more for world peace than this do nothing President.

IMO, I hold Carter responsible for the present day situation in the Middle East. His "peaceful" attitude has caused more wars and deaths. Had the Shah not fallen to the Ayllatoha's in Iran, and do nothing Carter did nothing to interfere except let our embassy people be hijacked for many months, we might not be in this Islamic fundamentalist Radicalization mess, in the Middle East.

[Gracey]

See my comments in #13

[WarrenC]

During his Presidential years, National Review dubbed Carter, "Jimmy the Mean". He's always been a rather petty man. How must it make him feel to know in his heart that this prize has been awarded to him not so much to honor him but rather because the committee sees a chance to make an anti-Bush statement. Yeah, congratulations Jimmy.

[Bedford Forrest]

Sweden is an irritant, like a little yapping dog and BergieBoy is just another Eurotrash sleaze. And their women don't even come close to American women, and Volvo would be dead without Ford, and they sold high grade iron ore and guns to Hitler all through WWII, no Bill of Rights, insane taxes, high suicide rates, fricking square heads, crawling with quislings and spawn of quislings, generally not a great place to be or hail from.

[Moby Grape]

Bush shows class...but oh I wish Ari had said, "The president is certain that Mr. Carter is greatful to have been honored, just as Arafat was."

[WarrenC]

Agreed. President Reagan did infinitely more for world peace than any other president I can think of, this side of Dwight Eisenhower (as Supreme Allied Commander) and Harry Truman (Marshall Plan). It's remarkable that none of these presidents was ever so honored. I think it says a lot about the Nobel Prize that they never received it.

[Maceman]

I gotta say that Bush is one class act.

[Miss Marple]

Do you suppose former President Clinton thought to call Carter and congratulate him? I bet not, since he covets this for himself.

That would be my first question to Carter, "Did Clinton call you to say congratulations?" It would be good to see Jimmy squirm.