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Former Iran Hostage-Taker Criticizes Carter Prize
Reuters via Yahoo! News ^ | 10/12/02

Posted on 10/12/2002 9:35:42 AM PDT by GeneD

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A former ringleader of the U.S. embassy hostage drama in Tehran said on Saturday that Jimmy Carter, who was U.S. president at the time, did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.

"He would have deserved a peace prize today if he had taken serious steps toward peace during his presidency," said Abbas Abdi, one of the leaders of the student militants who seized the U.S. embassy in 1979.

The students, who were trying to force Washington to extradite the deposed Shah of Iran for trial, held 52 U.S. hostages at the embassy for 444 days.

During that time, Carter broke off diplomatic ties with Tehran and suffered the embarrassment of a botched attempt to rescue the hostages.

In 1981, Carter was swept from office by Ronald Reagan, a humbling end to an optimistic presidency but the start of a high-profile semi-retirement.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited on Friday Carter's "vital contribution" to the peace accord between Israel and Egypt and his efforts in conflict resolution on several continents in giving him the $1 million prize.

"Those who award the prize have their own criteria which might be justifiable for them," said Abdi, who like many of the former hostage-takers, is now a leading voice for reform in Iran.

"We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest," he told Reuters.

Iran's government has given no reaction to Carter's award and officials could not be reached for comment.

The state-run Iran daily newspaper, however, also criticized the prize.

"It's worth pointing out that, contrary to what the Nobel Peace Committee announced about Carter's pacifism, he launched a military attack against Iran on the pretext of liberating the U.S. hostages," the paper said.

Political analyst Morad Veysi said Carter's award was based on the work he had done after he left the White House.

"Experience shows that during the time that Carter was U.S. president, he didn't show the same support for peace as he does today," he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abbasabdi; iran; iranhostagecrisis; jimmycarter; nobelpeaceprize; terrorism
We're talking an experthere.
1 posted on 10/12/2002 9:35:42 AM PDT by GeneD
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To: GeneD
We're talking a typo here.
2 posted on 10/12/2002 9:37:52 AM PDT by GeneD
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To: GeneD
..."We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest," he told Reuters...

He might investigate the embarrassing administration of punkboy, x42 - impeached former President cartoon. there was an administration which never placed US interests in front of self interest.

3 posted on 10/12/2002 9:40:30 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze
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To: GeneD
"He would have deserved a peace prize today if he had taken serious steps toward peace during his presidency,"

Point noted, Mr. Abdi. Now, why don't you take a few serious steps out of the shadows so you can claim your "prize" - right between the eyes. Goofy raghead SOB's: You're time is coming...

4 posted on 10/12/2002 9:40:36 AM PDT by MarineDad
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To: GeneD
"We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest," he told Reuters.

I beg to differ. I think former President William Blyth (Clinton) qualifies.

5 posted on 10/12/2002 9:41:00 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian
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To: GeneD
One-day news event. Let him enjoy his prize. These Nobels get less and less prestigious as they get more and more political.
6 posted on 10/12/2002 9:42:03 AM PDT by ultima ratio
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To: GeneD
"We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest," he told Reuters.

Nothing annoys me more than when someone asks of others what they wouldn't do themselves. Is this guy putting anyone else's interests before his own? I doubt it.
7 posted on 10/12/2002 9:43:12 AM PDT by Welsh Rabbit
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To: Sgt_Schultze
..."We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest," he told Reuters...

That says it all, but you are correct, Bubba should be included in this too. Can you imagine how much Bubba envies Carter though? He wants that Nobel prize so bad!!!!

8 posted on 10/12/2002 9:44:28 AM PDT by ladyinred
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To: GeneD
"We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest," he told Reuters

Well, this is a BAD thing? And has he ever put the interests of others above his own? The interests of, say, the families of those he detained?

9 posted on 10/12/2002 9:44:58 AM PDT by Andyman
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To: GeneD
This is actually interesting. Look at this:

Those who award the prize have their own criteria which might be justifiable for them," said Abdi, who like many of the former hostage-takers, is now a leading voice for reform in Iran.

What this tells me is that the mullahs haven't done a very good job. I also wonder about what role the Carter administration actually had in that drama. Did they make the situation worse? Did they cause it by their ham-handed activities?

And, is this guy one of the political reformers within the government or one of the ones now aligned separately? Very mysterious.

But I am happy to read yet another embarassing comment about Carter, from whatever source. HA!

10 posted on 10/12/2002 9:47:25 AM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Miss Marple
This is an interesting article re Carter and Iran: (Carter's Sellout of Iran)
11 posted on 10/12/2002 10:04:03 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: GeneD; Nogbad; keri
[Abbas] Abdi, who like many of the former hostage-takers, is now a leading voice for reform in Iran.

Very curious. This Voice of America article indicates that Abbas Abdi has turned into one of the pro-Western reformers in Iran; he is a prominent advocate of establishing talks with the U.S., presumably aimed at restoring diplomatics relations:

Early this year, some reformist lawmakers began calling publicly for talks with Washington. But Iran's hardline judiciary later declared calls for talks with Washington to be illegal.

Iran's judiciary has banned more than 80 pro-reform publications since beginning a crackdown on dissent 30 months ago.

Two leading reformists said in August they feared the country's ruling hardliners were preparing to declare a state of emergency to counter reformist moves to improve U.S. ties.

Karim Argandepour, editor of a banned daily newspaper, and political ally Abbas Abdi said extremists in the conservative camp were seeking to create what they called an exceptional situation.
There are, of course, many people whose political views changed from 1980 to now.
12 posted on 10/12/2002 10:04:26 AM PDT by Mitchell
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To: Mitchell
diplomatics = diplomatic
13 posted on 10/12/2002 10:05:38 AM PDT by Mitchell
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To: Miss Marple
The Communist Cubans, whom Carter gets on his knees to praise and kiss are very happy that he got the Un Noble Prize: (CUBA ``GREATLY SATISFIED'' WITH CARTER NOBEL)
14 posted on 10/12/2002 10:08:11 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: GeneD
And Jimmy thought these people liked him because they give him money! He is such an inept Polly two shoes jerk. His goodness and self absorbtion ooze from his smarmy smile as he knifes his country in the back, over and over, while doing his humanitarian house building thing for the minorities. Pandering? Not Jimmy.
15 posted on 10/12/2002 10:13:37 AM PDT by wingnuts'nbolts
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To: GeneD
>>>"We have never seen a U.S. president who prefers the interest of other countries to his country's national interest,"....<<<

Don't hold your breath Abbas!!! The adults are running the show over here now!

16 posted on 10/12/2002 10:17:33 AM PDT by HardStarboard
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To: GeneD
Jimmy Carter, who was U.S. president at the time, did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.

He gave khomeni the whole of Iran and set the country back into the dark ages,..........what more does this turkey want?

Jimmy getting the nobel peace prize means that the Europeans are still most comfortable with anyone who acts like Neville Chamberlain instead of Winston Churchill. And that it was really a hit at W must rankle Jimmy at least a little.

Jimmy gave the world so much heartache that giving the Nobel to him really diminished the already small award.

17 posted on 10/12/2002 1:36:54 PM PDT by Tom Bombadil
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To: GeneD
You're not gonna believe what they're giving Carter credit for over there

http://www.democraticunderground.com/duforum/DCForumID60/10847.html#1

18 posted on 10/12/2002 1:54:09 PM PDT by paltz
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To: GeneD
We are talking to ourselves here, Gene. You OK? #&^)
19 posted on 10/12/2002 6:35:53 PM PDT by billhilly
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