Carter blasts Bush; says case not made

Reuters ^ | 1-31-03 | Reuters

[nwrep]

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Bush administration has not convinced Americans or Europeans that a military attack on Iraq is necessary, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter said on Friday.

[meyer]

Carter proved more adept at killing Americans through his dithering fecklessness (e.g., the hostage recuse attempt that he doomed to failure by shirking to commit sufficient resources to it) than he did at protecting them.

I remember that incident, though I was still young enough to beleive that Americans weren't capable of electing an inept President. I thought it was sad, but at the time, I hadn't given much thought to the idea that the President could make such a tactical blunder. I've since learned much, and I continue to learn.

[zarf]

This pre 9/11 thinking has got to cease. Carter is a dinosaur. He needs to shut his santimonious trap and let those living in the 21st century deal with the problems.

[BluH2o]

I dont miss the Carter gas rationing either.

Don't forget 18% interest rates either ... this guy was a loser in every category.

[Porterville]

I used to like this guy just because my family would say, "he was a lousy president but a nice guy." Now I just hate this guy. He will be remebered for eternity as Bennict Jimmy Carter Arnold.

[sarasmom]

"I'm glad I was in diapers when this guy was pres so I can't remember him."

You sir, are more blessed by youth than you know.Certain of your elders, (under 50 is now an elder),know for a fact that Jimmy Carter will not attain heaven,if God is indeed just. Some few of us, who are uncertain of our souls final destination, have elaborate continguency plans on tormenting him in hell, should we be consigned there.

Only God may have mercy on his soul, for I am not humanly capable of that exaulted level of forgiveness.

I should know better than to click on Carter threads...sorry.

[T Lady]

So true. This is however, a rather sad development in our political system. Having functioning two-party system is what has made our country great. There was once a time when both Democrats and Republicans had the same vision for America, yet took different paths to that vision (I'm paraphasing a quote from JFK). Unfortunately that is no more. While Republicans in general celebrate individualism and true freedom, Democrats wish to morph America into another version of Europe, especially with their insistence of getting the U.N.'s permission to go to war with Iraq. It reminds me of an old schoolyard game I played as a girl called 'Mother May I?'.

-Regards, T.

[TheConservator]

I don't know. I think it might be very useful to send him on a Peace mission to Baghdad. Say, in about 5 weeks or so. . . .

[holymoly]

Am I the only one who remembers when Jimmy Carter was "attacked" by the killer bunny rabbit?

I wish FOX could find the video of that (yes, it was caught on tape.)

[meyer]

You are fortunate to have missed the "malaise" of the Carter years: inflation so bad mortgage interest rates were in excess of 15%; unemployment in double digits; the practice of buying as much as possible this week because prices were going up next week; and a pervasive attitude in the US that our best days were over.

I remember that. I caught things on the way back down - My first mortgage in 1984 was at 13.25%. It wasn't but 3 or so years later that I refinanced at 9.25%. Went to a shorter loan and reduced the payment by $75 per month (and that was an important $75; about the same as my electric and gas bills combined.

I was too young to grasp the total situation, but I remember the "attempt". I just didn't realize where the fault was.

Thank God for Ronald Reagan! His policies not only got the economy going strong, he restored the confidence and pride of Americans, empowering us for the future. One shudders to think of what we would now be like without him.

He sure got things turned around, and in so many ways. The military, the economy, international relations. He made Mr Gorbachav tear the wall down. That alone is as huge a success as we've had since the end of WW-2.

Anyone who wasn't alive or aware at that time may find the descriptions difficult to believe, but they are unfortunately true. I hope no American has to experience any president like Carter or Clinton again.

I was around, though barely an adolescent. I remember gas lines, 68-degrees, and high heating bills. The energy crisis. What I didn't realize then is how much of a wimp Carter was - sacrificing the comfort of all Americans to avoid a conflict. He simply would not negotiate from a position of strength - He squandered our military might.

[Miss Marple]

I am depressed, too! My SON is older than he is!

For those too young to remember, let me list the highlights of the Carter presidency, in which every year seemed like 7 years...sort of like DOG YEARS:

Giveaway of the Panama Canal.
Fall of the Shah, and the Iranian hostage crisis.
Gas lines and rationing.
Mortgage interest rates of 12% and more.
We were told to turn down our thermostats, wear sweaters, and NO outside Christmas lights.
Draft dodgers pardoned.
Hostage rescue disaster in the desert, due to poor equipment.
Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and in retaliation Carter pulled us out of the Moscow Olympics.
Bribes galore, including the President's brother Billy taking presents from Libya.

AND, after all of this elightful stuff (and probably more which I have blessedly forgotten) the Peanut comes on TV and gives his "national malaise" speech, in which he basically tells the American people that it is our fault for having a poor attitude!!!

No wonder when that Miracle on Ice happened at the Winter Olympics the American people were so thrilled...they had gone four years without a darn thing to be proud about!

[tet68]

Our current problems trace right back to Carter's weakness in dealing with the Iranian hostage crisis.

Had he shown resolute courage, and determination then,
we wouldn't be having to face the war scenario we face today.

Embassies historicaly used to be considered sovereign
territory till Carter let ours
be destroyed with out retaliation.

[wai-ming]

Is this the same Jimmy Carter who kissed Soviet leader Brezhnev, ceded the Panama canal, and let the Iranians hold U.S. citizens hostage for over a year?

That's what I thought.

It is no wonder the rest of the world loves this guy. He lets them walk all over us.

America never accomplished anything great by being weak, but that's what the Jimmy and Democrats would have us be.

[meyer]

Oops! This:

"I was too young to grasp the total situation, but I remember the "attempt". I just didn't realize where the fault was. "

belongs after this:

All that was topped by the helplessness of the Iranian hostage situation--a President who made one half-hearted attempt at rescue and was afraid to confront the mullahs.

[blam]

Carter is a joke.

[Ragirl]

This coming from the guy who tried to kill the stealth bomber. Nice.

[cody32127]

For those freepers that are too young to know about Carter, let me just tell you, HE WAS THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER, everything he touched he screwed up, and I mean EVERYTHING. The only thing that got us out of his mess was Reagan. The democrats are trying to rewrite history on him, but it won't work on me.

[BJungNan]

Is this the same Carter that made the case for sending a few helicopters into the heart of Tehran city to get hostages out?

Can you beleive the stupidity of that bonehead plan? Anyone stupid enough to authorize that one should be laying low hoping no one will remember.

What a stupid, stupid man Carter is.

[Miss Marple]

I bet he was even responsible for 70's fashions and decor.

I REALLY hate the 70's, and mostly because of Carter!