EX-PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER BACKS OUR FIGHT

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12650505&method=full&siteid=50143 ^

[repub32]

FORMER US President Jimmy Carter is backing the Daily Mirror's Not in My Name campaignThe Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the only US president since 1945 never to order American soldiers into war, endorsed our stance on war with Iraq, saying: "You're doing a good job. I am glad about that. War is evil."

Carter, who will be 79 this year, is a pariah among hawkish Republicans and a hero for doveish Democrats, frequently denouncing wars and conflict whenever they flare. He said: "There has been a virtual declaration of war but a case for pre-emptive action against Iraq has not been made. We want Saddam Hussein to disarm but we want to achieve this through peaceful means.

"He obviously has the capability and desire to build prohibited weapons and probably has some hidden in his country.

"A sustained and enlarged UN inspection team is required."

Carter said an opinion poll which rated the US as the country posing greatest danger to world peace was a "very embarrassing thing".

It was "sobering" to realise the degree of doubt that has been raised about his country's motives for war in the absence of convincing proof of a genuine Iraqi threat.

Looking at a copy of the Mirror he said: "I know the Daily Mirror, of course. I know it well. It's getting the message across."

We met at his home in Plains, the heart of rural Georgia, 130 miles south of Atlanta.

The former peanut farmer's house, where he lives with his wife Rosalynn, is surrounded by pungent red peanut fields and cotton farms.

It is set well back from the road behind a high iron fence. Secret Service patrol the area 24 hours a day.

Four Secret Service agents dressed in blue blazers and with curly wires coming from their right ears signalled his arrival.

He said: "The issue that concerns everybody is Iraq.

"The news this morning is that all over the world, including this country and Britain, there are massive demonstrations against the starting of a pre-emptive war.

"Obviously Saddam Hussein will have to comply with the revelation and destruction of all weapons of mass destruction.

"But there is a growing consensus, among other countries at least, that we should let the UN inspectors do their thing first before we start a pre-emptive war against Iraq."

Forever the diplomat, Carter was careful not to directly criticise President George Bush by name.

He said: "Some very embarrassing things have happened in this country.

"Time magazine in Europe did a public opinion poll on its website and over 350,000 people responded to the question, 'Which country poses the greatest threat to world peace?'

"North Korea received seven per cent of the votes, Iraq received eight per cent and the United States received 84 per cent.

"We have lost the ability apparently in our country to convince other nations to stand side by side with us."

He added: "I think most people, if they were asked, 'Would you prefer the Iraqi question was resolved peacefully?' would say yes.

"If you asked the same people, 'Do you think Iraq must comply with the UN requirement to eliminate weapons of mass destruction?' they would say yes.

"So the question is, how do we correlate these two yes answers in a positive and effective fashion?"

Carter has argued that any "belligerent move by Saddam would be suicidal" in the current climate of intense monitoring and therefore "inconceivable".

And he has described the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the "festering cancer and root cause of much anti-American sentiment".

In private Carter makes his views about the government known, as a friend of his revealed.

The friend said: "The former President is far too discreet to go mouthing off.

"But people round here do remember him saying, 'Our State Department never gets upset about anything unless white skin or oil is involved'. His words have rung true again."

Carter's single term presidency from 1977 to 1981 was often dismissed as ineffective, despite his greatest success - the Camp David agreement of 1978 which led to the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

This was quickly eclipsed by the energy crisis and the taking of US hostages in Iran.

However his activities since he lost office have been held up as a model for a post-presidential career. He has "waged peace", as he calls it.

A commentator once quipped: "Carter used the presidency as a stepping stone to what he really wanted to do in life."

Unlike most of his successors, Carter - an ex-President at only 56 - did not take up golf or take to the lucrative lecture circuit.

He returned to Plains and a year later set up the Carter Center in Atlanta, through which he has negotiated with some of the world's most controversial figures.

He has circled the globe as a freelance mediator in international conflicts. He has defended democracy by monitoring elections and pioneering medical programmes in the Third World. And he has built housing for Atlanta's poor.

It remains to be seen just how effective his influence can be on the warmongers. But if his CV is anything to go by he could hold the key to the crisis.

[OldFriend]

How about a poll to see what Americans think of Time Magazine?

[thisiskubrick]

Well said! Most people who remember the Iranian hostage crisis have little respect for Carter. Carter was absolutely useless during the crisis. The Iranians held our embassy staff hostage for over a year! With a prez like Bush in office, that would never happen - because any offending country would definitely regret it!

[FryingPan101]

"It remains to be seen just how effective his influence can be on the warmongers. But if his CV is anything to go by he could hold the key to the crisis."

He did a great job in Haiti, right? Will Democrat ex-presidents please leave the building.

[bigdog]

I initially agreed with this article, but then I realized that I misread it. I thought it said:
"Jimmy Carter is a very embarrassing thing”

Oh well…………

[laconic]

The Incompetent One started his administration with amnesty for draft dodgers and gave the finger to those who fought and their families. He ended it with the fiasco of the Iran hostage crisis, double-digit inflation and interest rates, miles long lines for gas, wearing sweaters to save energy, being "shocked" by the communist invasion of Afghanistan (after all, we fools had an "inordinate fear" of Bolshevism, unlike the Sage of Plains), boycotting the Olympics and ruining the sports hopes of thousands who worked for decades. Remember his ignorant brother, his sister who thought she had "converted" the world's slimiest pornographer, his wingeing wife who broke the bank on spending at the cosmetic surgeons on facelifts, his hag of a mother who said Reagan might "die first" before becoming president (he outlived you by two decades, Miss Lillian) and the wonderful scene of this simpleton at his own convention in 1980 chasing Ted Kennedy around the stage in the forlorn hope that he would acknowledge him. You belong as the spiritual leader of those who hate this country, Mr. Carter, because like your pal Robert McNamara, everything you touch turns to dirt.

[meandog]

Oh well, same old story, always shells and no peanuts from the SECOND WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY!

[Happy2BMe]

"What is it Carter and these anti-war types don't get?"

[meandog]

Eisenhower inherited Korea, and Ford inherited the last phases of Vietnam...

[anoldafvet]

"A sustained and enlarged UN inspection team is required."

As I keep saying, we are very close to sending another 250,000 "inspectors" to Iraq.

Carter's greatest contribution to this country was his "Misery Index" where he actually quantified how terrible he was making life for those of us who had to endure him. What a totally useless moron!

[finnman69]

EX-PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER BACKS OUR FIGHT

So does Saddam Hussein.

[anoldafvet]

I think the essence of his administration was depicted by the picture of Jimmy and Billy in the boat, being attacked by the "Killer Rabbit".

[Grampa Dave]

Carter has been on the payroll of the Opecker Islamofacists since he allowed the Murdering Mullahs to overthrow the Shah and to seize our embassy.

He set up the Watermelon Green Jihadists like Club Sierra to control our energy policies without being elected. In two decades, they have increased our dependence on Opecker Oil, stopped any new nuclear power plants, stopped most new oil well drilling in America and Alaska and in our coastal waters.

He deballed the CIA and his killer in charge of the CIA cost the lives of agents as they were outed with info leaked to the media.

Carter has never met a communist or a super Rich Opecker Islamofacist, whom he didn't worship, adore and enable to weaken American.

He even asked for help from the Russians to defeat Ronald Reagan. Thank God that Ronald Reagan ended his presidency.

[Grampa Dave]

Billy was not honest. He took a bribe from Krazy Kaddafi.

Great Satan would you please add what you have about the dishonest Billy and his traitor brother, Jimmy!

[RooRoobird14]

Jimmuh is starting to sound as opportunistic and self-promoting as That Rapist.

[grannie9]

Well put..

[Liberty]

The Shah of Iran was lured to this country by Jimmy Carter because he was seriously ill and needed expert care and voila as soon as he was here he was told he could not return and the Ayatollah and his minions took over Iran. It was absolutely shameful and dishonorable. I have had nothing but comtempt for Jimmy Carter ever since.

[TRY ONE]

...The Best thing about Jimmy is his pretty daughter!
hehehehehehe

[surrey]

Beautifully stated. Says it all in a "nutshell".

[Red Boots]

Could Jimmy just DIE already!

[ErnBatavia]

I always get a kick out of that "San Francisco Buffet" picture....