Jimmy Carter, Would You PLEASE Shut Up?
I have never in my life felt contempt for an ex-President of the United States (even Nixon I felt more sorry for than contemptuous of – after all, he obviously suffered from a pretty severe case of paranoia – though that doesn’t excuse his crimes). I’m sad to say that what little respect I had for Jimmy Carter diminishes every time he opens his mouth.
From an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel:
Spiegel: You also mentioned the hatred for the United States throughout the Arab world which has ensued as a result of the invasion of Iraq. Given this circumstance, does it come as any surprise that Washington’s call for democracy in the Middle East has been discredited?
Carter: No, as a matter of fact, the concerns I exposed have gotten even worse now with the United States supporting and encouraging Israel in its unjustified attack on Lebanon.
Spiegel: But wasn’t Israel the first to get attacked?
Carter: I don’t think that Israel has any legal or moral justification for their massive bombing of the entire nation of Lebanon. What happened is that Israel is holding almost 10,000 prisoners, so when the militants in Lebanon or in Gaza take one or two soldiers, Israel looks upon this as a justification for an attack on the civilian population of Lebanon and Gaza. I do not think that’s justified, no.
Carter joins fellow traveller Noam Chomsky in denying Israel the right to defend herself against kidnapping of her military personnel from her own soil.
Astounding…Carter should really consider moving to Venezuela…
ack .. what do you say to blatent stupidity?
I’m not sure I see how this quote amounts to “denying Israel has the right to defend herself against kidnapping.” Carter’s just saying that the Israeli response, massive bombing throughout Lebanon, was unjustified by the provocation, i.e., that it was wrong to punish the civilian population of Lebanon in response to an attack by Hezbollah guerillas. There’s plenty about that position that reasonable people can take issue with, but it’s hardly a fringe or outrageous position. Carter is not saying that Israel had no right to respond; he’s taking issue with the way Israel responded. That’s a long way from Chomsky.
Anonymous, you read this:
No, as a matter of fact, the concerns I exposed have gotten even worse now with the United States supporting and encouraging Israel in its unjustified attack on Lebanon.
…and tell me with a straight face that’s not denying Israel the right to defend herself. Where do you suppose Hezbollah is, in Queens?
I think you’re taking that quote out of context, Mark. Carter thinks the attack is unjustified because it is disproportionate and directed at Lebanon generally (civilian infrastructure, etc.), not Hezbollah specifically. You can disagree with that, but it’s not the same thing as saying Israel has no right to respond to Hezbollah’s provocations. Carter is merely echoing a criticism held by many people, even in Israel, i.e., that Israel went too far. Carter may be the quintessential “dove”, but he’s not a lunatic. The issue is the degree and nature of the Israeli response, not Israel’s right to respond.
Yes, well, I’m not buying it. He then immediately launches into a moral equivalence game and justifies the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers from their sovereign soil, because, after all, Israel holds 10,000 prisoners (never mind that almost all of them are terrorists who attacked or plotted against Israeli civilians)…
I can hardly be taking the quote out of context, by the way – that’s it in its entirety above in my post…
Finally, Carter knows damn well that the reason there were civilian casualties in Lebanon is that the cowards of Hezbollah hide among the civilian population. It’s an old trick, and the fact that it fooled a former POTUS is shocking…
Not a surprise that it supposedly “fooled” Jimmah. He’s also been “fooled” by Dictators like Chavez, Dear Leader Kim and Arafat. The depths of ignorance he’s willing to plumb are limitless. He’s still seething with resentment over his unanimous ouster by the American public, and when a chance to criticize his own country presents itself, then he jumps on it with all the enthusiasm of a teenager.
You’re at least 25 years late in your advice to our worst.president.ever!
Carter is right. You guys need to know that half what you read in the news or see on tv is biased and innaccurate. Those 2 soldiers that guy silly people love so dearly were in Lebanese occupied land since 1967. No one seems to understand that almost 900 Lebanese died of them a small minority of about 40 were Hezbollah fights…which many children while 159 Israelis who died were mostly soldiers….So, just look at the facts and see that Lebanon suffered $10 billion loss of which Israel should pay as they got the Germans to pay them for their losses in WWII….this war was faught in Lebanon …open your eyes and stopped being the brainwashers, blind supporters of the Zionists….start understanding the facts and know that the US needs to stop supporting Israels murder efforts and use the $3+ billion towards US issues like Katrina and unemployments and schools….READ, THINK…..and look at the obvious FACTS…..thanks….
The worst president of all time is BUSH….look at the dollar, gas prices, housing costs, the deficeit, people in Iraq coming back in body bags due to a failing war….gosh, even a kid would get it…..