Jimmy Carter - Still a Fool

Jimmy Carter was a primary architect of our problems in the Middle East.

By not backing the Shah of Iran with the full strength and backing of the US, he helped ensure Iran's transition into a radical Islamic country.

But worse, he showed the other leaders of the region that US "support" wasn't dependable. Unlike the Soviet Union, the US might drop a leader in his time of need. So why align yourself with the US? One by one, leaders of Middle Eastern countries (except for Israel) lessened their dependence on the US. In fact, it's amazing that Musharraf decided to associate with the US in any way whatsoever. Although there is a clear limit to how much he trusts US support.

In addition, Carter successfully reshaped America's image from a world power into a paper tiger -- a country unwilling to use its own strength for its own purposes.

The damage done by Carter is irreparable.

Carter was an abysmal political figure as well as president. Even in the wake of Watergate, he could not maintain control of the executive branch for the Democrats. Ousted by Reagan in 80, Carter's reign was mercifully limited.

Now, as a barely coherent octogenarian, he is reinforcing the proof of his ignorance and incompetence by stating that Israel is the cause of unrest in the Middle East.

Arabs don't tolerate Jews living in their countries, why would they tolerate a country full of them on land they think is theirs?

Israel causes unrest in the Middle East by its existence, not by its actions. Arab nations attacked Israel immediately after the country was founded -- before Israelis could do anything to provoke them.

You don't have to be an expert on world affairs to see the fact that Islamic nations won't tolerate Israel's presence in the region even though it has a biblical, historical, military (it's won wars to define its borders) and legal right (thanks to the UN) to exist as a free country.

Carter keeps making the same mistakes he made in the 1970's, recast with anti-Semitic overtones.

Does Carter think he created peace by making Begin shake hands with Sadat and give him the Sinai? Is Carter so naive that he thinks he created peace between Egypt and Israel? Does Carter not see how Egypt has continued to support terrorism in Israel? Doesn't Carter realize only "land for peace" deal the Arabs/Persians are interested in is all of Israel?

Why can't this never-was, world leader wakeup even now with 30 years of history behind him to see that the problem is the tidal wave of Islamic strength in the world that causes our problems?

Thanks to Carter, the Arab/Persian world discovered its real power was oil, not its aliances with the west.

Although formed in 1960, OPEC "rose to international prominence during the 1970's as its member countries took control of their domestic petroleum industries and acquired a major say in the pricing of crude oil on world markets" (from www.opec.org). Thanks, Jimmy.

Islamic fundamentalists know the real weakness of the US is money. Threaten our economic existence and we quiver. Kill a few thousand Americans and we'll be angry for a litle while, but cause the DOW to drop a 1,000 points or more and you're going to hit us where it hurts.

Carter emboldened terrorists when he showed them that the US doesn't have the courage of its convictions. Take over our embassy and we'll fall over ourselves rather than blow you up. In fact, maybe we'll even see your point in time.

By his actions and inactions with Iran, Carter also pointed the way for Islamic countries to use terrorism. "State sponsored terrorism" was a product of the Carter era. Iran was the proof of concept.

By funding terrorism, Islamic nations have been able to deny direct involvement in terrorist acts while still reaping the benefits. (Only by Islamic logic can they claim innocence for this.) The only good news is that terrorist organizations and decentralized management of them is hard to control. So, they spend a lot of time killing each other which diffuses some of their force.

In his latest book and public statements, Carter has shown that age and experience don't always create wisdom.

Jimmy, thanks for your new book. I'm glad to hear that some of it is plagarized. Maybe there might be something useful in it afterall.