Still Ignorant After All These Years

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.

Iraq Plan - Provide Peace in the Middle East

Well, the Iraq study group has met and come up with a two part strategy for Iraq:

1. Train the Iraqi's to police themselves and deal with the violence.
2. Create peace in the middle east by giving the Arab countries everything they've asked for except the complete and immediate destruction of Israel.

Brilliant! If we create peace in the middle east, we'll have peace in Iraq! Why didn't I think of that?

If Israel would just retreat to it's 1948 borders, the Arabs would have no more complaints and there would be peace. Amazing.

The panel sees some connection between Israel giving the Golan Heights to Syria and Arabs killing each other in Iraq.

It goes to show that age doesn't necessarily bring wisdom.

Get a bunch of politicians to develop a plan and what do you get? Garbage.

Get a bunch of old, ex-politicians in a room and what do you get? Aged garbage.

Peace in the middle east is in the hands of the Arabs -- not Israel. Anyone who isn't completely clear on this is not serious about the subject.

But, the focus has been and remains, Israel.

Israel has never initiated any war against another country. Since its inception, it has only fought in self defense. Even with rockets falling daily on it, Israel restrains itself. Oh, sure, sometimes it tries to get rid of the rockets. But, when it does, the whole world condemns it.

What other country would tolerate rockets being fired at it daily? Who else could suffer what Israel has without the perpetrators being condemned? What other country would be condemned for responding to rocket attacks and kamikaze attacks by people wrapped in explosives?

"Oh, but the poor palestinians are oppressed and that is why they blow up Israelis. If they only had a country of their own. Israel is an oppressor, so it's OK for the poor Arabs to kill innocent women and children to make their point. Give them the land and there will be peace."

Israel gave the Sinai to Egypt. As a result, Egypt doesn't directly attack Israel anymore. Instead, it funnels money and weapons to others who will attack Israel. The border between Egypt and Gaza has been a major path for arms and money to palestinian killers. It has been an express lane for tools to kill Israelis since the "disengagement."

What land can Israel give to Iran to get it to stop developing missiles, rockets and nuclear weapons? Maybe Israel can give some land to Iraq too so the fighting will stop there. How about North Korea? Would they be placated by some Israeli real estate too?

How can 21,000 square km of earth hold the solution to violence in the world?

Maybe it's like kids fighting over a toy. You just take the toy away and the fighting stops. Right?

Wrong. Kids who hit other kids first need to be taught not to hit others. Whatever it takes, they have to learn the lesson before it's too late.