The Damage of Jimmy Carter
Carter's Hamas meeting legitimizes terrorism
There he goes again! Former President Jimmy Carter, acting out his stubborn, self-righteous moralism and his stunning vanity, persists in legitimizing terrorism. How else can the Middle East see Carter's meeting in Syria with no less than the terrorist mastermind Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas?
This man Mashaal is responsible for dozens of deadly suicide bombings and thousands of mortar and rocket attacks that have killed more than 250 Israelis, not to speak of the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas last June, which undercut newly revived efforts by Israel and the Palestinians to strike a final peace deal. And, oh, yes, several of Mashaal's victims have been Americans.
There is bipartisan condemnation of Carter's meeting, but Carter has a long history of support for Hamas. This is what Carter said on Nov. 28, 2006, on pbs: "Since August of 2004 [Hamas] has not committed a single act of terrorism that cost an Israeli life, not a single one."
That is flatly untrue.
Hamas itself claimed responsibility, for example, for the 16 people who were killed and 100 wounded in August 2004 in nearly simultaneous suicide bombings of two city buses in Beersheba; for an attack on September 29 of that year when two preschool children were killed by Kassam rockets fired from Gaza; for an attack on Jan. 13, 2005, at the Karni Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, which killed six civilians. And the list goes on. Carter spoke out on behalf of Hamas and against the secular party Fatah last year at the very time that Hamas thugs were throwing Fatah members to their death from Gaza rooftops.
Blind spot. Something has gone badly wrong with the always erratic Jimmy Carter. At Camp David, he effected the rapprochement between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin that led to real progress. Good work. But then he abandoned the shah of Iran by sending senior American military personnel to restrain the shah's resistance to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's radical uprising in 1979. It was poetic justice that the Islamic revolution and hostage-taking destroyed Carter's chances of a second term, but that's small blessing for us now as we cope with a worldwide Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist regime that is learning how to make nuclear weapons. And who could forget the first Gulf War? This same Jimmy Carter, as an ex-president, urged members of the Security Council to vote against the efforts of President George H. W. Bush and the U.S. and Arab coalition to eject Saddam Hussein from Kuwait.
Carter has a blind spot about terrorism. Even his history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a departure from reality. He asserts that the initial violence occurred when "Jewish militants" attacked Arabs in 1939. He ignores the fact that Arabs launched terrorism against unarmed Jews in 1920, 1921, 1929, and 1936 to 1939, murdering hundreds of Jewish civilians. In 1929, the grand mufti of Jerusalem ordered the slaughter of more than a hundred rabbis, students, and others whose ancestors had lived in Hebron for millenniums. Nor will you hear him mention the long history of Palestinian terrorism such as the Munich massacre and plane hijackings and other atrocities originated by Yasser Arafat.
He quotes Arafat to assert again that the Palestine Liberation Organization never advocated the annihilation of Israel. Oh, no? The very founding charter of the plo calls for the destruction of Israel. Arafat himself said as much many times: "The goal of our struggle is the end of Israel." No surprise, then, that Carter exonerated Arafat for the failure of Camp David ii, rejecting eyewitness accounts by both President Bill Clinton and Ambassador Dennis Ross. The Saudi Prince Bandar said that Arafat's refusal to accept 95 percent of the West Bank and all of Gaza was "a crime" and his account of the circumstances was "not truthful."
If only Carter's opinions could be dismissed as hot air from a politician losing the limelight. But he does real damage. Even the moderate and soft-spoken Israeli President Shimon Peres is dismayed at the Carter effect. After meeting him in Jerusalem, Peres uncharacteristically lashed out at activities over the past few years that he felt have caused great damage to Israel and to the peace process.
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Reader Comments
zuckerman
Stick to your Real Estate empire Mortimer. You're not a unbiased participant in anything to do with Israel. Your ownership of a news publication does not give your views legitimacy.
Shameful editorial
Don't you have any respect for our own former president who won the Nobel peace prize. Unfortunately Zuckerman u are being very narrow minded and have not been educated other than having a lot of money to push our country for supporting ur personal agenda in Israel and not being a patriot. No more of people like you making us sacrifice our sons for ur petty wars in Iraq and Iran so that Israel stays safe. We educated Americans will stop the pro Israel lobby that has made us hang our head in shame around the world.
Not An Unbiased opinion
It's unfortunate that Zuckerman gets to vent his views on US News and World Report. He is definitely biased toward Israel as are most of our media. I honestly wonder why the safety of Israel seems more important to our political leaders than our own. The U.S. could help end the Mideast conflict if it stopped its blatant favoritism for Israel. If you really want to know the facts, you should explore non-U.S. media which have a much less favorable view of Israel's occupation of Palestine.
Carter - Former "President", Always Pathetic
First, I find it fascinating that "We educated Americans..." spell 'you' as 'u' and 'your' as 'ur'. The results of a failed public education system are clearly demonstrated in that post.
Secondly, Mr. Carter's behavior in the last few days should come as a surprise to no one. Go to Google Images and type "Jimmy Carter X", but replace the 'X' with a terrorist's name. For example, Arafat, Chavez, Castro, etc., and you will find a wealth of images with Mr. Carter embracing the world's most famous terrorists. Now, do the same thing with any other President and you will find nothing.
An educated American, with a basic knowledge of history, would know that Mr. Carter helped strengthen terrorist by allowing "students" to overtake and occupy the US Embassy in Tehran during his "Presidency" and was not personally responsible for the hostage's release through either negotiation or force.
In fact, if you look at Mr. Carter's record of negotiating peace from the beginning of his "Presidency" until the present day, you will see a lack of MEANINGFUL, LONG TERM results. Jimmy Carter was a pathetic "President" and is an equally pathetic former President. I hope the Democrats are successful at starving his blood (money) supply. The educated American taxpayer should not have to pay to strengthen their enemies.
Israel
"I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you." Whether you believe that Israel is a chosen people or not, God thinks so. And Jimmy Carter, who claims to be a follower of God, is demonstrating true ignorance of the very Scripture he says he follows. Hamas is a terrorist group and are a serious stumbling block to peace in that area of the world. Dialogue with terrorists has never yet been productive. I will revise this opinion if our former president comes back with a concrete workable plan that is backed sincerely by Hamas.I wold love to be proven wrong. Until that seminal moment, I will continue in the belief that Mr Carter is a dreamer and that dreams do NOT always come true, unfortunately.
Carter has vision and courage
Mort, I think a bias is showing through on this issue. As another poster suggested above, Americans need to look outside the US media to find the full story. Our mainstream media outlets are letting us down on objective debate about Mideast policy, not to mention many other issues. Most Americans would probably be surprised to read the opinions of moderate Israelis who want peace, try Harretz.
Both the Israelis and Palestinians have blood on their hands. Since US foreign policy seems hell bent on intervening in every world affair we ought to at least be an evenhanded broker. Carter is correct to open a dialog with Hamas. We need to stop this Bush policy of acting like a grade school kid and not talking to people we don’t like. Remember, for years we wouldn’t talk with the PLO since it was labeled a terrorist organization. Well, seems that Abbas is our guy now. Isn’t he the inheritor of Arafat's PLO? It’s the outright American hypocrisy that has the entire Arab world boiling. Didn’t the British refer to former PM Menachem Begin as a terrorist in the mid to late forties for his actions?
Mort, you and your neocon friends have had your turn, and I might add you all f'd it up pretty badly. It’s time for a new day to dawn where Americans can ask "is our policy in the middle east good for America or just good for Israel?”. The sooner we can ask that question openly and honestly the better.
Hey, Bob from AZ……sorry to disappoint you, a non-conservative who can spell!
Relgious opinions
I would prefer, although I know it is not possible.. to have nothing to do with the middle east whatsoever.. Isreal with all of their monetary support from the US is antagonistic towards other middle eastern countries. That is a fact....... they can scew it any whey they want but it is what it is...
I have absolutley no religiuos affiliation with any sect ( belief ) and would hope that my children will not perish in the name of someone elses idea of god..
Religion should be a beautiful thing, but man destroys all good in it ..like they do with all beautiful things..
Jimmy Carter's doing the RIGHT thing
Yeah that's right. Jimmy's right. We, the US used to meet with the USSR and today we meet with China among many other totalitarian/dictatorial regimes responsible for many deaths. We do so to exert influence and because isolating ELECTED governments in particular does nothing for us. Granted, Hamas, after winning an election, commited something of a putsch to take over, BUT Hamas exists for a reason and it's not just the destruction of Israel. It is b/c of Israel's crimes. Ethnic cleansing and imperialism. In Lebanon, when was Hezbollah born? When Israel invaded Lebanon as they were tired of attacks from the very people the had expelled from Israel, the Palestinians in exile. Big shocker! Meanwhile, the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories live in an aparheid state in which the Israelis grab land and then pretend they did the Pals a favor by giving them Gaza. They left Gaza because there are too many Palestinians there, something Sharon admitted was the main reason himself. And Zuckerman (and his neocon pals) need to figure out which country he's a citizen of, Israel or the US. Our interests are not the same. We don't support a single Jerusalem as Arab E. Jerusalem is occupied territory and if we do (or say we'll let the Israelis decide) we're WRONG. The Israelis don't do anything for us except drag our name into the mud. Ever wonder why even our allies don't back us when we veto anything from the UN that condemns the Israelis (as with their criminal bombing of Lebanon)? Sure, it's defensive for Israel. Then why the settlements? Why the 2nd class status of your Arab citizens (land-owning restrictions and can't marry non-Israeli women from outside the state unless you're Jewish). Why more Palestinian deaths than Israelis and yet coverage remains lop-sided? Oh right, it's all 'defensive'. Yeah in the defense of imperialism. Wow, that's one helluva a democracy they've got. Not to mention doing to the Pals what the Afrikaaners did in South Africa. Jimmy Carter's the voice of reason and Mort Zuckerman helps spread propaganda. Jimmy Carter brought peace between Israel and Egypt and Jordan. Zuckerman calls people anti-Semitic for questioning our policies. Jimmy Carter has done more to help Americans (and people all over the world) than any other retired President. Zuckerman has turned Us News World Report into a rag little better than the NY Post. The Arabs have said they'll live peacefully with the Israelis if they go back to the 67 borders. So why aren't they? Simple answer, it's the land. Until we in the US understand that we're backing the wrong party we'll remain mired in conflict in that part of the world. One of the reasons 9/11 happened is b/c they are angry at our meddling policies and backing of Israel without condition. A country with more nukes than India and we're worried about THEM? They can lay waste the entire region so I fail to see why we need to support them. And the Mort Zuckermans of the world will cry "anti-Semiticism" for saying about Israel what I say about Sudan, China, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Burma and a host of other countries. I guess I'm anti-African/Eastern European/Asian then too. Wake up America, you've been fooled and made to believe, well make-believe.
holy land
it's far far worse than make believe- it's no less than a Jewish plan to make an exclusive Jewish state; where only Jews can live.
In order to "reclaim" their holy right to Jerusalem, the holy land, where the holy belong, and only they are holy - whatever that means - they have to kill all the Palestinians, starve them, pauperize them and encamp them, while they pick off their rock throwing children with machine guns, and bulldoze their orchards and their homes, so they can usurp the land for themselves. For forty years now. Then stand back and condemn the enemy for not complying. Label the human bombs terrorists - because they don't have a legitimate war machine tank owning army - get all the money and the backing of the big guns . . claim the authority of God. What a plan. What other country in the world thinks their religion should be the only one in its borders, and they have the right to remove everybody else, and that they are the superior race? Does it sound familiar? All too horribly familiar? yeah, GOD is on your side!!
Jessica Stenz quotes: "God will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you." Does anyone in his or her right mind think that Biblical Israel which is the Kingdom of God is a Frankenstein state called by that name? Actually, I believe that God will curse anyone who blesses an earthly entitiy as godless as the state of Israel.
As for media control in the US, look no further than pro-Israel elements. I wish their control did not extend beyond that. An intelligent observer will notice that AIPAC has rendered the corridors of power in DC a Zionist galaxy! Zionist whims are the commands of people that matter in DC, from the C-in-C down!!!
Logan Act
No, I have no respect for Jimmy Carter the worst president in the history of the country. The Logan Act was written to stop tratiors like Carter. Try HIM an put him away. As far as his Noble prize he was awarded it as an insult to Bush not for anything he has done.
Carter
I wonder if Carter will have a box seat and give another speech at the Democratic National Convention? You dems must be proud to have a former President and a person running for President showing what bigots they both are! Can;t wait for the speech!
a modern democrat
Jimmy is a modern dem, liberty hating, big govt socialist out to empower tyrants dictators and marxist.
These are facts based on his own results not my opinions.
He is the gift that never stops giving.
Jimmy Carter is an Anti-Semite
He always has been and always will be. All of the anti-Zionists and anti-semites posting who believe that the "Arabs will live peacefully w/Israel if they just go back to their 1967 borders" are as supremely stupid, bigoted and niave as Carter! Yeah, that's what Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, the PLO, Al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and every other terror sponsoring state and organization has been saying for the past decade, right? Here's another quote for you, "Israel should be wiped off the map." - Ahmadinejad. Nasrallah in Lebanon has said the same thing, and on and on. They do NOT want to live in peace w/Jews. They want the Jews expelled or better yet, dead. They do NOT want to live in peace w/Christians, Buddhists, Hindus or any other religion! They want all out of the Arabian Peninsula!
Get a grip! Israel has a right to exist. Arafat had at least five chances for statehood and never took them. "Palestinians" have no interest in statehood. They only want the destruction of Israel. They couldn't care less about their children or their future. Read something from Whalid Shoebat or Wafa Sultan, people who actually know what it is these Arab Muslims believe. Not what they say out of both sides of their mouths to Jimmy Carter and the gullible international press!
Carter is a traitor
I see no reason to ever allow Jimmy Carter to set foot in America again. Please explain why he should not be tried, convicted and executed for his actions. People have died and will continue to die because of this misguided man of meager brain capacity. He makes things very difficult for officials on all sides when he acts as a representative of the USA. He does not represent us. He just emboldens terror because he justifies their actions. Our current president said that those who support terrorists are them self terrorists. Jimmy Carter IS A TERRORIST! He has done far worse than nearly all of those being held in Guantanamo.
The Carter Effect
Carter is every terrorist's useful idiot. Deprived of legitimacy due to their actions, they can gain "respect" through meetings with this former U.S. President. Hamas is not seeking peace with Israel and it never has. Its stated goal is the destruction of Israel, but because of Carter this terrorist organization is now seen by more people than ever as part of a formula for peace in the Middle East. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Carter - Former "President", Always Pathetic - Continued
Hay, Mark of MA, ur spelling is grate! ; )
I spend a lot of time outside the USA: China, Japan, and Singapore mostly. I find that the media outlets in these countries find the possibility of peace in the Middle-East just as hopeless as the "mainstream" media outlets, which I don't find to be all that pro-Israel (but I get most of my news from the web). I am a big believer that past performance is a predictor or future performance. The Arabs and the Israelites have been annihilating each other for a minimum of what, 5000 years? Does anyone really believe that Jimmy Carter is going to make a difference?
Take just one layer off of this onion. Jimmy Carter has the backing of NO government. He cannot promise anything except influence. But he has no influence. His own party is contemplating the elimination of his funding. The only other thing Jimmy Carter can offer is media coverage. But, stories related to the Middle-East, Hammas, and the Palestinians, are the most prolific stories going. Intellectual honestly can only conclude that Jimmy Carter’s “mission” in the Middle-East is pointless (and probably damaging).
History will judge Jimmy Carter and he will not be on the list of good Presidents from the Democrat party (like Gerald Ford won't be on the list of good Republican Presidents).
If someone can provide a list (even a short one) of MEANINGFUL, LONG TERM results from Jimmy Carter’s past negotiations, I would appreciate it.
Bob in Arizona
Gee Bob, blinded by partisanship are we? Zuckerman is blinded by Israeli settler ideology, UN Resolutions make clear that Israel is illegally occupying land that does not belong to them. Start with 181, then move on to 194, 242 and 338 for a quick overview. Just as many Americans are ignorant of the facts in our soundbite driven culture with a five minute attention span, it appears ur also.
(I'm almost fifty but I recognize text message shorthand and do not focus on petty crap but real issues).
The fact that you have to ask why former Jimmy Carter is important to Middle East peace betrays your ignorance. You ask for an example, ponder the fact that Carter brokered the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt that has held for nearly thirty years. Camp David Accords ring a bell?
No single US President from any party has done more that Carter in promoting human rights and democracy around the world. That's why he won the Nobel Peace prize. I wonder what happened to history class in America's high schools?
Did you miss the classes last year in your junior year?
As far as the Iranian hostage crisis goes, again, you show a remarkable ignorance of factual history. In 1953 the CIA engineered the ousting of the Prime Minister of Iran Mohammed Mossadegh, and propped up a US friendly puppet, the Shah of Iran - Reza Shah Pahlavi.
The Shah violently quelled dissent to his rule and banished Ruhollah Khomeini to Iraq in 1963 and thus the Islamic Revolution was born.
This did not sit well with the hardliners. But it was well before the presidency of Jimmy Carter. However, when Carter, reluctantly according to Madelyn Albright, let the ailing Shah into the US for medical treatment, that was the last straw for the Islamic hardliners and the hostages were taken.
It has been widely noted that Reagan concocted a deal for the hostages, you may have heard of it, Iran-Contra?
And a final point to the poster who is making the false claim that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off of the map. This is untrue and has been proven untrue many times. Ahmadinejad has made many sensational claims that one could point to that suggest he is slightly unhinged and less than balanced, so there is no need to keep repeating a lie.
I hope that helps clear things up for you Bob. A little less time watching Faux News and a little more time hitting the books and you may yet make it out of high school.
Michael Hess
Editor, BBSNews
http://bbsnews.net
carter
carter should be tried for treason and deported
Zuckerman
Zuckerman is a despicable Israeli propagandist who barely bothers to masquerade as an American. He has turned two venerable American publications--US News and the New York Daily News-- into endlessly warmongering hate sheets directed against all Israel's enemies, which will soon be the entire world. Jimmy Carter has his weaknesses, but at least he sees himself as an American.
Beyond pathetic
All you people who support Carter are complete idiots. Not only will he go down as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history, he is making great strides at becoming the worst ex-president ever. I see a man who for some unexplainable reason doesn't want people to forget about him. Why is beyond comprehension. He should be satisfied to sit in obscurity and not constantly remind us how pathetic he is. It is a shame that his name is associated with such a great cause as Habitat for Humanity. His name probably does more damage to the cause than good. I know individuals who will not contribute money or time to it because of Carter. I won't boycott such a cause myself but can understand why many are.
As for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, look at the caliber of some recent winners and Carter indeed does fit in with some of the evil leaders awarded the honor. My guess is that the people who support Carter and slam Zuckerman are extremist liberals and I have nothing but contempt the whole lot. I'd like to send them all to Palestine where they can actively assist in wiping Israel off the map.
Michael Hess of NC
We are about the same age, I am a registered Independent and find both parties pathetic. But what party I belong to and my age does not change the facts.
The facts are that Carter spends a lot of time with terrorists, none of which have changed what they do (or did in Arafat's case) because of the interaction.
I really don't care what the United Nation says or does. The United States basically subsidizes their existence and gets nothing in return. They write resolution upon resolution and then the United States and its allies are asked to enforce them (and pay for it in lives and money).
I was correct that, for whatever reason, a group of students took over the US Embassy and Jimmy Carter was unable to resolve the situation. I personally don't believe that hostage taking and terrorism are acceptable methods for bringing about political change.
Thank you for providing the one concrete example of something Jimmy Carter accomplished since the late 70's. You confirmed by assertion that the list of accomplishments was very short (one item).
The Nobel Peace Prize...give me a break. I'm with Mr. Fry on that one.
The repeated personal attacks were a nice touch, but did nothing to strengthen your argument.
president carter's trip
How do you achieve peace without consulting all sides involved?
Zuckerman's wrong
I intimately understand that the Peace Process is a very delicate topic. I also do not understand what the harm is from negotiating with our enemies. I hear this word "legitimatizes" thrown around often. I really don't think Hamas or any other terrorist/rogue/communist is looking for legitimacy. In their eyes, they already are legitimate regardless of how the US perceives them. The US is stuck on this notion that we are the only superpower, and therefore, hold the keys to "everything", including justification for all types of state action, regardless if they are a part of the US or not. That type of thinking is crap, and has never gotten the US anywhere. That's like saying the US justified a suicide bombing by talking to Mao in the 60's. There is zero causal connection between US negotiations and increased attacks. At best that logic is tautological, much like the nuclear deterrence and national security dilemma.
Jimmy Carter, America, the office of the President
I'm kinda cynical and I am not an American.
However, I'm kinda impressed about a non-cynical American, who seems, in retrospect, to have been a pretty good American, and also a pretty good former President.
Jimmy Carter does not seem to be interested in personal power. Not when he was President, not now. Maybe he's fooling me, but I'd like to think, and hope, he's not. I could make comparisons with succeeding Presidents - Reagan, Bush Sr, Clinton, Bush Jr. I could maybe end up in jail for what I would have to say about all of them - good thing I'm not an American, nor do I wish to be - even though when I was younger, I wanted to be an American (and still - young or old or in the future, I don't want to be in an American jail!).
Jimmy Carter was/is one of the best former Presidents of America. Not being interested in personal power is an EXCELLENT characteristic of his, and should be a valued trait of any contender,or holder, of the office of President. I wish more American Presidents (former and current) would think that being a President is NOT a place to fulfill familial, business or religious pursuits. The office of the President should be more than it is now .... The American Presidency should NOT be about personal power or the vested interests of those who back you ... including the Party. A President should lead, but then MUST ask his followers for their TRUE support. I think Jimmy Carter listened to more Americans than any other succeeding President has. And he listened to many, many more non-Americans than any other succeeding American President has. Jimmy's listening and mediating skills are superior! Another great characteristic of a good American President!
America is in big trouble if she/it thinks any of the following Presidents were/are better than Jimmy for altruism or mediation abilities.
I must admit, what Carter is doing (now) in the Mid-East is above my comprehension. But from what I do read about, I think Carter is actually upholding the duty of the office of the President, as a good American, and as a good (but-not-perfect) former President, he is doing the best he can, in a hopefully good way, and he is trying to help stop some of the violence (or potential violence) in the Mid-East.
Jimmy Carter's O.K.! Why not let him continue ... and even support him!
Let's see what he can do!
Legitimacy
Can anyone answer what legitimacy actually is?
I think one, in the western international relations tradition, would say that legitimacy is when one state admits to an action, and another contends that action is justified either directly or indirectly.
This does not necessarily hold true in every situation and also depends on the culture of the audience. Jimmy Carter did not give Hamas any legitimacy! Palestinians are not looking for a "higher power" state to condone or acknowledge their actions. In their eyes, they are just already in the eyes of Palestinians and they are not looking for any other audience. All the other audiences that could be important support Israel and turned their back, and Hamas knows it! Why else would they support such brutal tactics? They are at their last resort. Listening to Hamas and Syria only brings a risk of a solution at this point. Legitimacy could have only come 50 years ago.
Jewish twrrorism
Zuckerman a Jew and president of several Jewish orgaizationsseems to forget that the Jewish people over many centuries in the past have overran other peoples and killed many under the pseudo claim that God told them too.
Zuckerman is a Jewush terrorist and is unable to tell the trith about the atrocties that the Jews have perpetuated against others. There is bo scape goat here to send into the wildwerness Zuckerman, you are guilty of twisting the news to support your Jewish bood
Clinton is trying to bring peace, unlike Bush who has sold his soul to thw Jewiah terroists.
What terrorism is??
This word that we name our enemies, like nazies, japs, comunists, vietcongs etc.
What Mr.Carter is doing it´s trying to talk and to change ideas with another humans like we are, they have families, kids and the best way to the peace isn´t destroyng their homes, but asking why they are doing this, tryng to understand his point of vue, perhaps we can help them to stop to hate us.
We can´t not impose the Democracy with guns, look to the Iraq adventure...we must respect the way of life of our neighbors and ask them to respect our.
the best example is Gandhi in India he win the battle against the British Empire only with atitudes and words...
Thanks
Chosen people. Not!
Jessica Stenz said,
""I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you." Whether you believe that Israel is a chosen people or not, God thinks so."
How did you conclude from this that God has chosen the Israel we know today? For starters, you cannot prove that God said that, because the Bible's authenticity is highly doubtful. And even it were authentic, who is addressed by this verse? It's either Abraham or Jacob. If it's Abraham, then the Arabs are included in that blessing and curse. If it's Jacob, then the blessing and curse are on people who bless and curse Jacob. The Arabs bless Jacob. Modern day Israel has nothing to do with Jacob. It's a military occupation of a land where the Palestinians lived since history began.
Carter
Carter's only real claim to fame is that, until the second Bush, he was universally acknowledged to be the single worst President in history and the man who did more damage to the world and the US than any other President. That title now belongs to Bush, but Carter is always attempting to do damage to the world in the hope that he can retain the worst President title.
Jimmy Carter
I find this editorial extremly biased. You speak of Arab uprisings in 1920, 21 etc. Maybe the Balford Resolution had something to do with it. These people are not just attacking Israelis, they are fighting for land that has been taken from them. You have two factions of people who truley believe that land is theirs. Jews saying God gave them the land ( which is ludicrous), and the Palestinians who have been there for hundreds of years. Lets try that one on another country. I had a revolation and God gave me this land. Zuckerman should go live in Isreal and stop preaching so one sided. You say Carter is lying. OK how many UN resolutions have there been. How many UN resolutions have there been against Isreal that are just ignored. It's a problem that has to be solved and like it or not Hamas is part of the piece process. Zuckerman is not.
An useful idiot
Mr. Carter's steps remind a similar story in Europe. It was another 'gentleman' in 1939 trying to establish 'peace'. His name was Neville Chamberlain..
Sorry to say that - but Carter is not just an idiot.
His hands are bloody in fact.
We have to thank him for the current regime in Iran.
He violated an American law several times (Castro, Iran, Hamas, etc.).
One option for him is to move to one of the federal prisons. Or (another option) his last name should be changed to Mr.Alzheimer. At least it will be an excuce for his veird and dangerous activities...
Jimmy Carter
It is time for Jimmy Carter to return to Plains, GA and remain there with
all communications cut off. I travelled overseas during his presidency as
a business person and spent much of my time explaining to foreign
business people and government officials how such a person could be
elected president. His behavior as an ex-president has only further
confirmed his inektness.
Peace? Not in my time!
The Jewish people are a great people who survivied over time, enduring horrible acts by the various races and governments sense the begining of time, That is a given, almost indisputible.... and they have struck back. Before the second World War and in the years there after they used any and all tactics to rid their selves of the Brits and their forces in the area of Jeruslem including home made bombs which hasten the Brits to move out as soon as possible. We as Americans had a Democratic man as President, one Harry S Truman who took early steps to welcome the new stae of Isarel, and so we have stood with them, and I 'm convinced we will continue to do so, come what may. Unfortunately the average citizen of Arabic decent has not been given the same treatment, in fact the families of Gaza are in pernamet refugee status,or worse. It is in their name that we MUST speak to and with their duly democraticly elected leaders and try learn how a solution can be found to end the suffering by the Jewish and Arab mothers.
I am over 80, worked as a professional mediator for over 25 years between managment and labor and we never got a settlement without the parties to the dispute talking to each other. This is what President Jimmy Carter did in the peace that still endures between Egypt and Isarel. May God bless his recent work and protect him. We will NEVER have peace if we continue the current policies of my way or the highway.
Carter
You history buffs out there should look back to the Carter years when he effectively dismantled the CIA. A lot of our problems in the world would not be with us had we known what was going on in other countries. In today's world, we should never be surprised as we were on 911.
Jimmy Carter's blame america first rhetoric and spineless appeasement is PRECISELY what were gonna get if Obama wins with Pelosi and Ried in the House and Senate. The far left loonie tunes have always been the very best hope for our enemies. Russia's Lenin knew this well when he that "western socialists were his useful idiots"
To hell with Bush, but god help us if Obama the girlie man dove gets in there.
Obama's and Jimmy Carters plans and policies are mirror images of each other.
Socialism is their goal for america. Emotional liberals see Obama as their Robin Hood. They want the goverment to garruntee them no misery in their lives.
The damage of Jimmy Carter
On one hand, I believe we should talk to anybody, at any place, at any time about peace. However, the statement he supports from Hamas appears to be based on senility. Israel should accept a 10 year peace by withdrawing to pre-67 borders?
That is absurd.
Regarding the comment about having respect for a former President - respect has to be earned, and maintained He actions over the last several years, and lack of factual knowledge has eradicated his credibility. He's turned into a complete pawn for terrorists.
Idiots
Mort Zuckerman has more then once demonstrated his ignorance on the middle East and almost anything of importance,that he comments on.He has as much credibility as Fox news.(0)
Zuckerman is right--Carter is a fool.
Zuckerman is absolutely right about Carter, and the facts he sets forth are indisputable. He well could have added to Carter's ignominy, his conduct during and after the recall election of Hugo Chavez in 2004 whereby Carter blessed the election results despite widespread election fraud, which even Carter's own people admitted was the case. Chavez was able to proclaim that no less a person than the former president of the greatest democracy on earth and winnner of the Nobel Peace Prize had declared his fraudulent victory to be valid. Carter's statements then, as now, were contrary to the truth. This "Citizen of the World" has damaged and will continue to damage the national interests of the United States so long as there are those, including the ones posting here, who refuse to see Carter for what he really is--a man who is blinded by vanity and will do anything and say anything regardless of the ultimate harm he does to his own country. The best that we can hope for is that most people will see him for what he is--a fool.
Jimmy Carter is a saint!
Jimmy Carter is being a saint by negotiating peace with our enemies, he is just doing what we all should do, what Jesus would do!
Jimmy Carter is is doing what is right ...
I believe what Jimmy Carter is doing by talking peace with the terrorists is very impressive, he is going right to the enemy of the U.S.A., and having peace talks with them. He is like Pope John Paul II, or Pope Benedict XVI, who comes to the USA and bravely speaks about various topics of accomplishment that has come about because America has found its righteousness in many ways, we have overcome our discrimination of black people, and our bad treatment of the Indians, and Pope Benedict XVI apologized for the victimization of young boys by pedophile priests, and that is the right thing to do. I believe Jimmy Carter is doing what he feels he must do to create peace in the world, to the best of his abilities, and he has won the Nobel Peace Prize, so he has excellent abilities to create peaceful relationships with our enemies, I believe what he is doing, it is the right thing to do, and he’s another saint as I see him in my eyes.
Zuckerman's Blog Entry
Let's not legitimize this type of "news". Reading what read like Zuckerman's blog entry was a few minutes of your life you'll never ever get back. I hope people learn from their mistakes. This was my first and last time reading an "article" on this site(other than checking out their "best of...rankings".)
Zuckerman's Blog Entry
Let's not legitimize this type of "news". Reading what read like Zuckerman's blog entry was a few minutes of your life you'll never ever get back. I hope people learn from their mistakes. This was my first and last time reading an "article" on this site(other than checking out their "best of...rankings".)
Zuckerman's Blog Entry
Carter has won the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Bush & Rice are best known for starting two wars, and killing millions of people.
Which is better for humanity?
The proof is always in the pudding?
Okay everyone! While I would agree in theory that you must get both sides of an argument to come to the table to begin the discussion, there must, at some point, be a commitment on the part of both parties to participate in good faith in that discussion. If Mr. Carter was attempting to gain such a commitment from Hamas, he failed.
Now what of the damage? What enemy at this point would not view this as a victory and continue to pursue its goal - which in the case of Hamas as stated by document and doctrine is the annihilation of Israel.
Who among you would advocate that for any nation?
Okay everyone, where do we go from here?
Who dies next?
Some peace prize eh?
truth is clear to hearts with love of god in it.
palestine belong to palestinians.zionist need to move to arizona and stop killing palestinian childrens in theire own land. long live palestine.Down with occoupieres and terrorist. zionists are killers of sick ,weak and defensless people with no water and electricity.Zionist would not last aday if theie victoms had the mans to really defend themself.
these illegal jews have to hide behind their nukes and american $ and wepons,otherwise wouldnot last aday,these are people with no heart ,so they can pick on people with no weopon. palestine is victorious for ever. amen.
Jimmy Carter & Obama
Carter is hurting Obama, and Obama is allowing it. Between Carter and Rev. Wright, let's hope that John McCain is elected President in November.
Carter
Most of the legitimate struggles since the beginning of time have used terrorism as a means to level the playing field. Remember those upstart revolutionaries who dared to employ Guerilla warefare tactics(AKA Terrorism) against the British Empire. Nelson Mandella served over 20 yrs in prison for necklacing(a terrorist tactic that placed a rubber tyre around the enemies neck and lighting it on fire).Menachem Begin blowing up innocent men, women and children to in a hotel massacre in the name of Israel.Israelis are called freedom fighters and arabs are referred to as terrorists. What a crock of bovine excrement!The Palestinian struggle against U.S. backed Israel is desperate. Israel has the most sophisticated U.S. supplied arms and the Palestinians have rocks. Mort backs Clinton because she has proven to be a shill for Isreal, that's the real reason she voted for the war in Iraq. Zuckerman detests Carter because at long last, we have a leader who is willing to at least question a country that has never done anything wrong. Poor little Israel. Anytime a country(Israel) thinks it has never done wrong.....somthing is wrong! As Ariel Sharon stated" America doesn't control America, Israel does". It sure the hell does with the Zuckermans, Liebermans,Clintons,McCain, etc.
Carter and Hamas
While this was written by me and published several years ago, it's as relevant today as it was then...
Peanut Brittle
by Gerald A. Honigman
Let's get something straight right from the get-go.
I'm a registered Democrat (though have voted and will vote again otherwise) and play second to few on the same environmental issues that Jimmy Carter championed while in the Oval Office. I voted for him. So I'm not automatically triggered to be nauseated by the man.
But it's when Mr. Peanut turns to Arab-Israeli issues that he totally loses it.
His "truths" crumble before any objective assessment. He has never met an Arab disemboweler of Jewish babes and grandmas that he hasn't blamed the Jews themselves for.
Pardon me if I'm not sounding too respectful, but the ex-President has been shown to be a blatant hypocrite and, despite delusions about his own self-worth (an argument could be made that Camp David Accords occurred despite him, not because of him), an outright menace to the survival of a viable Jewish State. What's even more frightening, John Kerry has mentioned him as his potential special envoy for the Middle East (not that Bush's James Baker is any better).
And now, there he was on July 26th, amid current genocidal atrocities being carried out by Arabs against Black African Sudanese just as he spoke, ranting on behalf of Palestinian Arabs at the Democratic Convention. No attempt at balance either.
Carter's vision, like Chamberlain's at Munich prior to World War II as he betrayed Czechoslovakia (allegedly over a heavily German-populated Sudetenland), is to buy "peace" for America and the world via selling out friends...this time Israel. Missing was any mention about what the Arabs need to do themselves in order to allow peace to blossom, like stopping their hate mongering and terrorism and agreeing that others, besides themselves, are due a semblance of justice...for starters. All that we heard were simply more fulminations about what America must do to help Arabs who still will not accept an Israel regardless of size and despite any additional concessions it will make. His was the typically one-sided squeeze the Jews message that he has repeatedly given.
Almost a year earlier, for example, in an Indian summer blast of hot air in the September 23, 2003 Washington Post ("The Choice For Israelis"), he proclaimed that the occupied territories and settlement issue were the main causes of Arab resentment and thus the violence as well. James Pinkerton reported similarly in the Houston Chronicle this past April. This is Mr. Peanut's standard line when it comes to Arab-Israeli politics.
There's no rest for those who care, and we are forced to repeat some key facts, ad nauseam, with the hope that they will register with an ever-wider audience. So, here we go again...
Surely Carter's aware of poll after poll taken among Arabs that have shown that even if Israel withdrew completely from those disputed areas (not "occupied Arab lands"), the Arabs would still reject Israel's right to exist. It's not how big Israel is but that Israel is that has always been the problem...and Mr. Peanut knows this. And he knows about the offers made by Barak and Clinton at Camp David 2000 and Taba which would have handed over 97% of those disputed territories--including one half of Jerusalem and a $33 billion bonus as icing on the cake--to Arafat's boys. And he knows what the bloody Arab "counter offer " has been...hundreds of deliberately murdered Israeli civilians. Arafat built that fence recently put on trial in Geneva. Yet Carter insists on prodding Jews to take suicidal chances and forsake security measures with a bloodthirsty enemy he wouldn't dream of asking others to do.
Who's kidding whom here?
Surely he knows that the PLO was formed in 1964...long before Israel was in the territories. And surely he knows that nothing has changed in the Arab mindset since then or before. Carter sees the Palestinian Authority websites, maps, schoolbooks, hears the imams calling for death to the Jews, etc. He knows full well that the proposed 22nd or 23rd Arab state--second one to be created within the original borders of Mandatory Palestine as Britain received it on April 25, 1920--plans to replace Israel, not live side by side with it. The evidence for this is overwhelming.
It's no accident that at the summits leading up to the roadmap, Ahmed Qurei'--latest Arafatian chief marionette--went on record opposing the use of the word "Jewish" along with "State of Israel." Of course, not a peep out of Mr. Peanut about this and its implications. And these folks still insist that Israel, after being made to return to its 9-mile wide, pre-'67 armistice line existence, then agree to absorb millions of real or alleged descendants of Arab refugees. The half of Israel's Jews who were refugees themselves from so-called "Arab" lands doesn't seem to register with him. And the lie that the so-called "Geneva Initiative," led by Carter's politically impotent Arab and suicidal Israeli friends, renounced the "right of return" was just that...a lie.
At the close of hostilities after the invasion by Arab states of a nascent Israel in 1948, the fragile, U.N-imposed armistice lines made Israel a constant temptation to its enemies. Most of Israel's population and industry lies in that narrow waistband. Mr. Carter knows full well that you need a magnifying glass to find Israel in a map of the region...a microscope for a map of the world.
He has frequently brought up U.N. Resolution #242 to support his position for Israel's departure from the disputed territories. Just like Chamberlain had to know that Hitler would not be satisfied with just the Sudetenland back in 1938 but sacrificed the Czechs anyway, the evidence is quite clear regarding Arab intentions in their well-known "destruction in stages scenario" for Israel. And Chamberlain--er Carter--knows this as well. Yet, while he's been a bit more careful in his wording of late, he still implies that a virtually total Israeli withdrawal is required by 242. That's what his continuous rants about occupation and settlements are all about.
Nations have acquired territories, toppled governments, and such thousands of miles away from home in the name of their own security, but Mr. Carter can't seem to figure out that Israel's 9-mile wide, artificially-imposed existence (the '49 armistice lines were never meant to be final borders) was a travesty of justice in desperate need of rectification.
Whatever the size or shape the proposed additional Arab state might eventually be, it must not come at the expense of security of the sole, miniscule state of the Jews.
In the aftermath of the 1967 Six Day War Israel was forced to fight after it was blockaded at the Straits of Tiran and other life-threatening hostile acts, U.N. Resolution #242 did not demand that Israel return to the status quo ante. The architects of that resolution such as Eugene Rostow, Arthur Goldberg, and others all stressed quite the contrary, and their views are readily accessible.
242 called, instead, for the creation of "secure and recognized borders" to replace those fragile armistice lines. There is no way that Carter cannot know this, yet he pretends to be deaf, dumb, and blind because it goes counter to his own "vision." Most of Israel's settlements have been built on strategic high ground areas for this reason. Even with these left in place, Israel's width goes from 9 miles up to perhaps around twenty in that waist bordering the West Bank/Judea and Samaria. Most people in America drive further than that just to go to work. Any roadmap discussions must continue to take this into account. Those currently involving the debate over the path of the security fence are particularly relevant. While compromises are in order, Carter's demands, advice, or whatever on this issue (like that of the recent UN politicized mouthpiece, the International Court of Justice) are not. His brother Billy made lots of money endearing himself to Arab oil folks. I haven't checked Mr. Peanut's records yet myself, but I've been told he has received plenty of Arab donations for his views. On this issue, however, in all fairness, he certainly couldn't be worse than the Bushes and their own closest friends and political allies. Best buddy James Baker's law firm, for example, represents the Saudis in this country.
Carter speaks of the territories as if Palestinian Arabs (many of whom were newcomers-- settlers-- themselves in Palestine) had exclusive rights there. Contrary to popular current protestations, these are not "occupied Palestinian Arab lands."
Leading scholars such as William O'Brien, Rostow, and others have pointed out that these lands were non-apportioned areas of the Mandate, and all residents--Arabs, Jews, etc.--had the right to live there. Indeed, Jews had lived and owned land in Judea and Samaria until their earlier massacres by Arabs. And Mr. Carter knows this too...as he does the writings of the so-called "moderates" like the late showcased Faisal Husseini whose goal was/is still a purely Arab Palestine from the River to the Sea.
Indeed, the "moderates" of the good cop/ bad cop game the Arabs have played to gain concessions from the Jews speak in terms of temporary, meaningless concessions to the Jews as the Trojan Horse that will be used to deliver the final prize, Arafat's modern professed version of the "Peace of the Quraysh." The latter were the pagan tribe the Muslim Prophet, Muhammad, made a temporary truce with until he gained the position and strength to deliver the final blow. Talk of a new "truce" with Arafat falls into this same category. Arabs offer this hudna while expecting Israel to yield to all of their demands.
So it's time to call it what it really is...
Jews have repeatedly offered Arabs reasonable compromises and an honorable way out of this bloody mess. It is Arabs who have rejected all of these. The plain truth is that any solution which is not another Final Solution will not be acceptable to Arabs...at least those with both the real power and the power to influence their own captive masses. And Mr. Peanut knows this too...which makes what he says and does even light years worse.
Carter's constant demand that Israel cave in to such above hogwash is nothing short of hostile intent on his part towards the Jewish State. He expects no others to bare their necks so freely to their sworn murderous enemies as he does Jews. Indeed, the prospect of him having any influence over a potential Democrat in office is frightening.
When I see Mr. Peanut show the same concern over the plight of millions of Blacks in Africa, who have been slaughtered, enslaved, turned into refugees, and the like, or that of some thirty million perpetually victimized, stateless Kurds, who have suffered likewise in the name of the Arab nation, as he does for creating a 22nd state for Arabs (on the ashes of Israel...but fear not, he'll give a proper southern gentleman's eulogy), then I might give any credence to what he says again.
For now, his blatant hypocrisy and double standards vis-à-vis Jews and Israel simply make him a spokesman for the Arab cause.
Furthermore, knowing what his politics are like and that he has become a virtual attack dog on Israel, the Democrats had surely figured out beforehand what words of wisdom he was likely to spout as he was showcased at their convention on July 26th. And this, unfortunately, perhaps also says something as well.
Carter Deserves Nobel Prize for Ridiculousness!
Apparently, the only President with more clear-cut failures while in office than George W. cannot stand not being at the center of attention. You remember- 16% inflation; repeated oil shortages; American hostages humiliated by Iranian terrorists while the military couldn't even land helicopters in Iran due to lack of maintenance...Yep, the peanut farmer turned physicist elected President, and then thrown out of office due to sheer incompetence.
The Lord knows that Jim-bo has always had good intentions, er...usually, sort of...His good intentions tend to get Americans taken hostage or killed, but what the heck! Carter, now so starved for attention, is happy to look a terrorist murderer in the eyes and joyously declare peace in our time. Hugging and kissing Hamas killers like an imbecile or a traitor (or both!).
Perhaps it is time for Carter to negotiate with Al-Qaeda? I suggest a trip to the far reaches of Pakistan. Maybe he'll grin at us and proclaim peace even as they saw off his infidel head on CNN. Then, we can endure crocodile tears at a big state funeral for a visionary who was blind to pure evil. Perhaps the Non-reverend Wrong [I mean Wright] could take time out from his busy schedule of damning America to eulogize Carter? He'd be in appropriate company!
God is on ALL sides
When there is no rational justification for divisiveness and violence, religion steps in to fill the void.
Carter simply shows common sense enough to talk with any and all who would otherwise resort to force over diplomacy. And, for the record, it doesn't take a personal relationship with Jesus or allegiance to any diety (real or imagined) to figure that one out.
Carter
You can only negotiate peace by talking; bombing and killing just create more hate. Our current administration is impotent and incompetent. Zuckerman is way off base and I'm surprised U.S News puts up with his shenanigans. By the way "W" will probably be regarded as the worst pres.
The Damage of Mort Zuckerman
There he goes again! Mort Zuckerman, in stubborn, self-righteous moralism, and stunning prejudice, persists in legitimizing state terrorism. The Holy Land’s soil has been stained red by assassinations by rockets from Apache helicopters as well as by screws and TNT. Something has gone badly wrong with the always-erratic Mort Zuckerman. Using his prestige to whitewash brutal violence beginning with the Haganah, the Stern Gang, and Irgun into the occupation by the Israeli Defense Force of territory won by war 40 years ago, he guarantees the future will be more of the bloody present. Up until 80 years ago, Jews, Muslims and Christians co-habited peacefully in Palestine. There’s every reason why they need to regain this harmony. Hardening of the categories through vitriol and name-calling is a dead end on the roadmap
to peace.
Former president Jimmy Carter’s courageous visit to all of the stakeholders in the peace process has brought a major new offer by Hamas’ leader, Mashaal. If the Israeli army will withdraw to the 1967 boundaries and evacuate the thousands of squatters in the occupied territory, Hamas pledges a ten year truce. This is a tacit resignation of the fundamental right of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes and olive groves confiscated by Israel in 1948 without compensation or even “thank you”. It is the “two state solution” which Israel claims to support, however, the “facts on the ground” suggest otherwise as demonstrated by the intransigence of their Prime Minister, Olmert, who refused to meet with Carter.
The peace process is difficult enough without Zuckerman’s one-sided diatribes. Suggest something new like a Middle East Nuke Free Zone, A UN peacekeeping force, Jerusalem as an international city, or supporting Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace <www.btvshalom.org> --anything to get the living beyond the endless revenge of the dead.
Zuckerman Doesn't Get It...
I want to personally thank the Courier and Cal Thomas for keeping alive their concern over Jimmy Carter who Editor-in-Chief of "U.S. News and World Report", Mortimer B. Zuckerman also condemned in his latest publication.
"The Damage of Jimmy Carter" is of particular concern to these media foreign policy 'experts'. They cannot see how anyone can "see Carter's meeting in Syria with ... the terrorist mastermind Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas" other than "stubborn, self-righteous moralism... stunning vanity... legitimizing terrorism." Without a documented fact, Thomas reveals "Carter has a history of believing murderous thugs." He instead proclaims "Carter doesn't get it."
Unfortunately for all of us, Cal, Mortimer and too many of the media themselves, just do not get it.
Zuckerman declares Carter's "ill-informed activities in the Middle East are doing real harm." The esteemed editor would do well to examine what the current U.S. president has done by his own "ill-informed activities" to those people who are not already dead in the Middle East.
Thomas jots a "memo to Carter: Dictators lie and so do totalitarian groups..." MEMO TO CAL: COUNT THE LIES THIS PRESIDENT, V.P. AND RESIGNED ADMINISTRATION COLLEAGUES HAVE SPEWED ON THE U.S. AND WORLD. Should he even begin to count the GWB lies, he will know our own leaders are just as capable and very likely more so, as the "evil people" the writer so despises.
Carter does have a "blind spot" as Zuckerman says, though it is about the terrorists, and not "terrorism".
Carter happens to not only believe but is acting on what he reads in biblical teaching about loving one's enemies. Thomas shares his theological expertise by noting "such an act is supposed to soften the heart of the enemy." So much for his depth in scriptural understanding.
- 2 –
-
This scripture is not about the enemy. It is about what each who accepts scripture is to do regardless of what "the enemy" does. Because loving one's enemies is the most difficult thing to do in thought and action, most of us just don't even try to get it. We just cannot understand that it is a transforming act for those who do. Just as it was for the Christ who initiated Christian thought and practice.
Christ loved his enemies and look what it got him. Had he picked up the sword to defend himself, what exactly would he have accomplished? We know Peter was tempermental enough to be right behind cutting off more than the ear of a soldier. No doubt, we would instead have another historically sketch about hatred and war in the Middle East.
Christ knew there was more to life than violent conflict to help us learn to live and solve our differences. How many of us will accept such consequences and still act on that teaching as Jimmy Carter has done?
Carter gets it. Gandhi got it. Martin Luther King, Jr. got it. Many more get it, though all too obviously, not nearly enough.
Nonviolence is the only thing which will create peace. War and killing do not make the enemy lay down weapons, except under threat and then only with hatred and intent to continue the violence whenever possible. Killing does not create meaningful relationships with the rest of the deceased's family. Until that hatred is let go, released and replaced with unconditional love for the person, not the act, we still will not get it.
That kind of extraordinary love does let the enemy know there is no threat of reprisal. Conversation, dialogue, compromise, negotiation, cooperation and statesmanship however, have ways of creating meaningful relationships so every side is included and all receives benefits, rather than extinction. Everyone has the right to live and if one really believes in the sanctity of life, a terrorist act cannot reduce in the mind of that believer the truth of every person’s right to life.
Terrorism disappoints, distresses and should be condemned. However, to sentence any person to death is to demand the power of the Creator, God Almighty, Yahweh, Allah, et.al. This cannot be assumed by a U.S. President, media columnist or any one of us without losing the very real and practical meaning of this biblical teaching.
James McMillin
Zuckerman Doesn't Get It...
I want to personally thank the Courier and Cal Thomas for keeping alive their concern over Jimmy Carter who Editor-in-Chief of "U.S. News and World Report", Mortimer B. Zuckerman also condemned in his latest publication.
"The Damage of Jimmy Carter" is of particular concern to these media foreign policy 'experts'. They cannot see how anyone can "see Carter's meeting in Syria with ... the terrorist mastermind Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas" other than "stubborn, self-righteous moralism... stunning vanity... legitimizing terrorism." Without a documented fact, Thomas reveals "Carter has a history of believing murderous thugs." He instead proclaims "Carter doesn't get it."
Unfortunately for all of us, Cal, Mortimer and too many of the media themselves, just do not get it.
Zuckerman declares Carter's "ill-informed activities in the Middle East are doing real harm." The esteemed editor would do well to examine what the current U.S. president has done by his own "ill-informed activities" to those people who are not already dead in the Middle East.
Thomas jots a "memo to Carter: Dictators lie and so do totalitarian groups..." MEMO TO CAL: COUNT THE LIES THIS PRESIDENT, V.P. AND RESIGNED ADMINISTRATION COLLEAGUES HAVE SPEWED ON THE U.S. AND WORLD. Should he even begin to count the GWB lies, he will know our own leaders are just as capable and very likely more so, as the "evil people" the writer so despises.
Carter does have a "blind spot" as Zuckerman says, though it is about the terrorists, and not "terrorism".
Carter happens to not only believe but is acting on what he reads in biblical teaching about loving one's enemies. Thomas shares his theological expertise by noting "such an act is supposed to soften the heart of the enemy." So much for his depth in scriptural understanding.
-
This scripture is not about the enemy. It is about what each who accepts scripture is to do regardless of what "the enemy" does. Because loving one's enemies is the most difficult thing to do in thought and action, most of us just don't even try to get it. We just cannot understand that it is a transforming act for those who do. Just as it was for the Christ who initiated Christian thought and practice.
Christ loved his enemies and look what it got him. Had he picked up the sword to defend himself, what exactly would he have accomplished? We know Peter was tempermental enough to be right behind cutting off more than the ear of a soldier. No doubt, we would instead have another historically sketch about hatred and war in the Middle East.
Christ knew there was more to life than violent conflict to help us learn to live and solve our differences. How many of us will accept such consequences and still act on that teaching as Jimmy Carter has done?
Carter gets it. Gandhi got it. Martin Luther King, Jr. got it. Many more get it, though all too obviously, not nearly enough.
Nonviolence is the only thing which will create peace. War and killing do not make the enemy lay down weapons, except under threat and then only with hatred and intent to continue the violence whenever possible. Killing does not create meaningful relationships with the rest of the deceased's family. Until that hatred is let go, released and replaced with unconditional love for the person, not the act, we still will not get it.
That kind of extraordinary love does let the enemy know there is no threat of reprisal. Conversation, dialogue, compromise, negotiation, cooperation and statesmanship however, have ways of creating meaningful relationships so every side is included and all receives benefits, rather than extinction. Everyone has the right to live and if one really believes in the sanctity of life, a terrorist act cannot reduce in the mind of that believer the truth of every person’s right to life.
Terrorism disappoints, distresses and should be condemned. However, to sentence any person to death is to demand the power of the Creator, God Almighty, Yahweh, Allah, et.al. This cannot be assumed by a U.S. President, media columnist or any one of us without losing the very real and practical meaning of this biblical teaching.
Is he Carter I or Obama II?
As Ronald Reagan said "There he goes again" - Carter is giving legitimacy to terrorists who not only want to destroy Israel, but also the American way of life.
His clone is called: Barack H. Obama.
I support the legislative initiative by the Congressmoman from Georgia to permanently revoke his passport and let Carter sit in plains and rot.
His presidency was bad enough, but his myopic and delusional 'personal, egotistical diplomacy' is an utter disaster for America.
Pres. Carter. the brave hero.
Mr. Zuckerman; ever heard of the Stern Gang and the Irgun? just a small organized segment of the Zionist terrorist movement that led to the takeover of Palestine??
Now that you've got what YOU wanted, you don't like terrorists anymore?
And we Americans must pay for and die for your illegal little faux-country?
Zionists are so unfair. When will there be justice for the Palestinians, when will they get their homes and lands bac
Shoot the SOB as a Traitor
Screw these bleeding heart liberals who sanctify killers.Carter and his failed presidency trying to gain a legacy by kissing up to terrorists is an affront to me as a Veteran. Don't let the SOB back in our country.Let him grow peanuts for Hamas!
Apr 18, 2008 14:40:16 PM [permalink] [report comment]