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Friday 21 November 2008

Jimmy Carter must stop meddling

Last Updated: 5:01pm BST 22/04/2008

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You have to marvel at the naivety of former American president Jimmy Carter. The man who gave us the Iranian revolution is now in Gaza trying to resolve the Palestinian crisis. And after meeting leaders of the radical Palestinian Hamas movement, Mr Carter emerges to inform us that Hamas is prepared to give up its onslaught on Israel if the Israeli government agrees to sit down and talk.

Hamas will deal with Israel, says Jimmy Carter

Let's set aside for a moment the obvious fact that Israel is not going to negotiate with an organisation that is committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. Mr Carter himself must share much of the blame for the wretched state the Palestinians now find themselves in by ignoring their statehood aspirations when he negotiated the Camp David peace deal between Israel and Egypt in the late 1970s. At the time the majority of the Palestinian population supported the secular PLO movement led by Yasser Arafat. But Mr Carter's failure to address the Palestinian issue resulted in decades of neglect of the Palestinian cause, which ultimately led many Palestinians to desert the PLO in favour of Hamas.

But then when it came to handling difficult international issues, Mr Carter hardly covered himself in glory during his four-year term. It was his campaign for human rights in Iran under the Shah that ultimately resulted in the Islamic revolution that continues to haunt the West to this day. With a record like that Mr Carter would be better advised to reflect on the error of his ways than meddle in an issue where he no longer has the power or authority to influence the outcome.

Our view is the view of the Telegraph, written by our team of leader writers and commentators. This team includes David Hughes, Philip Johnston, Simon Heffer, Janet Daley, Con Coughlin, Robert Colvile and Iain Martin

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Comments

As an American from Georgia, I heartily agree with
the view of The Telegraph. Carter who is from my
own home state, is a disgrace.
Posted by Julia Howell on April 22, 2008 10:31 PM
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The reason why we are laying into Jimmy Carter has nothing to do with an anti-Palestinian agenda.

What this is about, is that we don't trust Jimmy Carter. We don't believe that his approaches to Hamas are wise, and we don't believe that this is going to achieve anything for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Posted by Greg on April 22, 2008 10:09 PM
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And by the way, Iran had a democracy when they overthrowed the Shah in the early 50's. Their prime minister was named Time Magazine's man of the year.
Then the BRITISH and the Americans re-installed the Shah because they didn't like the socialist policies of the prime minister. They then helped create the dreaded SAVAK secret police who tortured and killed the Shah's opponents.
Thus, it is YOUR country's fault more than his.
Posted by Tim on April 22, 2008 9:47 PM
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Jimmy Carter gave the world the Iranian revolution. I doubt it. It just happened when he was president.
If previous presidents hadn't meddled in Iran's affairs previously, there wouldn't have been a Shah to dispose of.
Posted by Tim on April 22, 2008 9:39 PM
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Dear me, what a bunch of bigots write for the Telegraph and blog on here! Carter was, and is, a decent man. He brokered peace between Israel and Egypt. And now he is condemned for trying to bring peace to Palestine? What is there to criticise? I don't see anyone else trying to do it. If (the inconveniently elected) Hamas were to recognise Israel, then maybe there would be a way forward. For myself I have seen little evidence that Israel wants to negotiate...it wouldn't with Yasser Arafat, it won't with Hamas and it won't meaningfully talk with the presently established Palestinian Authority. And as for being a bad President, I give you George Bush Senior and Junior and Ronald Regan.
Posted by Ricky on April 22, 2008 9:27 PM
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"Evil presents itself in many different forms and guises and until mankind learns how to truthfully recognize it and stand up and speak out against it we are all doomed."

All of this has nothing to do with the plight of the Palestinians, and everything to do with an anti-Israel agenda.

It is what it is.
Posted by Greg on April 22, 2008 9:24 PM
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Jimmy Carter is trying to help bring an end to a humanitarian crisis and situation which the world powers want to ignore and avoid in order to preserve their relationships with the U.S. and Israel.Purchased at whatever price they have sold their souls.
Injustice has a price and we shall all pay for their deceit.

Living under the Israeli Apartheid System and entombed behind a new Israeli Berlin Wall, the Palestinian people have been left at the mercy of Israel as it systematically attempts to steal their lands and destroy them.

This is a repeat of the world having allowed Black South Africa to suffer at the hands of a detestable White Minority equally as treacherous ruthless,inhumane and unprincipled as Israel.

As always those who really could care less and who contribute nothing to solving anything,feel nothing,and know even less, are impelled to attack and castigate an honest man simply trying to do something to bring an end to a very bad situation.

Indicative of the utter hypocrisy of our times,the hue and cry is really about the fact that that the U.S. and Israel do not want the Palestinian voices to be heard and an independent former President trying to find out what is "really" going on poses a major threat to their game plan.

These same people who object to Carters mission accept the U.S. Israeli propaganda about Iraq and it's alledged building of a nuclear weapon and even the possible necessity of War as a means of preventing this.

Meanwhile Israel without so much as a whimper from anyone has been silently allowed to produce and amass a massive nuclear storehouse without even "acknowledging" it's existence.
In addition poor put upon Israel is the single largest seller of arms to Africa.The last place on earth that anyone should be selling arms to.Any hue and cry about that?

Evil presents itself in many different forms and guises and until mankind learns how to truthfully recognize it and stand up and speak out against it we are all doomed.

Living in an age of potential Nuclear, Biological and Chemical terrorism the real question is
"Do you really want to play their game?"

YOU are the only pawns on the board!

The Devil's disciples know not whom they serve.

Posted by Exumab on April 22, 2008 9:11 PM
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"Hamas has been very negative in the past, but they are willing to negotiate."

It's all smoke and mirrors.

Read this link:

link

The anti-Israel agenda is so huge, that it dwarfs everything else.

You cannot reason about this, you cannot debate this.

Basically, either you are pro-Israel, or you are anti-Israel.

And we all know where Hamas really stand.
Posted by Greg on April 22, 2008 9:11 PM
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It should be noted that The Carter Center takes
millions of dollars from the arabs. He was also the
worst P:resident the USA ever had and is
responsible for millions of deaths. some
peacemaker.
Posted by Stephen on April 22, 2008 9:09 PM
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Did you ever look at you own history and took
notice of the trail of destruction the english
politics left in the middle east? Is it possible that
you with even Tony Blair still walking around
there talking nonsense, in a fake neutral tone
point to the mistakes of the foreign policies of
other nations and their politicians? Is this the
famous divide and rule of the English? Try to
learn from your own mistakes.
Posted by i. veenstra on April 22, 2008 9:05 PM
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Carter was probably one of the worst Presidents of the USA.
But he did try to do the right thing.
Had he done nothing... No thing would have happened, good or bad.
He seems to have gained an agreement from the roughly deomcratically elected HAMAS to acknowledge the right of Isreal to exist.
Even the most ardent of anti-Zionists knows deep down that while Israel was constructed undemocratically, through terrorism and war and conquest, it is not going to go away.
If Israel rejects this opportunity to talk it will be exposed for what many think it is and always has been.
A State forged in terror and conquest that cares nothing for Peace.
Posted by Phaedrus on April 22, 2008 9:00 PM
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So now Jimmy Carter is to blame for the Iranian revolution, eh?

In the part of the world, problems are always the fault of someone else. No wonder they remain stuck in the dark ages.

As for the Gazans, I have little sympathy. The monster they created and nourished got out of control.
Posted by Cara on April 22, 2008 8:54 PM
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Senile version of Bliar.
Posted by MrJones on April 22, 2008 8:49 PM
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Peanut.
Posted by Greg on April 22, 2008 8:31 PM
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Don't people ever get sick of attacking others? Is this the best we can do? Everyone that is attacking Carter makes me wonder what they are doing to contribute to humanity. We should be using this resource to come up with solutions rather than recycling this old worn out drama.

The first thing I suggest is to spend the same amount of energy writing on these blogs to writing your elected officials.

The second thing is to look at the history of the Arab, Israeli conflict and ask your self how effective has the military/ suicide bombing helped out the situation.

The third thing is to promote cultural training between the two great cultures of Israel and Hamas in schools and through whatever means. This is including the press(especially the press).

The fourth thing is to drop the ego driven fear about the status quo. Someone has to "turn the other cheek" to get this thing started. Hamas has been very negative in the past, but they are willing to negotiate. If the Israeli's don't take this opportunity it will be very very sad.

Beyond all of this media driven drama, people are people. If you take time to understand what creates anger, sometimes you may be ridiculed or attacked, but sometimes you might find someone open to listen. With major problems such as hunger, climate change, gun violence in Amertican cities etc, we have to start growing up as people and stop!

Thankyou
Posted by Joseph on April 22, 2008 8:31 PM
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Jimmy Carter was a worse than useless President. Jimmy Carter's incompetence and stupidity in foreign affairs and the Middle East gave us the Ayatolah Khomeni and the Iranian Islamic Revolution. Jimmy Carter should have backed the Shah of Iran. Jimmy Carter gave us the American Embassy siege. Is the old man on a guilt trip trying to put right the apppaling consequences of his appaling Presidency ? Too right he is! Send him home! to do his penance there.
Posted by david on April 22, 2008 8:31 PM
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Actually, Jimmy Carter was the man who brought us the Camp David accord - which led to a lasting peace between Israel & Egypt - so stuff the sniffy comments of your ignorant leader writers. They have no doubt been reading too much hate-filled garbage from their far right friends in the US. Of course, Carter has to be rubbished so that they can praise the idiot Reagan.
Posted by Henry on April 22, 2008 8:29 PM
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I am only a few months younger than JEC and my professional work in GA goes way back in his past, and into some of the things he has done, and the way he has done them.

The man has "progressed from his original sense of rightiousness (his own) to becoming a freaking egotist, which is appalling.

We can only hope it all will not be harmful, or at least not for long.
Posted by R. Richard Schweitzer on April 22, 2008 8:24 PM
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I lived in Iran at the time of the revolution until evacuated in Feb. 1979. I was a great place with lovely people and we didn't want to leave. Iran had a great wine industry, until then it was not a dry country. I admit the revolution was grass roots but all the people I knew didn't want a theocracy, they hoped for a more modest type of social democracy. If the wretched Mr. Carter had stood by the Shah this transition could have been managed either with the Shah in place with more democracy or as a figure head. Instead he forced the issue and let loose on the world Islamic fanaticism, it all started in Iran. The saddest thing is that I remember the enthusiam of the young students welcoming Khomeni back to act, they expected, as a spiritual leader not a dictator. I met some later in the UK and many told of their terrible disappointment and of the friends lost killed in the prisons. This was never what the revolution was about and I don't think the people are better off now. My late husband and I had always hoped to go back one day but it is too late for him and I guess for me too. Nothing the odious Carter does can ever make up for what he helped cause and his liking for fanatics of all persuasions is undimmed.
Posted by emma2000 on April 22, 2008 8:13 PM
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Right On!
This man was a disaster that kept on happening.

Posted by Miles Riley on April 22, 2008 8:09 PM
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Jimmy Carter has been the most active ex president in recent history. Yes he has made mistakes, but who has not?
He spends his free time with "Habitat for Humanity" among other charitable organizations. At 84 it would be much easier to play golf. The point I'm making, popular or not is to never stop negotiating with your enemy or you invite nothing but violence. The US always favors Israel and though I do not believe in the political rhetoric of Hamas, it's quite understandable why there is so much anger towards Israel and America. Hamas is willing to sit and negotiate with Israel. Why can't they step up too? The strong arm tactics are not effective. Please use your power writing these articals to see it from all sides and spread wisdom rather than negative attacks on a former president. We are so lucky to live in wealthy nations. Others are not. Dialoque is needed.
Thankyou!
Posted by Joseph Hoydilla on April 22, 2008 8:05 PM
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"Hamas won the election!

Hummm... awkward."

Hummm...Telling.
They are still primative and violent.

Posted by Nancy on April 22, 2008 7:54 PM
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Carter is a naive fool, although one who perhaps had good intentions. It was ever so. He always did the wrong thing because he was weak. And as he was on the diplomatic, he was equally awful on the domestic front. Gas prices skyrocketed, gas shortages, inflation, Islamic militants defining their existence as a function of their hatred of us....hey, wait!
Posted by Bu on U on April 22, 2008 7:45 PM
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What happened to Blair? Some influence he has had!
Posted by Nick Earls Court London on April 22, 2008 7:44 PM
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surely even the 'Gung Ho' readers of the Telegraph have to understand that for any resolution of this situation to come about, then all sides must start by talking to each other.
It's a bit like buying a used car: There's what you will pay; what it is worth, and what the other side will take. But one must first enter into a dialogue, unlike the Bushites who prefer to dictate terms, rather than negotiate them.
Posted by Delta Sierra on April 22, 2008 7:37 PM
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Let's put aside for a moment whether or not
Jimmy Carter is a dupe or naive or ignorant or
correct or anything else (for we are all in varying
degrees ignorant, it seems, when it comes to the
Middle East crisis and the rest of our human
woes).

But what is extraordinary and frightening is that
such a large number of Telegraph journalists—
David Hughes, Philip Johnston, Simon Heffer,
Janet Daley, Con Coughlin, Robert Colvile and
Iain Martin—can actually put their heads together
and come up with: "[Jimmy Carter] gave us the
Iranian revolution."

That sounds like something that would have
been written in Pravda in 1980 about how
Afghanistan caused the Russian Invasion.

In 1953, British and American intelligence helped
engineer the overthrow of the DEMOCRACY in
Iran (yes, democracy), led by Dr Mosaddeq
(because it was the wrong sort of democracy).

The root cause for the overthrow? Mosaddeq's
attempt to nationalise Iran's Oil.

The Shah was brought to monarchical power (by
definition), along with SAVAK—his intelligence/
secret police.

From this event, the CIA coined the phrase
"blowback"—unforseen consequences in the
future for backing the coup d'etat.

The Iranian Revolution is at least an aspect of
that blowback. To not have the journalistic
integrity to inform the readers of this little bit of
shameful anti-democratic history while
lambasting someone else for their ignorance is,
well, shameful.

I wish you all greater integrity with the facts, and
less apologetics for deeds unmentioned.
Remember, the West claims to be in Iraq and
elsewhere "democracy-building."

Sincerely,

Pete

Posted by Pete McCormack on April 22, 2008 7:36 PM
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with or without Carter or Shah or whatever else, the retrograde nature of Arab/Islamic social order and it's failure to adapt to modernity is the reason for this global conflict.

For now there is no other solution for except for the robust isolationist protective stance, and that becomes more and more visible in multiple "wars on terror", defensive walls, immigration cuts, trade embargoes, financing limitations, and overall in Western culture. The idea is clear - no land, no money, no freedom, no life, no chance for terrorists.
Posted by Alex on April 22, 2008 7:26 PM
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Hamas won the election!

Hummm... awkward.
Posted by adrian drummond on April 22, 2008 7:24 PM
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George Herbert, but isn't this naive of you? Have a slugfest and winner takes all?

The problem with Jimmy Carter is that he made monumental blunders back then and he seeks to make amends (to his image) for that now. Meanwhile the Middle East has to sit back and watch while this man tries to salvage his mammoth ego. The situation is made all the worse by the fact that Carter pretends to be such a humanitarian.

Contrast that with the low-key diplomacy in Kenya of Kofi Annan. That's true greatness.

Posted by Kat on April 22, 2008 7:23 PM
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Didn't Melanie Philips write this piece? It certainly sounds like it. This is the man who wrote the Camp David Accords, and won the Nobel Prize for his efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. This is the man whose Carter Centre mediates and subeprevises the election process in dodgy regimes around the World, this is the man whose support of peace in the Middle East has recognised the legitimate aspirations of all parties as distinct from the appalling "Melanie Philips" type diatribes so popular in the UK and, particularly, the US, press.This is a Harvard Professor who came, not from the privileged backgrounds of those like Tony Blair,but from a dirt-poor rural Ameriican background ( read a most excellent book "The hour before daylight" written by, guess who). It is no crime to disagree with Israel's territorial ambitions, not yet than God, he appears to be the only American politician prepared to do so, more power to him.
Posted by John Wood on April 22, 2008 7:21 PM
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"view is the view of the Telegraph, written by our team of leader writers and commentators. This team includes David Hughes, Philip Johnston, Simon Heffer, Janet Daley, Con Coughlin, Robert Colvile and Iain Martin"

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I just wish they'd revoke the old fool's passport. Jimmy Carter was our worst President (yes, even worse than GWB!) and current problems in Iran, Afghanistan and the rest of the middle east can be traced back to his incompetent administration.
Posted by Fernandez on April 22, 2008 7:21 PM
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He gave us Mugabe, too (refused to back Muzorewa, insisted on a terrorist instead).
Posted by Neil on April 22, 2008 7:18 PM
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Carter is so stupid that even the lowest of terrorists can fool him. Carter has alway been "slow" but I can imagine that he is pretty much brain-dead today.

Posted by karen on April 22, 2008 7:17 PM
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Carter is a very stupid person...He always has been.

Posted by John on April 22, 2008 7:12 PM
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Swatantra, the main point about Jimmy Carter is that his heart has always been in the right place - but his actions have always resulted in bad stuff. A common problem with do-gooders.
Posted by Ken on April 22, 2008 6:57 PM
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i applaud the former president for trying. there is no current leader making an effort to try and resolve this problem. its a shame that you all ridicule the man! does Mike or Ray have any ideas or plans on resolving the current palestinian or Isreali crisis! mmmmmmh i guess not!

maybe you all feel the status quo is best!! shame!
Posted by paul on April 22, 2008 6:54 PM
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We all know what "Hamas will deal with Israel" means. It is a pity that the most religious American President of the 20th century should be so taken in. If Hamas does not recognise Israel then it is not there and it is impossible to do business with it.
Posted by Realist on April 22, 2008 6:53 PM
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What do you mean "the man who gave us the Iranian revolution"? This is western imperialist arrogance at its worst. So the Iranians dared to have their revolution without asking the Americans. Good heavens, whatever next. They'll be asking us to have full control of their oil next. If we in the West carry on in this fashion, no wonder half the world hates us.
Posted by Walter Cairns on April 22, 2008 6:51 PM
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Rather superfoicial and naive. Sure Carter cannot
achieve much, neither can Blair.Ultimately the
two sworn enemies will have to talk, to negotiate
and above all to compromise. Neither the Israelis
nor the Palestinians will go away and any idea
that the situation can be solved by insisting on
reverting to a situation that existed previously
and based on old resolutions and new principles
is fairy land. A lot more blood will flow before
both sides accept realities and do a deal. The
greatest error is for the UN and other to interfere
if fighting breaks out and impose a cease fire.
This only prolongs the agony. If it has to be
settled by the arbitrament of war let them fight it
out until mutual exhaustion compels peace.
Posted by George Herbert on April 22, 2008 6:45 PM
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Jimmy Carter - He was a jerk back then he's still a Jerk Now!!
Posted by Mike Johnson on April 22, 2008 6:33 PM
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I could not comment better,than to urge readers to read melanie phillips blog at the spectator on this topic.For my part,Carter is a moron
Posted by ray douglas on April 22, 2008 6:21 PM
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Give the man a break; he is 84 and doing a damn sight more than Tony Blair will ever do to bring peace to the region. And his heart is in the right place.
Posted by swatantra on April 22, 2008 6:20 PM
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