http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18759682/

Like Mr. Carter is in any position to grade other administrations on anything.

Herb

ex presidents rarely outlash at an existing president like this. carter rated reagan, bush 1 and nixon above bush 2.

one wonders if bush has a nobel prize in store for him down the road. carter has one.

I liked Jimmy "Peanut" Carter and Billy Beer!

I agree with President Carter about President Bush, but have to admit I've said equally horrible things about President Carter, too.

I do agree with Carter's sentiments however he is getting a dose of the very medicine he handed out. Carter is smarter than that.

Herb should be pleased that Carter felt Nixon's foreign policy was better than the current administrations.

And what is the Bush Administarttion response?

Labeling Carter as "increasingly irrelevant".

This from an administration at 28% approval rating.

Who's "increasingly irrelevant"?

Nixon was the best foreign policy president ever, so saying his foreign policy is better than President Bush's, is like saying Ruth was a better hitter than Mantle.

Are you people brain dead? Carter is correct. Look at Bush II's record. The guy is a disaster, other presidents, of both parties, all look great in comparison. And still, very few have the balls to speak out against him. Bravo, Jimmy!

The VERY BEST thing you can say about Bush II foreign policy is that it's incompetent.

That's really sad.

I did not know he actually had a foreign policy...I thought he was making this shit up as he goes!

Hey Dick....lets play the Game of Life....spin the wheel and see where we go!

"increasingly irrelevant"

There is hardly anyone on the planet that knows more about what it is like to be "increasingly irrelevant" than the current president. So if Bush says Carter is "increasingly irrelevant", then we ought to consider it . . . (and dismiss it!)

Irelevant, the guy with his finger on the nuclear button, that can give orders and hundreds of thousands of troops respond to? the guy who can send carrier Battle groups anywhere on the seas?

You may not like his foreign policy, but it is effective.

"You may not like his foreign policy, but it is effective."

To what end?

As Nwokie so adroitly pointed out, with all this Bush bashing, at least Mr. Nixon is given his due as a fine president on international matters.

Herbert Milhous Nixon VIII

How effective? Iraq is not now a threat to US interests, Afghanistan no longer houses terrorist training bases. The mideast has been relatively peaceful.

"The mideast has been relatively peaceful."

Now I understand your perspective. Controlled Chaos.


As nwokie used as an excuse for global warming another thread, I'd like to point out there was never enough "evidence" that Iraq was a threat to U.S. interest. There certainly weren't any evidence about WMDs.

So why do you BLINDLY support Bush on Iraq with Bush having next to zero evidence to back his claims up, while at the same time, believe there isn't enough evidence on global warming?

Lord knows global warming is a threat to US interests -- a lot more than saddam was.

There was undisputable proof, Iraq was a thereat to US interests. He had already invaded Kuwait once, he refused to abide by the armstice he had agreed too.

Lets see, Bush1 downgraded Saddam's army capability multifold, Clinton made sure Saddam couldn't have an air force. What was it that scared Bush causing him to pee his pants and lie to Americans about that "threat to US interests?" Both Bush1 and Clinton managed to keep him in check and control their bladders.

Either you're a fraidy cat or bully to use that line of argument. As a result, we have this mess in iraq. Thank you very much.

"Lieutenant James Earle Carter, Jr., USN

James Earle (Jimmy) Carter, Jr., who in 1976 became the fifth consecutive President with prior Navy service, was born in Plains, Georgia on 1 October 1924, to Lillian Gordy and James Earle Carter. Carter grew up in a rural atmosphere and attended public schools. Graduating from Plains High School in 1941, he attended Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, Georgia. After a year there, Carter transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology to study mathematics for a year in order to qualify for the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1943, Carter received an appointment to the academy and became a member of the Class of 1947. After completing the accelerated wartime program, he graduated on 5 June 1946 with distinction and obtained his commission as ensign.

After he graduated, Carter was stationed at Norfolk and assigned to USS Wyoming (E-AG 17), an older battleship that had been converted into a floating laboratory for testing new electronics and gunnery equipment. On Wyoming, Carter served as radar officer and CIC officer. Detached when Wyoming was decommissioned on 23 July 1947, he was assigned that day to another similarly used battleship, USS Mississippi (E-AG 128) as Training and Education Officer. After completing two years of surface ship duty, Carter chose to apply for submarine duty. Accepted, he began the six-month course at the U.S. Navy Submarine School, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut from 14 June to 17 December 1948.

Upon completion of the course, Carter was assigned to USS Pomfret (SS 391) based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he reported on board on 29 December. Pomfret left on a simulated war patrol to the western Pacific and the Chinese coast on 4 January 1949. On board, Carter qualified in a submarine on 4 February, and served as Communications Officer, Sonar Officer, Electronics Officer, Gunnery Officer and Supply Officer. On 9 March, he served as the approach officer for a simulated torpedo firing at target ships, and scored a "hit." The submarine returned to Pearl Harbor on 25 March. Soon after Carter's promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade on 5 June 1949, Pomfret was sent in July to San Diego where the submarine operated along the California coast.

Detached from Pomfret on 1 February 1951, Carter was assigned as Engineering Officer for the precommissioning detail for USS K-1 (SSK 1). K-1, the first postwar submarine built, was under construction by Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut. After K-1's commissioning on 10 November 1951, Carter served as Executive Officer, Engineering Officer, and Electronics Repair Officer. During this tour he also qualified for command of a submarine.

When Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (then a captain) started his program to create nuclear powered submarines, Carter wanted to join the program and was interviewed by Rickover. On 1 June 1952, Carter was promoted to Lieutenant. Selected by Rickover, Carter was detached on 16 October 1952 from K-1 for duty with the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Reactor Development in Schenectady, New York. From 3 November 1952 to 1 March 1953, he served on temporary duty with the Naval Reactors Branch, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, DC to assist "in the design and development of nuclear propulsion plants for naval vessels."

From 1 March to 8 October, Carter was preparing to become the engineering officer for the nuclear power plant to be placed in USS Seawolf (SSN 575), one of the first submarines to operate on atomic power. He assisted in setting up training for the enlisted men who would serve on Seawolf. During this time his father became very sick and died in July 1953. After his father's death in 1953, Carter resigned from the Navy to return to Georgia to manage the family interests. Carter was honorably discharged on 9 October 1953 at Headquarters, Third Naval District in New York City. On 7 December 1961, he transferred to the retired reserve with the rank of Lieutenant at his own request."
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq60-14.htm

"Carter worked hard to combat the continuing economic woes of inflation and unemployment. By the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in percentage of the gross national product. Unfortunately, inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short recession.

Carter could point to a number of achievements in domestic affairs. He dealt with the energy shortage by establishing a national energy policy and by decontrolling domestic petroleum prices to stimulate production. He prompted Government efficiency through civil service reform and proceeded with deregulation of the trucking and airline industries. He sought to improve the environment. His expansion of the national park system included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands. To increase human and social services, he created the Department of Education, bolstered the Social Security system, and appointed record numbers of women, blacks, and Hispanics to Government jobs.

In foreign affairs, Carter set his own style. His championing of human rights was coldly received by the Soviet Union and some other nations. In the Middle East, through the Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped bring amity between Egypt and Israel. He succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. Building upon the work of predecessors, he established full diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and completed negotiation of the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jc39.html


"Carter has been involved in a variety of national and international public policy, conflict resolution, human rights and charitable causes. He established the Carter Center in 1982 in Atlanta to advance human rights and alleviate unnecessary human suffering. The center promotes democracy, mediates and prevents conflicts, and monitors the electoral process in support of free and fair elections. The center also works to improve global health through the control and eradication of diseases such as Guinea worm disease, malaria, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis. A major accomplishment of the Carter Center has been the elimination of 99.5% of cases of Guinea worm disease, a debilitating parasite that has existed since ancient times, from more than 3.5 million cases in 1986 to fewer than 11,000 cases in 2005.

He and his wife are also well-known for their work as volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, a program that helps low income working people to build and purchase their own home.

Carter was the third U.S. President, after Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In his Nobel Lecture, Carter told the European audience that U.S. actions after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the 1991 Gulf War, like NATO itself, was a continuation of President Wilson's doctrine of collective security. In addition, President Carter is a recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter

Who is this shrub guy again?

What was it the scared Bush?

Oil being traded in euros.

Iraq couldnt have an air force? Those 100+ Mig 23, mig29 and other assorted attack aircraft were just a mirage? Well some were mirages, but the real kind.

This war was about oil. Saddam was a threat, but not really the military kind. He could start trading in euros, thus starting the decline of the petrodollar. That's happening now anyway and guess who started it?

Iran!

Gosh, the military is bloated with brave Democrats serving overseas who later go on to run the country.

Don't they know you can still run the country with deferrals and stateside suspensions?

KSKD, the petrodollar -- is that the WMD nwokie is referring to?

I think it is.

I've got an image burned in my mind. Standing in my father in laws house, turned to look at the TV and on the scrolling bar of terror was:

"THE REGIME IS THE WEAPON OF MASS DESCTRUCTION". Came out once, on some Iraq report. Can't remember which network. I think it was FOX. Not all of them had the little info bar at the bottom of the screen.

That was the exact time and place where I realized I had been lied to.

Prior to that time, I was largely ok with the war efforts. I, along with most people I knew, were focused on the threat and still thinking huge about 9/11, Bin Laden, etc... It all mingled together, until that phrase went by.

Took some time afterword to sort it out, but I started to question on that day. Why put that on the TV, if there were WMDs. If there were no WMDs, why tell us that instead of telling us the real reason? It goes down from there.

Carter has done more good for more people than the entire Bush family has or ever will. He is a great American.

Carter's post Presidency life has been something I would aspire to. He has physically helped people on a scale that is hard to match.

The tradition has been for former presidents to stay mum about the deeds or misdeeds of a current president (Bill Clinton has been good about this), so you have to imagine how bad things must be for Carter to speak up on this one. And having been president, Carter knows a shitload more about the job, it'd demands, and the pressures involved than any of us ever will. If anyone has authority to criticize Bush it is Carter, Clinton, and Poppa Bush.

The most amusing comment to come out of this story was to hear Bush's PR guy remind Carter the importance of choosing the right words.

No doubt he missed the irony of that comment.

"Iraq is not now a threat to US interests, Afghanistan no longer houses terrorist training bases. The mideast has been relatively peaceful."

What war are you paying attention to, sir? Iraq is MORE of a threat to US interests now than it was before, and it is occupied by the US! Dude, they are killing US! And it's OUR DOING!

And the mideast has been relatively peaceful? Ummm Israel is bombing Hamas into the stone ages again. Iran is rattling its sabres again. We have this whole darned Iraq mess. Yeah, that's really freakin' peaceful.

I am not a fan of the Carter Presidency by any stretch. A man who meant well but lacked the testicular fortitude to push on certain areas. That said, Carter is one of the best human beings on the planet, and his post-Presidency work is something that ALL people should admire and strive to achieve. Carter has never had an ill will thought against anyone - somewhat of a detriment as a President during the Cold War especially but on a personal level, very admirable.

George W. Bush could only hope to be a fraction of the human being Jimmy Carter is.

By that reasoning, the day Soviet tanks rolled into Berlin, the US and Soviets, should have sent their men and equipment home, after all by then Germany wasnt a threat to either.

Instead we spent how many years in Germany?

At least 66. Counting through to this year.

Nwokie - we were RECONSTRUCTING Germany. They also surrendered, to a multinational force, unconditionally. There wasn't sectarian violence, there wasn't guerrilla warfare tactics against the Allies, there was no revolt. It was a just ending to what was a just war. Germany went for a power grab, an imperical path, and lost. They lost, laid down their arms, and started putting the pieces back together with the help of the Allies.

There ARE NO ALLIES in Iraq. We are very much the lone wolf here, without the support of the world. We aren't reconstructing, we are destroying. We never got an official article of unconditional surrender, they continue to fight us. No laying down of the arms here. They didn't invade anyone to start this conflict, **WE** were the invaders. **WE** are the ones in an unjust war, started under unjust and false pretenses, and continued along with lies and thousands dead for no legitimate reason.

Comparing this to World War II is a stretch, sir.

Oh , but htere was, in the first few weeks following the surrender, there were several attacks on US forces by former SS and the "werewolves", the Allied response was to shell the cities they suspected the attacks came from, to rubble. Interesting, the attacks in the soviet side, continuede , intermittently, until the fall of the sooviet Union.

Also, several of the top Nazi generals changed sides, they knew it was better for them, and Germany. There is a fait amount of evidence that Eichman and Mueller worked for us. Its a fact Gen Gehlan worked for us.

It's not the same though.

Can we get there at least?

Indeed, many of the top Nazi generals wanted to ally themselves with the United States and Britain to defeat the Red Army. And Eichman and Mueller were trying to save their backsides from future punishment that later came in Nuremberg.

Again, what relevance does this have to Iraq? Apples and oranges.

No, because they are the same, bothe countries were soundly defeated.
After WWII, and attempt by the locals to commit "terrorist" type attacks was put down harshly, and the local populationj was expected to police itself, or it would be dealt with.

Sherman did the same thing in the South after Lee and Hood surrendered.

Yes, but once again, we were welcome in Germany as liberators foremost, and we were very much favored as occupiers because of the ruthlessness of the Soviet Union over its occupied lands. Stalin was incensed at the atrocities that the Wehrmacht committed on Soviet land, and returned the favor in spades by killing and raping and torturing the German citizens.

In Iraq, we were first viewed as liberators to some extent, yes. Now we have very much wore out our welcome, both Shiites and Sunnis want us the hell out of there, the Kurds don't know WHAT to think because they would like us gone too but they have the Shiites and Sunnis to the south and the Turks to the north that are eyeing what the Kurds call home.

Now we are sending munitions to Lebanon so they can bomb Hamas, that move is sure to piss off Israel and Syria. Yeah, we're the great peace negotiators in the Middle East.

It is truly amazing that every single thing Dubya touches, turns to complete shit. I cannot think of another human being in the last 100 years that has had that trait. Even the despots we've bantered about have done SOMETHING right!