The dinner party is never the same when the crazy old uncle who has been asked to stay in his room in the basement suddenly emerges and starts breaking the family china and chasing the teenage girls around the house. When the guests have left, the unavoidable question is: who let Uncle Jimmy out?
I've been thinking about this question in connection with former president Jimmy Carter's recent visit with the Islamic radical group Hamas. Condoleeza Rice says that the U.S. State department made it clear to Carter that Hamas is a terrorist group. U.S. policy is not to talk to terrorists. Carter says he got no clear message, since his telegram was not composed in all capital letters. And so Uncle Jimmy put on his best Sunday suit and decided to pay his Muslim friends a visit.
Actually, I don't agree with America's policy of "not talking" to these groups. Hamas won a free election in Gaza. If you want to address the issue of a Palestinian state, it's hard to exclude Hamas from the equation. Carter, however, is hardly the guy you want doing the negotiating. He hasn't been in office for a quarter of a century. He has no authority to speak for America. This tourism was entirely Uncle Jimmy's idea.
Carter says he was on a "fact finding" mission. And he did indeed return from the Middle East having learned some important new facts. 1) Hamas is made up of Muslims. 2) Hamas kills people. 3) Hamas doesn't like the state of Israel. I recall Carter's memoir written after his presidency which was full of similar great discoveries. Carter recalled the early days of his presidency when he got to do all kinds of exciting things: "Today I got to ride in my own White House airplane!" "Yippee! On Friday I get to meet Anwar Sadat!"
We all want to be nice to old Uncle Jimmy, given that he's in the sunset of his years and his judgment isn't so good. But then his judgment never was any good. Let's remember that it was Carter who, in the name of human rights, began in the late 1970s to withdraw American support for our ally the Shah of Iran. When the mullahs became emboldened, it was the Carter State Department that refused to sell the Shah tear gas to get these fanatics off the street. When the Shah's position weakened, it was Carter who encouraged him to abdicate. In trying to get rid of the bad guy--the Shah--America got the worse guy: Khomeini. This blunder gave radical Islam control of its first major state.
Are we going to make the same mistake again in Iraq? Yes, it's a bad situation over there, but are we going to try and solve the problem by pulling out and finding that the situation gets worse for them and for us? Carter is back at home and on his pills, but there is a new fellow running for president who sounds a lot like Jimmy. He's new and untested. His slogan is "change." He wants to wipe the slate clean in Washington, to purify us from our sinful past. He sounds more than a little self-righteous. The media and his followers think he wears a halo. And yet early indications are that he is not what he seems, and his political judgment can be immature and reckless. History may be repeating itself.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 35)
1. May he should stick to helping the homeless.
http://www.evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
Charles Xavier at 6:16AM on Apr 25th 2008
2. Say what you will about Jimmy Carter. Say what you will about Barack Obama. Say what you will about anybody, the biggest and most disastrous asshole ever to occupy the Oval Office is REPUBLICAN George W. Bush. Bar none.
emelpe at 6:18AM on Apr 25th 2008
3. DD is again tossing the semi-learned mantra of absolutes: no authority = no right to action. If we are going to pay ex-presidents a lifetime stipend, and give them a Secret Service protection detail, at great cost to the tax paying schmo (like me), I would rather feel like I'm paying for an elder statesman than a self aggrandizing retiree, writing memoirs from a selective memory. DD, please stop speaking of "Radical Islam", as though it were a symptom of liberalism 2 (see last posting). Radical Religion takes all forms, including the worship of power, control, and money. Our diplomatic relations and decisions of governmental action toward our world neighbors, has little to do with what is best for "America" and much to do with protecting our most powerful enterprise and priveleged status in world affairs. What will our Statespersons do, if,or when the whole world is converted to the "American" form of freedom and justice? Religious and governmental organization is based on absolutes, something quite unfamaliar to the human condition. It is most vehemently opposed when it is not in one's best interest, and touted as the "way" when it brings advantage. DD, as a person with such a reaching voice, you might consider being a bit more empirical. You can maintain a belief system, while acknowledging alternatives, without the need to spout virolent utterances to promote your personal position. In short, be a bit more excellent to the reader. I close with the cartoon of a Hustler magazine cartoon circa 2003, "Before I was in you protested, and I listened, but now I am in there and you should support me", a caption below a man raping a woman on a couch.
Jim B at 7:11AM on Apr 25th 2008
4. Hmmmm.... you will know them by their deeds. Who to believe? a good christian man, albiet lesser president or a proven liar and hack journalist???
Dennis at 7:37AM on Apr 25th 2008
5. DD...as usual, what a right wing fool.
Jimmy Carter is, and was, ten times the man and leader than the total of the two (pretend)cowboy clowns Reagan and Bush.
Seems to be the rule of the republican party over the last 30 years...nominate complete morons who can be manipulated by the real power broker sleaze bags pulling their puppets strings behind the curtain.
And then we find out from Reagan's chief of staff 1987 book (Regan) that Ronnie's nitwit wife's San Francisco ASTROLOGER (!) is putting red, green and yellow lights on his chief of staff's schedule to indicate whether he should schedule any official work on that day!
Oops...red, yellow dot on the schedule...might be a day for one of those horse riding, bush clearing photo ops!
Where was the outrage from the nutbag religious right republicans over this??
Are Americans REALLY this dumb electing idiots like this??? Wait a minute, they gave one an AOL blog.
Give me a philandering genius who can digest more than one page Cliff notes summaries any day...
Rich
Rich at 7:48AM on Apr 25th 2008
6. Dinesh believes in locking elderly relatives in the basement? That's no surprise!
Dennis at 7:49AM on Apr 25th 2008
7. Say what you will about Jimmy Carter but I think his trip and subsequent discussion with Hamas was a good thing. Here's why: A) Somebody has to do something about the situation and nobody else was, B)People who are accustomed to talking with each other are less likely to shoot at one another, C) He has no official status to talk on behalf of the United States so, any inadvertent inferences or perceived promises are not our problem, D) Again, because he has no 'official' status, our friends in Israel can't really hold his visit against us, E) He is arguably qualified--perhaps uniquely so--being experienced in foreign relations (as only an ex-President can be) and because he is so well-known and all people are more likely to open up to a familiar face, F) Dialog is cheaper than war--both in terms of lives and dollars.
The soundest tactical decision is one that gains the greatest advantage for the littlest cost. From that perpective, this was a win-win!
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 8:02AM on Apr 25th 2008
8. You are a deluded little man who couldn't put a patch on Jimmy Carter's butt.
Radagast at 11:06AM on Apr 25th 2008
9. Who to believe a good Christian man, Carter or a proven liar, Rice. Dinesh tries to tell us what Carter was thinking, he is another, worse type of liar.
You will know them by their deeds. Rice buy shoes while New Orleans drowns, Carter rebuilds a forgotten city.
Dennis at 7:56AM on Apr 25th 2008
10. Dinesh,
Jimmy Carter, just the mention of his name brings up images of Democrat Party bosses standing near this guy all the time to ensure he didn't say or do anything stupid.
Things like telling us what a great time he had in Romania with Stalinist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu...one of Jimmy's dear friends.
Willet at 8:20AM on Apr 25th 2008
11. Dinesh,
Do you have anything better to post?
This is ridiculous.
It is your policy, for us to tell the World, that our shit doesn't stink. Let me tell you, our shit does stink, and really bad.
Jimmy might have been a bad President, but he gets it. He understands.
Communication is key, and always will be.
Your policy, is to go bomb Iran, and probably Syria too.
Now go back to your last post, and answer your own questions regarding Muslims.
It aint liberalism Brother.
It's our shit stinking, and we haven't turned on the fan.
Botts at 8:19AM on Apr 25th 2008
12. I'm sure in your book, the fact that Carter was awarded the Noble Peace prize in 2002 has no bearing.
I'm sure in your book, by taking a bold step to include an "enemy" in an international dialog seeking peace, has no bearing.
I'm sure in your book, Bush's peace initiatives have met with more success that Carter's effort ever will.
You're myopic as ever, consider exchanging your room for Carter's basement suite.
Rob
Rob Whitcomb at 8:23AM on Apr 25th 2008
13. I totally agree with you. As a liberal I resent this goody goody attitude that if we talk to them they will be nice. Hamas has proven to be rabid infernal murderering pupets in the hand of Iran. As soon as the US pulls out of Iraq another wave of anti western hatred will seep the whole area.
Nobody knows what Rice knows. They are privy to information we are not. I trust her far more than Jimmy whom stood in the Main Hall of Havan University to bad mouth the US on human rights. Ha! he irony. Cuba is a country that putts people in jails without being charged; in jail the put the more vocals in drawers (like you put your socks in.)
Good Blog!
Ed
Edward Blanco at 8:43AM on Apr 25th 2008
14. Did J.C REALLY NEED THAT LETTER FROM RICE TO AKNOWLEDGE THAT HAMAS IS A TERRORIST GROUP???? WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH THESE DEMOCRATS, THAT A PRESIDENT OF USA MAKE SUCH A FOOL OF HIMSELF?? IN THE OTHER HAND IS THERE SOMEBODY THERE THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PRESENCE OF USA IN IRAK HAS STOPPED A THIRD WORLD WAR THAT WAS STARTING B/T SIRIA AND IRAN WITH THE CONSECUENCES OF A TOTAL LACK OF OIL PRODUCTION AND THE EVENTUAL ADJOINING OF OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES?? HAS ANYONE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE CHAOS THIS COULD HAVE BROUGH?? AND IN THE CASE USA TO BE FORCED TO USE IT'S OWN OIL TO COVER FOR THOSE CRUEL WINTER WE HAVE WITHOUT HEATER, AND THAT OIL IS NOT RENEWABLE, CAUSE I WONDER SOMETIMES WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION WE HAVE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE VERY UNIFORMED...IRONIC
pet at 8:39AM on Apr 25th 2008
15. Dinesh, please do not discount Mr. Carter's contribution to the security of Israel. It is Uncle Jimmy, who helped to make peace with Israel's biblical enemy Egypt. He is not representing US foreign policy. He is exploring on his own ways how he can bring people to the table. We have to try every way to help people understand each other. The alternative is more of the same. Please give Uncle Jimmy a break!
vrg at 8:51AM on Apr 25th 2008