by Carrie K. Hutchens
Once again, the former president seems to think he is on a mission that only he can accomplish. Heck with the rules. He is Jimmy Carter after all. Those rules aren't meant to apply to him. He is special. He is all knowing. He should get his way, when he decides he wants to do something. Heck with the government. Heck with the rules. Heck with how bad results can be long lasting and affect millions of people beyond his little self-centered world.
According to the Associated Press...
By CALVIN WOODWARD (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
April 13, 2008 12:34 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - Former President Carter said he feels "quite at ease" about meeting Hamas militants over the objections of Washington because the Palestinian group is essential to a future peace with Israel.
The article goes on to say,
"The position of the government is that Hamas is a terrorist organization and we don't negotiate with terrorists. We think that's a very important principle to maintain," Hadley said. "The State Department made clear we think it's not useful for people to be running to Hamas at this point and having meetings."
Carter demurred.
"I feel quite at ease in doing this," he said. "I think there's no doubt in anyone's mind that, if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process."
Although he said the meeting would not be a negotiation, he outlined distinct goals.
"I think that it's very important that at least someone meet with the Hamas leaders to express their views, to ascertain what flexibility they have, to try to induce them to stop all attacks against innocent civilians in Israel and to cooperate with the Fatah as a group that unites the Palestinians, maybe to get them to agree to a cease-fire - things of this kind," he said.
Does he now? Well, good for him. Except that he isn't the sitting president. Who does he think he is to treat Washington (our government) as though they have no say in the matter and so defiantly over-ride their rules and effort?
Woodward further reports,
"The State Department says it advised Carter twice against meeting representatives of Hamas, which Washington considers a terrorist organization."
People are not allowed to give money or aid to terrorists, but Carter may give aid to them by giving them credibility? He can openly show defiance against a sitting president and the United States of America? Oh what a good impression that makes. If a former president doesn't respect the rules, this country, the government, the presidency, why should any of the countries that hope to bring democracy down? They won't. Instead, it gives them reason to mock us more. Oh what a benefit that is to the citizens of the USA.
Jimmy Carter may be a private citizen, but he isn't a regular citizen. That he was once president can be used to make what he does and says as far more important than what it is. He can be said to be speaking for us or even the government. It won't matter that he really isn't. Appearance can fuel the fire and destroy any progress made thus far.
One of the things this brings to mind is a parent correcting a child for wrong-doing and the other parent coming home and telling the child to disregard, thereby effectively undermining the authority of the first parent. It further tells the child that the second parent does not respect the first, so why should the child? How many children are going to realize (or care about) the inappropriateness of this situation and instead side with the parent holding them to proper behavior?
I don't understand why Jimmy Carter thinks he has some special privilege to decide he doesn't like how the government is handling a matter, so he is going to do it his way regardless of the appropriateness of it all. Who is he to over-ride the government's decisions? He doesn't even have all the inside information. How does he know he wouldn't agree if he did? Regardless, if he had issue with the decision regarding Hamas, then he should have gone in private and talked with the appropriate officials -- not openly disregard those officials, rules and handling of the matter. He is telling the world that one does not have to respect anyone but him. I find that inappropriate and unacceptable.
It doesn't matter whether one likes President Bush or not. This isn't about him beyond the fact that he happens to be the sitting president at the moment. This is about Carter thinking that he has some special right to do things his way regardless, and continue to act as our president when we didn't even vote him in a second term. Someone needs to make sure he understands what the word "former" means and explain to him that his turn to make the decisions ended in 1981.
We may not like how things are going or the decisions made, but we need to be realistic and comprehend how dangerous it is to have someone undermining the decision-makers, especially when dealing with terrorists -- especially with people who take that type of behavior to mean weakness in their enemies. Carter's visit with Hamas is blatantly undermining our government's decision. It is making fools of us. And why should Hamas worry about changing inappropriate behavior, when Carter goes over there, and by his presence, tells them they don't have to pay attention to our government officials -- he doesn't.
Carrie Hutchens is a former law enforcement officer and a freelance writer who is active in fighting against the death culture movement and the injustices within the judicial and law enforcement systems.
1 comments:
Carter has already claimed the title of worst American president and is intent upon securing the title of worst ex-president by betraying his country and working diligently to give aid and comfort to those who have vowed to destroy us. Carter has the blood of thousands of Americans on his hands already by his capitulation to the Iranians when they took Americans prisoner after attacking our embassy in Tehran. If he had acted decisively then we might have been spared the attacks by Muslim radicals that have cost us thousands of lives and untold billions of dollars. He should be stopped from meeting with Hamas and imprisoned for treason.
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