Why Carter's Wrong On Bush And American Values

Former President Jimmy Carter's new book, Our Endangered Values defies history in its pronouncement that the policies of the current president are inconsistent with America's values.

Reviews call the book biting political commentary, despite the fact that there's an unwritten rule in American politics that former presidents do not criticize current ones. Carter says he wrote this book reluctantly, but did so because he just couldn't stay silent anymore.

Setting aside Carter's own large side-step of said values by criticizing a sitting President from his perspective as a former POTUS and that Carter has been far from silent for some time now, history proves his assumptions both faulty and perhaps more than a bit politically stunted.

"In the last 5 years there's been a dramatic and disturbing and radical change in the values of this country," Carter said. For example, he says peace is an American value, not pre-emptive war: "we don't wait until our country is threatened," Carter said, "we publicly announced our new policy is to attack a county, invade a country, bomb a county."

Really? Let's look at some history. Carter conveniently omits the Truman Doctrine of 1947 from his reasoning. America made it quite clear to the world nearly 60 years ago what actions it might take if it sensed its peace was threatened, even long-term, by political developments around the world:

The Truman Doctrine was a political response to Soviet aggression in Europe, illustrated through the communist movements in Iran, Turkey and Greece. As a result, American foreign policy towards Russia shifted, as George F. Kennan phrased it, to that of containment.

Under the Truman Doctrine, the United States was prepared to send any money, equipment or military force to countries which were threatened by the communist government. U.S. President Harry S. Truman made the proclamation in an address to the U.S. Congress on March 12, 1947 amid the crisis of the Greek Civil War (1946-1949).

The doctrine was specifically aimed at assisting governments resisting communism. Truman insisted that if Greece and Turkey did not receive the aid that they needed, they would inevitably fall to communism with the result being a domino effect of acceptance of communism throughout the region.

As an aside, if anything is grossly misunderstood or misrepresented today it is the notion of containment, which was never intended to preclude military intervention in favor of some relatively ineffective no fly zone mentality.

While Carter may remain locked into a Cold War vision - one which cost us dearly as regards Iran during his White House tenure, by the way - it requires no broad jump of logic to equate the creeping Islamofascism of today with the previous threat of some domino effect in Europe. The Truman Doctrine specifically called for deployment of the US military in instances where developing trends run significantly counter to American interests. And let's not forget some other important historical examples.

What was the CIA sponsored Bay of Pigs foray if not pre-emptive in nature? If anything, President Bush's position as regards Iraq is not only more forthright in keeping with any so-called American values, it has also been markedly more effective. Then there was also a little blockade of the former Soviet client state Carter seems willing to ignore.

Kennedy felt justified in mobilizing our military and taking the entire planet to the brink of all out nuclear war to prevent developments he rightly judged to be potentially threatening to the United States. Is that not preemptive in nature, even though said war didn't eventuate? Of course it is.

The only difference seems to be Carter's inability or unwillingness to grasp the true threat of Islamofascism to America's security. Instead of taking on that debate, which he would likely lose, he stumbles when he moves the goalpost to a discussion of American values as based on historical realities.

Kennedy ordered a naval quarantine (blockade) of Cuba in order to prevent Russian ships from bringing additional missiles and construction materials to the island. In response to the American naval blockade, Premier Khrushchev authorized his Soviet field commanders in Cuba to launch their tactical nuclear weapons if invaded by U.S. forces.

And clearly his cold war mentality also causes him to grossly misrepresent current American policy as regards enemy combatants.

He says another American value is human rights. For decades the US has supported the Geneva convention saying we won't torture prisoners, but he says now "our senators are voting to keep torture. It's inconceivable this would happen in the United States of America."

Absolutely nothing this administration has said or done conflicts one bit with the Geneva Conventions and the Bush administration hasn't come close to advocating ignoring same. That's a preposterous claim, again, supported only by Carter's inability to get his mind around any global threat which isn't clearly represented by a formalized state and signatory to the conventions.

Sadly, the former President fairs no better on domestic concerns.

Carter also says American politics is being infused with what he calls "fundamentalist" religion. Carter, who is a born again Christian, says blurring the line between church and state is dangerous. Carter says he's not in politics anymore, and his new book is not partisan.

Pardon the pun but, how in God's name is that happening when everyday we see another instance of, say, the Ten Commandments being removed from a court house, or one more school district facing a lawsuit because someone had the audacity to utter a simple prayer, or other religious observance - perhaps a T-shirt?

Town centers around the country either cower or rationalize the ability to display a manger at Christmas and the lines between Church and state are becoming blurred? Perhaps it only looks that way as the line is so wide today one can barely see anything religious at all beyond it. The former president might do well to back up a bit and squint for a better perspective.

But in the credit where credit is due department, he did seem to at least get one thing right when it comes to America's values, which hover somewhere between any full freedom of choice on abortion and prudent individual or family judgment.

He criticizes Democrats for being out of touch on the abortion issue. "I don't think the Democratic party ought to identify itself with freedom of choice, with abortion," he said, "it's a litmus test for many people and I have a problem with abortion." Carter hopes his book helps Americans debate these issues and decide on election day what America's future will look like. Carter's own presidency was controversial, but since then his humanitarian efforts in the world earned him a Nobel Peace Prize.

America passed President Carter by when it un-elected him in 1980. Clearly in the 25 or so years since, the former president's thinking has yet to catch up.

Update: See additional commentary here from Pillage Idiot.

Comments

[TheAlamo]

While you are correct at noting the Truman doctrine and Monroe Doctrine (used by Kennedy in the Cuban crises) let's look at the results of those feeble attempts at fullfilling those doctrines.

The communists are still in Cuba, N. Korea, China and Russia. We did not stop the spread, we "talked" about it and got over 100,000 troops killed in action with the "no follow through" wimps that were presidents and members of congress at the time.

Why? There have been a myriad of excuses handed down by apologists for 50 years in regards to those "fake" doctrines. We easily could have seen an end to communism by cutting off all US aid and trade, but we did not. In the militry conflicts, had our military been allowed to win, there would be no communism in those countries...but our own government sabotaged victory. Why?

It is called money folks.

We can eliminate communism from the world by letting it die of the guaranteed implosion that ALL socialist/communist countries sooner or later go through. But we don't. We maintain trade relations with the biggest mass murderers in the history of the world....and the run about speaking of our "high principles." (I am not talking about our people here--only the idiots who sit in government seats for their own profit--at our expense--our people aren't necessarily immoral, but they ahve been decieved, over and over and over again)

MacArthur liberated North Korea. What happened? He was fired for it, and it was given back to the communists. Why?

N. Vietnam was finished, so what happens. We institute no more bombing of the North Vietnamese. No shooting at the enemy unless they shoot first, and no invasion of N. vietnam. Why?
So we lose another one...thanks to the criminals sitting in government, and the peoples of those countries are still slaves today.

Chiang Kai Chek had Mao Tse Tung defeated twice. What did we do? Made them have cease fires where the free Chinese forces turned in their weapons and the communists did not. Result: Mao Tse Tung is installed as communist dictator and becomes the biggest mass murderer in history. Courtesy USA.

Now we keep them afloat with most favored nation trading status, and to top it off--give them control over our national debt. The epitome of total insanity.

All the while prancing about with how "moral" we are and how we are for "freedom" while at the same time passing more and more freedom ending legislation here, and giving the communists the Panama Canal, Long /Beach naval Base and a base in the Bahamas---what happened to the Truman and Monroe doctrine there? Kind of convenient that it disappears when the true interests of the United States are actually being threatened.

I think it is a good idea for Americans to remember what patriotism is. Patriotism is the support and defense of the Constitution of the United States. Not a person. Rah-rah support of a "person" or party is defacto dictatorship, especially when there is not a dime's worth of difference in the actions of both parties. TALK means nothing--watch what they do.

When people fall into a trap of supporting a "man" or a "party" then we have already slipped on the slippery slope.
Rah-rah...and more dead Americans. Rah-rah and our economy is still crashing. Rah-rah and the borders are still wide open.
Rah-rah as Clinton sells our military secrets to the communist Chinese.
Rah-rah as the Chinese shoot down one of our spy planes--(not over their territory) and Bush cowtows to them.

We as a nation are the power of this country...not the liars who say you and I are represented by them...because you are not. Until we realize who we are, and who they are, we will continue to slide into the abyss both economically and our own freedom will continue to disappear. This idea that the "patriot" acts are to stop terrorists is crap. The patriot acts are the largest single act of terrorism ever perpetrated on this country...and the Islamofascists did not do that--your so called "representatives" did. I have yet to have one person explain to me how taking away our freedom is "saving our freedom." Now they are trying to make eminent domain where they can just take your property at whim...but that's okay huh? They are trying to use the military in civilian circumstances...wonder why we had posse comitatus in the first place?
They want to eliminate "political freedom of speech." Yeah these guys are our representatives....not for Americans they aren't.

We would be wise to support the LAW of the land, the US Constitution...which was written to "bind the hands" of those in government so that the above mentioned things would not happen. I bet not 10% of Americans have ever even read the document, and even less have studied WHY the document..specifically the Bill of Rights was written. Because if they did, they would be demanding that most of these so-called "representatives" be sent to prison where they belong.

And now you know why they are so afraid to allow freedom of speech to continue much longer. They have something to hide, and day by day it is becoming more obvious. When you are denied freedom of political speech, most in this coutry will "buy" the lie and excuse for it. Because it is easier, and they will just shut up and go watch football.

I have no problem with them citing the Monroe Doctrine or Truman Doctrine as long as they go after ALL of our enemies. That means taking back the Panama Canal, eliminating the communist base in the Bahamas, taking back our property at long beach naval yard, and getting rid of Castro. If not then they have no right citing those documents as their reasons for going after others.
We as a nation either have integrity or we do not. We bitch about the terrorists and ignore the longest standing terrorist nations in history, those who have a combined mass uurder history of over 300 MILLION people.
We are in bed with communists and although I support wiping out ANY terrorist group I am amazed at the duplicity of this government's policies for the past 70 or more years. You are either against evil or you or not. Makes no difference what the official "name" of the terrorists is. To have "good terrorists" and "bad terrorists" is the epitome of a hypocritical group of traitors to US history and the lives given in TRUE defense of this nation.

[!]

It obvious he's just plain wrong. The proof is in his teeth. LOL.

[TheAlamo]

It obvious he's just plain wrong. The proof is in his teeth. LOL.

Posted by: ! | Nov 13, 2005 6:26:44 PM

This is a game that politicians play when their popularity is sagging. They will have an "opponent" or member of the "other party" criticize them.
this whips people into a frenzy, and rouses support for the current politician. This is done both at the national level and state level. Why do they do it?
Because it works...look at your response. Please explain how it is obvious that he is wrong. We see the rah-rah technique here, but where is the substance?

[cindi in pa]

Posted by: TheAlamo | Nov 13, 2005 6:32:19 PM

You should do editorials for the NRA. ;)

[TheAlamo]

You should do editorials for the NRA. ;)

Posted by: cindi in pa | Nov 13, 2005 6:53:58 PM

I have a good friend that lives right up there by you (VA) that is an NRA instructor..ex-marine. Good guy.

He is not as nice about putting things up on message boards as I am :) ...(guess it is the ex-marine in him,) but he loves the NRA, and sponsors kids training and shooting contests.

BTW it's about 72 degrees here and our windows are open.....how about there?

[Botched]

Jimmy Carter and politic just do not mix.
He is good at building houses for low income people, and monitoring voting ballets in others countries and certain other good deads.
Politics is not his best subject.
:O(
Stick with the things you can do best Jimmy. and..keep smiling. :O)

[*flo*]

Because if they did, they would be demanding that most of these so-called "representatives" be sent to prison where they belong.
Posted by: TheAlamo | Nov 13, 2005 5:09:24 PM

agree with u here...Alamo, many people don't know about the Representatives they elect into office...need to do background research...findout what these people voted on or what contract they are involved with and signed....reason why america is getting short changed....people don't read the fine print....
I saw Pres Carter on public access the other evening promoting his book....does not agree with how Bush is running office...

[Rick]

That was one long speech there Alamo but you're absolutely correct on all accounts. I was in Mr. Carter's military....which is why I got out... His was a position of weakness and deplorable conditions for the military. Thank God we did not have to "stop Commie agression" in Europe at the time because we'd be speaking Russian today. Operation "Blue Light" was a total embarassment to this country and akin to murder because the troops lacked proper training for their mission.
Mr. Carter was and still a fine, decent, God fearing man, but as a President he was the worst I've seen in a life that goes back to Ike. The real hold though, the slow dismantling of our country's ideas can be traced directly to the congress over the last fifty years. They are weak, permissive, lazy, socialist and largely ignorant.

[cindi in pa]

BTW it's about 72 degrees here and our windows are open.....how about there?

Posted by: TheAlamo | Nov 13, 2005 7:13:16 PM

68 and sunny this morning, and yes, windows wide open.