What message does it send when a former president of the United States goes to a foreign country to meet with an organization that is listed as terrorists by our State Department?
The following report is from the Jerusalem Post.
Apr 9, 2008 17:45 | Updated Apr 9, 2008 18:15
‘Jimmy Carter planning to meet Mashaal’
Former US president Jimmy Carter is planing to visit Syria in April and meet with exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, the London-based daily Al-Hayat reported Wednesday.
In the print copy former president Jimmy Carter holds a copy of his book ‘Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,’ prior to a book signing in Tempe, Arizona.
According to a report on FOXNews.com, Carter’s press secretary Deanna Congileo would not deny that the former president was planning to go to Syria to meet Mashaal during his visit to the Middle East.
“President Carter is planning a trip to the Mideast next week; however, we are still confirming details of the trip and will issue a press release by the end of this week,” Congileo told FOXNews.com. “I cannot confirm any specific meetings at this point in time.”
According to the report in Al-Hayat, Carter will be representing the Carter Center during his visit to Syria, and will not be traveling in his capacity of former president of the United States.
The US State Department considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
Doesn’t he realize that both sides can exploit photo op’s?
At a time when president Bush and Condi Rice are working on a peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians we do not need to have any third party diversions that could undermine that effort.
And back to my opening question. Juice readers. Do you agree or disagree with this pending meeting?
email reply:
ex-President Jimmy Carter was so successful in North Korea I am sure he can make a similar appeal to Hammas. I believe he also went to some countries to support their voting process with his great influence. I do have a concern. I am not sure but what he left the presidency coincident with acquiring dimentia. He certainly hasn’t followed the policy of ex-Presidents keeping their mouth shut about the current president and their governing. Neither has ex-President Bill Clinton for that matter. ……….
Reply to the email sendor.
While all Americans have Freedom of Speech as protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights there is also something to be said about meeting with any terrorist organization. Especially when you are a very high profile individual as a former U.S. President. Poor judgement by Jimmy Carter is beyond being an understatement. If he goes ahead with this meeting his passport should be revoked.
Another email.
Probably not a good idea jimmy
Brother idiot.
What message does it send when a current president of the United States goes to a foreign country to meet with an organization that promotes collective property ownership?….. That is a bigger question.
Larry, I see three responses by you to e-mail senders but do not see what those folks said. This approach makes for confusing and disjointed reading.
As for Mr. Carter, he should butt out. Much of the mess in the Middle East today can be traced to his 4 years in the White House, that is legacy enough.
Pardon me, but you’ve got a rather simplistic view of foreign policy. Is it really as simple as “we should never meet with a terrorist organization” for you? Well here’s a question for you; if we never meet with these people and work out our differences, how will this “war on terror” EVER be won?
Or are you just another Republican looking for a never-ending replacement to the war on communism?
Anon 2:02 pm
“Larry, I see three responses by you to e-mail senders but do not see what those folks said.”
Anon. Is your monitor a blank screen? I copied those comments directly from incoming emails in the sequence received on my computer.
I do not, and did not, edit any of their content. I will not share their email addresses with anyone, especially those who sign on anonymously yet want transparency.
General Petraeus today…mentioned
in passing that Hezbollah….the
Syria Front Group in both Palastine
and South Lebanon is very active
in Iraq as well. So, maybe Jimmy
can meet with both groups..Hamas
and Hezbollah….the sad part is:
they probably wouldn’t want to keep
him!
Brother idiot. Are you looking in that mirror again?
For the record. Neither president George Bush nor Condi Rice ask my opinion before making plans to visit foreign countries. They have sent me numerous questionaires on Public Policy along with requests for donations but that’s another story for another day.
“For the record. Neither president George Bush nor Condi Rice ask my opinion before making plans to visit foreign countries.”
And Jimmy Carter did?
So shut your mouth about him too… brother.
Email response from an angry Conservative Republican.
No, he shouldn’t. The only time Jimmy Carter should open his mouth is to tell the American people that he’s sorry he was such a lousy president, and an even worse former president.
That’s what I’m Thinking!!!
Larry, as someone who most likely voted for our current President , you have a lot of NERVE asking this question. There are many people [ myself included ] that see Bush and his supporters as terrorists. What is the difference between Hamas and the U.S. attack and occupation of Iraq? Only that WE are responsible for A LOT more DEATH and DESTRUCTION. How MANY innocent civilians are dead, due to our flagrant violations of the Geneva Conventions [ you know, the one where the occupier is RESPONSIBLE for the safety of the civilian population]? Get off your high horse and look in the mirror, if YOU supported Bush YOU have supported terrorism!
anon 5:52 pm
Did you think about your comments before hitting the send key?
Jimmy Carter is a former president.
s such he should discuss his intent to meet with a recognized terrorist organization with the State Department. George Bush is our sitting president until Jan 20th. While I voted for him that does not mean that I am happy with his big government and other unspecified policy decisions.
What is sad is that you resort to name calling instead of making a valid argument. This shows all of the other readers how much class you lack!
anon 8:22 pm
No I don’t have nerve when any former president meets with representatives of a listed terrorist group. Jimmy Carter of all people who left 52 U.S. diplomats confined in Iran for 444days. Jimmy Carter whose rescue attempt failed in the desert yet didn’t make a second effort to rescue the American hostages. Nice going Mr President. This is the first time that a small Middle Eastern nation brought us to our knees. Interesting that on Jan 20th, the day Ronald Reagan took office, they were released. President Reagan proved that we do not need to have any wimps in the White House. “Peace through strength” is more than just words.
We can debate the war in Iraq but you will never be satisfied.
Geneva Convention. What uniform are the terrorists wearing?
“What is sad is that you resort to name calling instead of making a valid argument.”
Is calling you brother, a name calling? Look post #10.
You are the one who refers to everyone as brother here.
Besides, I have made my point well but you would not accept it…. so what is new brother.
Are you really hanging your hat on that dynamic duo of diplomacy, George and Condi? How’s that working for you? I guess some people won’t be satisfied till the ENTIRE world is a bloody violent mess. It is pathetic that Carter’s attempt at opening a productive dialogue with Hamas offends you more than ALL the death and destruction of George W. Bush’s reckless deeds. I know,I know, this post isn’t about Iraq or Bush, it’s about the evil Jimmy Carter [ or insert Bill Clinton ] who YOU, are ALWAYS trying to blame for our current troubles. Where are all your posts on Bush’s dirty little war? As far as Reagan is concerned, I wouldn’t point to the release of the hostages as a sign of his strength. It is MORE likely a sign of the beginning of his secret dealings with Iran, talk about subversive!
email response
I strongly disagree. Kathy
anon 10:47 pm
So “shut your mouth” is a cordial greeting?
This post is not about the war in Iraq. It’s about a trip to Syria by a former president to meet with the head of a listed terrorist organization. Stay focused.
PS: My reference to “brother” relates to someone associated with the Juice. That is the reference to brother, not a slur to all other readers. To make you happy I will only refer to “brother” if it is a member of my family that meets that relationship.
hey Larry. why is it okay for Darrell Issa to meet with Hamas and not Jimmy Carter?
anon 10:14 am
I am not pleased to see that CA Congressman Issa made this journey to Syria. The following text is from the net:
President Bush has rejected direct talks with Syria, saying others have tried the tactic but without result. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Thursday the administration had a clear line on Congress members — Democrat or Republican — going to Syria.
“We do not think it’s productive; we do not think it is useful,” Johndroe said, adding that such visits “only makes (the Syrians) feel validated.”
Anon. Have you been following the Democratic debate? I seem to recall candidate Barack Obama saying as president he wants to meet with Iran leader Ahmadinejad who says that “Israel should be wiped off the map.”
Iran has provided IED’s to the terrorists which are killing and maiming American troops almost daily.
No member of Congress should interact with terrorists or nations that support terrorism.
Larry, then you should be APPALLED at Dick Cheney for meeting with King Abdulla of Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi’s are responsible for funding Sunni insurgents in Iraq. I look forward to your next post, where I am sure YOU will address Cheney’s TREASONOUS behavior!
Newspaper comment by Condi Rice:
“I find it hard to understand what is going to be gained by having discussions with Hamas about peace when Hamas is, in fact, the impediment to peace,” Rice said at a press event with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Rice was responding to a question about Carter’s plans but did not mention him by name.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization,” she said, repeating the Bush administration’s explanation for why it will not meet with members of the group.
The State Department says it twice advised Carter against meeting any representative of Hamas. A Carter-Mashaal meeting would be the first public contact in two years between a prominent American figure and Hamas officials.
anon 6:54 pm
Sorry to be late responding but it has been one busy day.
Anon.You are not compairing apples to apples with Cheney and Carter. Diplomacy can be rather tricky. Presidents of both parties have had relationships with the leaders of Saudi ASrabia. Let me give you one example that relates to president Bill Clinton to show that both president George Bush and his predecessor had maintained that contact.
“In September 1998, Abdullah made a state visit to the United States to meet in Washington, D.C. with then-President Bill Clinton.”
I have already expressed my disappointment with the lack of cooperation by the Saudi’s in our
chasing down terrorists responsible for killing of American troops in their country.
There is a big difference between Clinton having met with the Saudis and Cheney’s doing so. Remember that during Clinton’s Presidency we WEREN’T at war with Iraq. The Saudi’s have been sending MILLIONS of dollars to the Sunni insurgents. I believe that Saudi Arabia has been responsible for more attacks on American soldiers than Iran has . Remember, Bin Laden was a Saudi and Al Qaeda is a Sunni organization. Bush and Cheney have strengthened our ties to the Saudi royal family , in fact the Saudi royal family has donated 1 million dollars to Bush’s Presidential library. Bush and Cheney have FAR MORE to answer for than Carter ever will. Condi Rice has no credibility, she was a disaster as Bush’s National Security Advisor and she is a disaster as Secretary of State. She, herself is an impediment to peace, being a warmonger and all.
anon 10:12 pm
The Saudi’s have funded terrorism regardless of which party occupied that big “White House” on Pennsylvania Ave.
Check out this report which clearly indicated activity during the Clinton Administration.
“Perhaps most shockingly, while the U.S. intelligence community has been aware of such activity for some time no U.S. administration has taken decisive action to counter this subversive activity. A recently disclosed 1996 CIA document shows that as early as 1994 Washington was warning that in 1992 Saudi nationals gave some $150 million to Islamic charities active in Bosnia and implicated in terrorism. Similarly, computer files uncovered in the March 2002 raids on the Benevolence International Foundation in Bosnia revealed a 1988 al Qaeda memorandum listing 20 Saudi financial backers described by bin Laden as “the Golden Chain.”
To read the entire report simply go to this web site:
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC07.php?CID=13
I have read that their support of terrorism has also included the violence in Israel.
From the web: “Saudi Arabia’s past involvement in international terrorism is indisputable. While the Bush administration decided to redact 28 sensitive pages of the Joint Intelligence Report of the U.S. Congress, nonetheless, Saudi involvement in terrorist financing can be documented through materials captured by Israel in Palestinian headquarters in 2002-3. In light of this evidence, Saudi denials about terrorist funding don’t hold water.
Israel retrieved a document of the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) which detailed the allocation of $280,000 to 14 Hamas charities. IIRO and other suspected global Saudi charities are not NGOs, since their boards of directors are headed by Saudi cabinet members. Prince Salman, a full brother of King Fahd, controls IIRO distributions “with an iron hand,” according to former CIA operative Robert Baer. Mahmoud Abbas, in fact, complained, in a handwritten December 2000 letter to Salman, about Saudi funding of Hamas. Defense Minister Prince Sultan has been cited as a major IIRO contributor.”
Now if you could ever get your party to agree to drilling for black gold in ANWR we might send a message that not today, but sometime in the future, our dependence on their crude will decrease.
Readers. It’s OK to question president Bush and the Bush family relationship with Saudi royal family.
That said let me suggest reading today’s LA Times, Sunday, April 13,2008, page A-18, where it reads in part: “The Clinton foundation and the former president’s library in Little Rock have received millions of dollars in donations from the Saudi royal family, etc…”