Jimmy Carter and Hamas

In a weird way, I respect the fact that Jimmy Carter does his own stupid thing and doesn't care what anyone else has to say about it. But jeez, as former president, does he really have to pull one of these acts every five years or so in which he meets with terrorists, against everyone else's wishes, and spreads around hugs and kisses?

Most bad presidents spend their time after office rehabilitating their images. Why can't he stick to Habitat For Humanity and other good things that are non-offensive?

 

What he's doing is nothing short of flabbergasting and appalling. The Wash Post's editorial board rightly ripped him yesterday. They also printed an op-ed from a Hamas Foreign Minister that was clearly written in a mind-bogglingly different reality than the one any of us ever visit. Though that wasn't to give people on that side a chance to have their say so much as to show just how batshit crazy some of them are.

Carter has done a lot of good since 1980, but this won't be anywhere near the top of that list. He clearly has no shame, because if he did he'd be embarassed by what he's doing.

 

I realize you are just playing Devil's advocate. 1) Not the role for Carter to be playing. Especially when he shows up for the first meeting and gives a giant hug, like he is being reunited with a long-lost brother. NO ONE wants him playing this role. The president, his fellow party members in Congress. The Israelis. So apparently someone believes no good comes from talking to them under THESE circumstances. 2) Whatever Hamas is -- and you can argue that Israel is complicit in making Hamas into what they are -- their tactics and attitudes are appalling and should be shunned by anyone who is civilized. They advocate suicide bombings and the killings of innocents. They talk about peace in one breath and make unrealistic demands as a precondition in the next breath. They will kidnap and torture innocent people to grab a headline. They forfeit certain rights to be treated with respect as long as this is their posture. 3) Mahmoud al-Zahar, who Carter is so eager to treat with dignity, is playing him like a fiddle. It's unbecoming of a former U.S. president who should be more sophisticated than this. He lovingly praises Carter and makes teasing overtures about peace. But the bottom line, in his own words, this is his posture: "A “peace process” with Palestinians cannot take even its first tiny step until Israel first withdraws to the borders of 1967; dismantles all settlements; removes all soldiers from Gaza and the West Bank; repudiates its illegal annexation of Jerusalem; releases all prisoners; and ends its blockade of our international borders, our coastline and our airspace permanently. This would provide the starting point for just negotiations and would lay the groundwork for the return of millions of refugees. Given what we have lost, it is the only basis by which we can start to be whole again."

Given the hardships the Palestinians have endured, I understand the frustration and bittereness. But such an attitude ignores their real history and claim to any land there. There WAS NO Palestinian state, or any unity, prior to 1948, and even if there was, it is unrealistic to think you can turn back the clock. So essentially what Hamas is saying is, "We don't want peace and we are going to make that clear by making unrealistic and unreasonable demands." Yet Carter embraces such a man and shows him dignity which he doesn't deserve. The vast majority of Palestinians, who just want the camps and the extreme poverty to be brought to an end with SOME KIND OF a settlement are done a disservice by a guy like this, and wore, he uses violent means to make sure any kind of moderate approach by more level-headed people are doomed to failure.

 

WFMFW (word for mother fucking word)