Jimmy Carter – A Hero in his own Time

PALESTINE PEACE NOT APARTHEID, a book written recently by former president Jimmy Carter, has caused consternation among the Israelis, Israeli Lobby and Israeli strap hangers. It is an audacious book, because instead of praising Israel, it is critical; and it was written by a former American president who still has high visibility, respect and by stark comparison, certainly thinks clearer than the current US president. Carter's book has been smitten by hair rendering critics, mostly by American Jews who believe they have a monopoly on shaping US attitudes and policy toward Israel. This book is evidence that there is another game in town, and he has made the point: he wants to bring the US Israeli policy out the the closet and into the open, for critical discussion.

My opinion of Carter has undergone a metamorphosis over the years; to paraphrase John Kerry, I VOTED FOR HIM BEFORE I VOTED AGAINST HIM. As a traditional Republican, much to my ancestors dismay, I voted for him in 1976. Richard Nixon foolishly splattered himself against the wall with Watergate, poor Gerald Ford could not exit the stair ramp of an aircraft without tripping, and Ford's SECSTATE, Hopeless Henry Kissinger, had no check or balance under Ford. I was serving at the Office of SECDEF at the time and witnessed how Kissinger threw away US national security advantages in strategic missile defense with the ABM treaty for the Soviet promise, and I repeat, promise, to negotiate their heavy missiles in follow up Strategic Arms Talks II. As I spoke Russian, Soviet military representatives in Geneva had told me directly and privately that the Russians understood Kissinger, i.e.: all you had to do was flatter him and he would work to agree with them. Based on the negative outcome for the US of Kissinger SALT I negotiations, you have to wonder whether the Soviet officers had a point. GW Bush finally abrogated the ABM Treaty.

Apart from this, the other thing that impressed me about Carter was that such a bug-eyed hayseed could beat the sophisticated establishment, high powered Democrats, and capture the nomination – figured if he were that clever, he might be able to run the country. It took me about 8 days later to realize I made a mistake

It was a small thing at first that made me question my vote. The WASHINGTON POST had run excerpts from Carter's personal diary as a midshipman at the US Naval Academy in which Carter wrote about brushing his teeth, the times he heard profanity and how his fellow midshipmen used smutty language when talking about women... thought to myself at the time that I had voted for a candy ass and he would have a tough time in the brutally cruel world of national and international politics, and he did. Then I became more concerned when he had his domestic oil crises, confessed to lust in his heart and was frightened by an aggressive rabbit... When Iranians took US diplomats hostages, his attempt to rescue them ended as an unsuccessful, deadly, military farce. Fidel Castro dumped thousands of his criminals and insane on US shores in Operation Marialitos, and the Soviets took his measure and invaded Afghanistan. His CIA Director Admiral Stansfield Turner effectively destroyed the US human intelligence collection capability that still has not recovered. As a result, I voted against Carter in 1980.

Carter did play the Middle Eastern card effectively at Camp David in that he defused tensions temporarily between Egypt and Israel. He even won the Nobel Peace Prize. This one positive US step in the middle East gives his latest book its bone fides; Carter walked the walk. Though he had his share of failures, he accomplished something tangible in a volatile area where other US presidents failed before and afterwards, as they collapsed under pressure from the Israeli First Lobby.

Noted that Carter was on LARRY KING and HARDBALL to sell his book. In both cases he was interviewed by an American Jew. King’s questioning technique involved using questions from Harvard's Super Zionist, Alan Dershowitz. Finally Carter got tired of it, and after the third question from the same source, Carter told King he was not on the program to interview Dershowitz. It was obvious King had not read the book and stumbled and groveled through the rest of interview. In the HARDBALL interview, Shuster replaced the usual Chris Matthews. As Carter listed Israeli brutalities and human rights violations on the Palestinians, Shuster tried to change the subject to the Ruwanda slaughter, but Carter snapped back that we are here to talk about the Middle East and Shuster backed off, demonstrating his callowness. Carter's national book tour is being chased by protesters; pro Israeli Newspapers in the US are hammering him relentlessly – Carter has even had prayer meetings with rabbis – but he has not recanted a single word. The book is about number 7 on the NEW YORK TIMES best seller list; over 67,000 copies have been sold. Apparently the opposition to Carter's book does not understand the precept that a WICKED BOOK GATHERS NO DUST.

Carter's frankness was surprising. He discussed the Camp David Accords, that was by far his greatest accomplishment during his term in office, and openly admitted that they led to the assassination of Anwar Sadat. He also indicated that other Egyptian military was neutralized as a threat against Israel by the Accords. As a result of reduced military pressure on the Egyptian border, Israel started aggressively to colonize the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and parts of Lebanon; and, politically strangle the Palestinians. Israel contemptuously violated the Accords. Reagan turned a blind eye on the treaty breaches and even authorized a Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC on US Government land. It replaced the historic US Mint building that was razed.

Carter is unremitting in his criticism of Israel brutality in the occupation: group punishment, restricted movements, wanton destruction of private property, turning military weapons on non combatants, false arrests, and land grabs. Carter is emotionally involved in the situation as he has spent time living and working with the Palestinians on the ground. He cites specific incidents like the events in Hebron, that gives his arguments cogency.

President Carter summarizes his views on Israel as follows:"... two Israelis. One encompassed the ancient culture and moral values of the Jewish people, defined by Hebrew Scriptures.... The other existed within the occupied Palestinian territories, with policies shaped by refusal to acknowledge and respect the basic human rights of the citizens.” No wonder the Israeli apologists have pulled out the stops to demean Carter's book.

In his interviews Carter made the point that the US media is too intimidated to criticize Israel. Based on the strident attacks on Carter, the Israeli Lobby has played to Carter's script, but it has not yet frightened him. Bravo! Let us hope there are others who have the moral courage to tell the American people publicly about the bloody situation in Israeli occupied Palestine, that is fully supported by the US government. I do not regret my first vote for Carter as much now – as a matter of fact, hope he lives a 100 years. Robert E Bartos Colonel USA RET