Position:Home>History> Is President Carter a traitor? Is he going to meet with Ben Laden next?

I don't think we need to question Carter's "sincerity" in order to oppose his personal efforts at diplomacy -- even in direct OPPOSITION-- to the sitting administration!.

In fact, Carter has been all about this ever since he left office!. I believe he is QUITE sincere -- he thinks if only HE can talk with the parties, it can all be ironed out!. His morally arrogance -- self-righteousness, pettiness and need to prove HE was right may be quite galling, even APPALLING -- but they need not be due to "insincerity"!. (Even his misrepresentations might often better be explained as self-delusions!.)

Of course, Carter's history on these matters, both while in office and since is mostly HORRID!. He has PRODUCED much more conflict than he has been any piece of resolving!.

It is in one sense unfortunate that he was made a party to the Israel-Egypt talks, which we must at the least give him credit for "not blowing"!. They were good and productive -- but NOT something any CARTER policy is responsible for initiating!. SADAT, not Carter, should get the kudos here!. At any rate, the fact that this happened during HIS administration, and that he did NOT 'blow it' has somehow allowed/enabled him and his supporters to ignore the utter FAILURE of policies he DID initiate (as well as instances where he FAILED to act)!. Carter's weakness emboldened the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (in part helping to create what became the Taliban, etc!., that has given us such trouble), he made NO real effort to keep Iran stable and so it fell (and THAT unpaid bill still looms large!) !.!.!. not to mention any other foreign setbacks (e!.g!., in Central American) on his watch!.

AFTER his term of office -- he tried (though ultimately failing) to undercut Reagan and Bush policies!.!.!. he did NO good in his talks in North Korea, virtually HANDING them nuclear capability (a poor appointment choice by Clinton there), and has been an absolute TOOL of the Arab terrorist groups of Palestine and Syria!.

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But about "treason" --

It's not very helpful to the discussion -- as perhaps you can see from the answers so far -- to speak of "treason" and advocate a trial on such charges that clearly WILL not come about!. The question of whether, morally and procedurally he MAY be guilty of something amounting to treason is not useful!. (And do note how VERY difficult it is to convict ANY U!.S!. citizen of treason -- sometimes frustratingly so, but generally a good thing!.)

Now I DO agree with you that Carter's solo missions SUPPOSEDLY as a "private citizen", but trading on his reputation and contacts as a former President, and FINANCED (quite unwillingly) by the American taxpayer, are foolish and even morally reprehensible!. But our focus should be on PREVENTING an individual (not just this one person) from engaging in certain behavior counter to American interests and policies!.

There "ought to be a law" of SOME sort that very clearly applies to former officials (be they ex-Presidents, Cabinet members, whoever) circumscribing their ability to do "solo diplomacy" that OPPOSES what the current ELECTED government is doing, including holding anything resembling formal/official "talks" with heads of state the U!.S!. is NOT meeting with!. The point is NOT whether you agree or disagree with the foreign policy of a particular President (be it EITHER Clinton or Bush) -- in NEITHER case ought private citizens with 'special connections' be able to undermine our elected government in this way!.!.!. WHATEVER their "intentions"!.

Note that violations need not be "prosecuted" -- again, let's not jump to the 'criminal' debate!. Revoking passports or visas, or limiting them, might be another consequence!. (Or, of course, you might require certain prior APPROVAL before such a trip is permitted!.)

Some have suggested that limitations be tied to the President's PENSION, since the American taxpayer is, in effect, funding Carter's private missions!. I feel this too!. The truth is, a MODERN President can easily find the funding OUTSIDE any such pension to do whatever he wishes (an argument against there even BEING a pension any longer)!. But it would be worth something to detach the funding from the U!.S!. TAXPAYERS!.

Of course, a major problem you will run into is that people who strongly oppose Bush's foreign policy (as in their right) may have some difficulty seeing that certain TYPES of opposition to their elected leader (and yes, he IS their leader under the democratic system we ALL live under here), and certain actions, that cannot be tolerated!.!.!. not even for what you sincerely believe would be better policies!.

Thus, if a Democrat wins the Presidency this year, *I* may strongly disagree with their foreign policy, and work hard through POLITICAL means to encourage a different policy!. But I have NO business running around the world conducting my own, independent "foreign policy"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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no he isn't a traitor!. i'm sure he had good reasons for ignoring lil'bush's order!. and by accepting the invitaition from hamas, it will be seen as a good thing to those people!. and he's not betraying anybody!. and the money is his retirement from the presidency!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Yes:

he is gonna meet with Bin Laden and they are gonna blow all of us up!!

How the heck do we know, there is no reason to worry about all of this, for you can not change the past, future, or present, so just let it go!! Goodness, not to be a freak,

I say that we as American's should be focused on why we have to pay over 5 dollars a gallon of gas!! That is crazy, for the state of Texas has billions of gas just sitting there,!!

That is an issue we need to worry about!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Yeah, well, they caught another dual-citizen spying for Israel today!. Israel isn't a "declared" enemy!. My guess is that only Congress can "declare" (but they don't have the ca-ho-nees)!.

We're too close to an election to give a rat's petunia about x-Prezes!. Let's wait and see how long the pardons list is as the Bush/Cheny Junta heads off into the sunset!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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It takes a lot of guts to approach an enemy on your own without a military force behind you!. Let me see GW do that !.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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The link is to the dictionary definition of the word 'treason!.' It is a word whose meaning many Americans seem to misunderstand!.

Clearly some people cannot be taught to think for themselves!. I recommend a vacation away from the States!. Try listening to news that isn't filtered through the US Media, hence 'The Bush propaganda machine'!. Then, you might get a clearer view of the issues involved!.

I think Carter may actually be a private citizen who has the right to speak to whomever he chooses!. Of course, I could be mistaken about those rights that are supposedly guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America!. If he COLLABORATED with our enemies, that would be treasonous!. Talking with them isn't forbidden!.

The US!?!? I never asked him!. I bet several million Americans never asked him not to meet with these people!. You mean, ignoring Bush's request!? Or ignoring the request of the present regime!? Could it be that Carter might learn something that would cast a whole new light on Bush's claim as to who is responsible for the whole 911 thing!? That perhaps Bin (Ibn) Laden never did actually confess!?

What are you scared that he might find out!?!?

::waits for more of those lovely thumbs-downs::

PS!. Enemy doesn't have 2 n's!. You were a political economist for 6 presidents!?!? That tells just how shi**y the educational level of our government is!. You can't even SPELL enemy!. hehehehehe!!!

also, try avoiding rash generalizations and emotionally charged language!. Some of us on this site do know how to think beyond those obvious propaganda tools!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Carter is an achiever!.He wants things done!.He is not interested in oratory!.He brokered the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel alnong with other problems!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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