Friday, December 14, 2007

Carter Embarrassed by US Human Rights

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that former President Jimmy Carter is upset by current US human rights policies.

Former President Jimmy Carter said Wednesday that current U.S. human rights practices are an "embarrassment" and are far from policies he put in place as president to make human rights a priority for U.S. foreign policy.

Carter said U.S. detention centers in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and in Iraq may one day have infamy as historic places where human rights were abused such as in Argentina, Chile, Poland, South Africa and the former Soviet Union.

"This is an embarrassment to the people in my country to know that my own nation's government now disavows the principles that were in the forefront of the world's consciousness in the late 1970s," said Carter, who was speaking Wednesday evening at The Carter Center during a discussion of civil rights in the former Soviet Union and the U.S.

"We have a very serious problem here," the former president said.

The problem Carter seems to be pouting over the most is that President Bush's policies aren't still stuck in the 1970's.

I'm having trouble understanding how Carter can equate Gitmo--where the prisoners get halal meals, exercise, and a copy of the Koran--with Auschwitz. Oh wait. The prisoners at Auschwitz got lots of exercise, a little bit of food, and a bonus serving of some really nice gas for the special ones. Yeah, Gitmo's just another Nazi extermination camp.

Contrary to Carter's delusions, the Bush administration has not disavowed human rights principles. It just believes we're in a war and treats the prisoners accordingly. Carter, on the other hand, would rather throw national security to the wind and put the detainees (and our tactics) on public trial. Good thing nobody but the enemies of our country are listening to him.

4 comments:

janice said...

Seems every time that guy opens his mouth, he's running this country down.

Why can't he just fade away. Better yet, renounce his citizenship and move to Gaza!

Malott said...

The worst president of my lifetime is still doing damage to the country.

As senility continues to creep into Jimmy Carter's ravings, I predict he will be quoted... Right up to the point where the embarrassment is too obvious to gloss over with talking points.

Anonymous said...

As I recall Carter's response to the embassy hostage-taking was to vow not to leave the White House. No travel until the issue was resolved, which it never was as long as he was president. That was an embarrassment.

SkyePuppy said...

Janice/Chris/CG,

The embarrassment that is former President Carter when his mouth is open, is the never-ending story. I would say it's the gift that keeps on giving, but really...