21 May “The Worst in History”
Former President Carter’s criticism of the Bush Administration is the big news of the weekend. You can listen to the interview here. This is what Carter said in the interview:
Carter: “I interrelate my condemnation and criticism of this unnecessary invasion with the ministry of Christ as the Prince of Peace. So that’s what I try to do. Not always preaching against public policy. But you know sometimes I approve what’s been happening around the world in a good way and I interrelate to the text [of the Bible] as well…. ”
Q: Now you talked about this war and how you believe it’s wrong. Which President was worse, George W. Bush and Richard Nixon?
Carter: … I read an op-ed piece … that pretty well … describes my views…. I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world this Administration has been the worst in history. And the overt reversal of America’s basic values as expressed by previous Administrations, including George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others has been the most disturbing to me. We have a new policy now on war. We now have endorsed the concept of preemptive war where we go to war with another nation militarily even though our own security is not directly threatened if we want to change the regime there or if we feel sometime in the future our security might be endangered. That’s been a radical departure from all previous Administration policies. And we have had for the first time since Israel was founded we have had zero peace talks to try to bring a resolution of differences in the Middle East. That’s a radical departure from the past. We’ve also abandoned or directly refuted every nuclear arms control agreement ever negotiated down through history. And I think we have had a radical departure in my opinion from separation of church and state policies that have permeated previous administrations as expressed succinctly by Thomas Jefferson that we ought to build a wall between church and state. We’ve had an abandonment of almost every previous Administration’s policy on environmental quality. Many of them basic laws that were passed under Richard Nixon and other Republican Presidents as a matter of fact I think we have pretty well abandoned those. So I think the last few years have been of most concern to me.
Q: Sounds like you think it has been a disaster.
Carter: Well I think history will make a better judgment than I can. My hope is that some of those policies will be reversed during the next sixteen or eighteen months and if not the next president … no matter what party the President might represent, I think we will see a major domestic and international pressure for changes….
On Sunday, Carter backed off his remarks and said, “My remarks were maybe careless or misinterpreted, but I wasn’t comparing the overall administration and I was certainly not talking personally about any president.”
I would welcome comments on two topics: (1) the merits of Carter’s criticism, and (2) the propriety of a former President casting judgment on a sitting President.
As for the merits of Carter’s foreign policy criticisms, he criticizes the Bush Administration for (1) adopting a new policy of preemptive war; (2) failing to pursue Middle East Peace talks; and (3) abandoning nuclear arms control. Carter’s sensational statement that the Bush Administration has been the worst in history is what made the headlines, but the specific criticisms are rarely mentioned in news reports. I think that Carter’s criticisms are hyperbolic, but he is accurately stating three areas where the Bush Administration is open to quite legitimate criticism.
I also find it highly ironic that Carter criticizes the Bush Administration for not respecting the separation of church and state and yet in the same breath Carter condemns the unnecessary invasion in Iraq because it is inconsistent with the ministry of Christ as the Prince of Peace.
As for the criticism coming from a former President, I personally find it disturbing that a former President openly and strongly criticizes the policies of a current President. I can’t recall any other instance in which a former President has been so outspokenly critical of a sitting President. Although there are exceptions (i.e., Teddy Roosevelt), the norm is for former presidents to remain silent on the policies of subsequent Administrations.
Having lived through the Vietnam experience (US Army 14 Feb 1966 to 13 Feb 1969) and the nonsense of a “we’re smarter than you’ll ever be” collection of academics and businessmen running “government”, I feel very strongly that the state of our nation and its place in the world demands expression of opinion as former President Carter has done. I believe that in the very recent past, former President Gerald Ford expressed opinions about a previous President and the policies thereof. Further, given the increasing expression of opinion by now-retired senior military officers about the management of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a basis for criticism that too few of the American public seem to grasp the consequences of. In an AP news story today, a growing shortage of rifle ammunition for military purposes in now cutting into civilian and law enforcement supplies. Consider also the failures to anticipate and prepare for grievous wounds and long-term treatment thereof. What about the unparalleled consumption of vehicles, parts, and other equipment ostensibly dedicated to National Guard and Army Reserve use? Simply put, the current presidency is abominable given its open indifference to the 4th Amendment and habeas corpus and… Read more »
It isn’t just a matter of their policies Roger, it is a matter of their crimes — crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
One must ponder if Mr. Carter argues that George Bush is the worst president in history in hope of dislodging himself from that spot.
I’d have to be modern history, too. Neither of them comes close to James Buchanan.
Rhetoric Alert: Dear Roger, I see none of the high irony you note: Carter’s comments, unlike Bush’s policies, are not made on behalf of the nation. You must know well that it is one thing when the president purports to act on behalf of his god, but quite another when a former president makes statements in a personal capacity. -Bill