Time For Jimmy Carter To Move On

Jimmy Carter just isn't getting any respect.

Watching the unfolding Carter debacle has rewarded us with unexpected reactions. His meeting with Hamas terrorist leaders has brought Carter's isolation into sharper focus.

First there are Carter's fellow Elders. Unlike Carter, The Elders knew when to fold

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 8, 2008

Statement by The Elders on the Middle East

The Elders have been exploring ways that they can contribute to peace and to the world’s understanding of the complex issues involved in the Middle East conflict.

They had planned a visit to the region in April to meet and listen to representatives from government, civil society, business and the public in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. The Elders will continue consultations with key leaders in the region and outside with the purpose of developing a comprehensive report, but have decided to postpone their visit. [emphasis added]

On the other hand, while Israel is understandably shunning Carter, they are not alone. Eric Trager writes that one Islamist group still thinks Carter is a puppet of Israel and the US:

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has announced that its leadership has refused former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s request for a meeting. According to PIJ’s QudsNews website, Egyptian authorities contacted PIJ Secretary-General Dr. Ramadan Shallah on Carter’s behalf earlier this week, inviting Shallah to meet with Carter in Cairo. Shallah is listed on the FBI’s list of Most Wanted Terrorists, and the reward for information leading to his apprehension is $5 million. In turning down the request, Shallah declared that Carter is “carrying an American-Israeli agenda,” while PIJ spokesman Daoud Shahab blasted Carter’s criticism of Palestinian rocket attacks during the former president’s visit to Sderot.

No matter how subservient Carter has shown himself ready to be, there will always be those like Islamic Jihad who will demand complete dhimmitude. According to Carter, Hamas and Syria must be made part of the negotiations, regardless of their terrorism--what will he do with Islamic Jihad's participation?

Meanwhile, back in the US, Congressman Joe Knollenberg of Michigan introduced legislation preventing the US government from giving taxpayer money to the Carter Center.

“America must speak with one voice against our terrorist enemies,” Knollenberg said. “It sends a fundamentally troubling message when an American dignitary is engaged in dialogue with terrorists. My legislation will make sure that taxpayer dollars are not being used to support discussions or negotiations with terrorist groups.”

...Knollenberg was the first member of Congress to speak out against President Carter’s planned meeting with Hamas, sending a letter to the former president immediately following news of the plan. Knollenberg’s letter is available online at: http://knollenberg.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=88299

The bill, the Coordinated American Response to Extreme Radicals Act (CARTER Act), would prohibit any taxpayer dollars from being directed to the Carter Center. The Center has received at least $19 million in federal taxpayer funds since 2001.

With all of the attention he has been getting, apparently those with the most to gain (or lose) from Carter's venture--couldn't care less. Lisa Goldman reports that Carter's visit has been virtually ignored by the media--but not necessarily out of maliciousness:

Still, even here in super-liberal Tel Aviv, the fact is that I could not find anyone on the street who could acknowledge anything beyond bare awareness of Carter’s visit.

Curious to know whether the Palestinian street was similarly underwhelmed by the visit of an ex-president who is considered pro-Palestinian, I called a Palestinian friend who is the Ramallah-based correspondent for a major international Arab satellite news channel.

Turns out that the people on the streets of Ramallah didn’t really care about the visit of “an ex-president who is old and has no real power,” either.

Carter's presidency was a disaster. His claim to fame rests on his Carter Center and his Nobel Prize. There is already a move to without funding from his Center. As far as his winning of the Nobel Prize goes, it was recognized more as a statement, as a slap in the face to Bush:

The head of the Nobel committee, Gunnar Berge, said the decision to pick Carter "can and must also be seen as criticism of the line the current U.S. administration has taken on Iraq."

Well, the message was received--and it is time for Carter to move on.
Apparently everyone else has.

Technorati Tag: Jimmy Carter.