Lawyer-Wearing-Yarmulka

Is there no greater embarrassment than Jimmy Carter? Has he no shame? There are so many errors, both policy and factual, in his op-ed in today's Washington Post. I will try to address a few of them.

It is inarguable that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens, but it is inhumane and counterproductive to punish civilian populations in the illogical hope that somehow they will blame Hamas and Hezbollah for provoking the devastating response.

Doesn't this sound a lot like, "some of my best friends are Jewish"? Israel-haters always say that Israel has a right to defend itself, but they never, ever, approve with the exact methods that they do it.

The urgent need in Lebanon is that Israeli attacks stop, the nation's regular military forces control the southern region, Hezbollah cease as a separate fighting force, and future attacks against Israel be prevented. Israel should withdraw from all Lebanese territory, including Shebaa Farms, and release the Lebanese prisoners. Yet yesterday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected a cease-fire.

Notice that Carter didn't call for Hezbollah to release the two soldiers it kidnapped. But he does call for Lebanese prisoners to be freed, presumably including Samir Kuntar. Why exactly should he be released? He's not being held as a P.O.W., or was kidnapped by Israel. Rather he murdered 5 Israelis; including a 4 year old who's head was smashed by Kuntar's rifle butt. By what logic should Israel ever release this monster?

And why should Israel withdraw from Shebba Farms? It's Syrian territory! Even the U.N., who Carter thinks is more important than the U.S. government, says it's Syrian territory.

Traumatized Israelis cling to the false hope that their lives will be made safer by incremental unilateral withdrawals from occupied areas, while Palestinians see their remnant territories reduced to little more than human dumping grounds surrounded by a provocative "security barrier" that embarrasses Israel's friends and that fails to bring safety or stability.

No, Carter, the "security barrier" does bring safety and stability. How many suicide bombings have their been since the wall started going up. Walls are very effective at keeping people you want out. Why do you think that Palestinians use Kassam rockets? Suicide bombings are much more effective. The answer is of course, that it's really difficult to breach the wall.

I can go on and on, but I'm just getting madder and madder as I type. Never in American history has an ex-President (and miserable President to boot) spent so much of his time trying to undermine current U.S. foreign policy. We would all be better of if Carter dedicated the rest of his life building homes somewhere, or better yet, supervising elections in Cuba.

Every time he opens his mouth another part of this country is shamed.

I should note that one former president actually joined the confederacy, and as such was more anti-U.S. than Carter. But Jimmy is a close second.