Thursday, December 14, 2006

Jimmy Carter

Is it even remotely possible to take the critics of Jimmy Carter seriously? Carter compares the Israel-Palestine situation to apartheid South Africa. I don't know if this is a perfect comparison, but it is at least a legitimate claim. Carter's critics, including the pro-Israel lobby fall back to their standard cry: "If someone opposes Israel, they are anti-Semitic." Not only is this stupid, but it deflects any actual discussion of how the Israelis treat the Palestianians.

At the very least, can anyone deny the validity of Carter on this quote: A vocal pro-Palestinian viewpoint, he said, is “nonexistent in this country to any detectable degree.” Every story on this situation is told from an Israeli prespective. Palestianians are just terrorists to most Americans so they deserve what they get.

It's all deeply disturbing for many reasons, not the least of which is that the Palestianian situation is great propaganda for terrorist organizations around the world.

Of course, the Reagan right always thought Jimmy Carter was history's greatest monster, so I guess they must feel vindicated...