Jimmie Carter is the oldest living president of the United
States. He may also be
remembered as the last US president who was concerned
about world peace, human rights, Israel as a rogue state, social welfare,
prevention of environmental degradation, a health system for all, free
education, and a more equitable distribution of wealth in his country. Of
course he could pursue these goals so long as the system governing the policies
of the United States would allow him. The difference between a system, state,
or regime and a government has been discussed before. Such regimes employ
governments, along with legislative and judicial system, (and in some cases
military) to ensure the continuation of policies, to protect it from the silent
majority and from other states. Of course, as the regime modifies its policies,
some of those apparatuses may not adhere to them, which may lead up to the
removal of the instrument from office. That may be the reason for Cater
administration not surviving more than one term. Needless to say that he was
replaced with one of the most reactionary presidents this country had seen. Of
course, we witnessed less qualified and more reactionary presidents since then.
The book, that is the subject of this article, was
published three years ago, containing day to day notes of Jimmie Carter in his
private diary, during the term of his presidency, and beyond. A large section
of the book covers Camp David Accords, which took much of Carter’s time in
creating a settlement between Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli
Prime Minister Menchem Begin, both assassinated some years later.
In part two of this three part article, corrupt governments and dictators supported or installed by the US government are discussed. This policy of the United States has proven to be remarkably successful, replacing British colonizing period. During his presidency, it continued to be an integral part of the US relationship with weaker countries, amid Carter’s human rights issues.
In part two of this three part article, corrupt governments and dictators supported or installed by the US government are discussed. This policy of the United States has proven to be remarkably successful, replacing British colonizing period. During his presidency, it continued to be an integral part of the US relationship with weaker countries, amid Carter’s human rights issues.
Corrupt
Leaders & Governments Supported by US:
It is definitely revolting to learn that the leader of one’s
country receives annual stipend from the big power! I wonder if his son (Abdullah) has
been receiving salary from the US since he replaced his father:
“I was informed that The Washington Post had information
that over a period of twenty years our country had an agreement with Jordan’s
King Hussein, to pay him a certain amount of money each year for intelligence
information and to induce his tribal chieftains to be loyal to our
country," 1/15/1977 (P. 21).
It may be useful to note that Idi Amin was installed by the
British, and his human rights abuses were never mentioned until he changed side
(during Carter administration). In a war created by western powers with
Tanzania, he fled to Libya first, and then to Saudi Arabia (dictators’ sanctuary) and remained there until his death, ten years ago:
“Furious at my comments about human rights abuse, Amin [Idi Amin
military dictator and president of Uganda] was threatening more than one
hundred missionaries serving in Uganda. Primarily under pressure from Saudi
Arabia, Amin finally agreed to let them leave Uganda,” 2/25/1977 (P. 29).
Considering more than a decade of American government’s military
attacks on other nations, creation of a religious war, kidnapping and torturing
foreign nationals, assassinations, and other murder and mayhem in foreign lands, it seems
like the “Ugly American” picture is much
uglier these days:
“I realized before we left on our trip that the last U.S. officials
to visit Venezuela were attached. Nixon had his life endangered, almost had his
car turned over, and Nelson Rockefeller met the same fate. When Eisenhower went
to Brazil eighteen years ago, there were massive demonstrations of students and
working people against him. When Kissinger tried to get permission to come into
Nigeria two or three years ago, he was refused. I hope the time of the “Ugly
American” is over,” 3/28/-4/3/1978
(P.181).
Those in negotiation with Iranians over the nuclear issues may want
to make a note of the followings:
“I met with Prime Minister Desai of India… We discussed an
Afghan-Iranian-India-Pakistan agreement to preserve peace in that area. Desai
showed me some interest in it. I asked him about an agreement also for that
region against nuclear weapons… His position is that they have a long-standing
contract that the U.S. can’t violate and that India will only adopt safeguards
if the major nuclear power agree on a comprehensive test ban and drastically
reduce our commitment to nuclear weapons,” 6/13/1978 (P. 200).
Ronald Reagan took care of Carter’s worries later on by creating
the Nicaraguan Contra Army:
“The Nicaraguan question has been substantially resolved. ..but we
are concerned about the spread to neighboring countries of the revolutionary
impact. El Salvador is weakest, but Honduras, Guatemala, and even Costa Rica
could be vulnerable.
I met with Jamie Roldos, president-elect of Ecuador, who was very
grateful that we had made it possible for him to win [an honest election]… The
democratization of Ecuador, and perhaps Bolivia, are two more strong steps that
may have resulted from our effort on human rights,” 7/20/1979 (P. 346).
This is probably the time that Saudis proved worthy of replacing
the Shah of Iran, as the police of the region. Saudi Arabia is governed by the
most corrupt family, whose survival depends on the wealth they receive for selling
their oil mines. They have recently proved their value even more by arming rebels
in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. A family installed less than a century
ago by the British, who runs the most backward theocracy by keeping half of its
population- females- prisoned in their houses, using money and ruthlessness to keep them
quite:
“The Saudis want us to play the lead role in protection of the
Persian Gulf region. They want to give us quiet backing but not be associated
with us publicly- which might hurt them with their Muslim brothers. This is
characteristic of weak countries- to have as many other nations love them as
possible and let strong countries like us defend their interests, both
privately and publicly,” 2/6/1980 (P. 398).
Israel:
It is interesting to compare views of French president then, with
the one ruling France now:
“Has breakfast with Giscard [Valery Giscard d’Estaing], who seems
to be a brilliant and strong man… He seemed to be quite convinced that Israelis
are international outlaws and that the Arab position is proper,” 5/10/1977 (P. 51).
Israeli public have proven many times that the majority is seeking
peace, amid the governments' ultra-right factions:
“… Opinion polls from Israel show that the people there are quite
flexible toward the West Bank, Palestinians, PLO, negotiations with the Arabs,
and genuinely want peace,” 7/19/1977 (P. 71).
It is interesting to compare the position of the Israeli government
of 35 years ago with rhetoric of Netanyahu now:
“The Israelis agreed to consider the refugee problem on a multinational
basis for the first time as part of the peace talks themselves, to consider the
question of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip jointly with Palestinians, the
Jordanians, and the Egyptians. They talked freely about partition of the West
Bank area between themselves and Jordan, and were adamant against any prospect
of an independent Palestinian state,” 10/4/1977 (P. 113).
Carter’s confession (summarized below) is very interesting and unique. The policy mentioned by Carter has been much stronger today, as the example in this very day, the newly
elected Iranian president who is coming from a Tea Party style conservative background himself, stretched his hand for face to face negotiation with Obama, while addressing the UN. Obama, most likely fearing Netanyahu and Israeli government and their lobbyists in the US, did not dare to
meet him in person, and assigned his Chief of Staff to negotiate:
“Since Israel’s founding in 1948, every U.S. president- myself
included- has been a staunch supporter of the country. We have protected Israel
from critical UN resolutions, using our influence and Security Council vetoes.
We have always been generous with financial aid… In addition, we have for many
years sent the Israel Defense Forces some of our latest and most destructive
weapons, including cluster bombs. Our laws prohibit use of these weapons for
effective purposes, and these were the laws I enforced in September 1977. Since
then, however, Israel has ignored these restraints when attacking Lebanon and
during the sustained assault on Gaza in January 2009,” 9/24/1977 (P. 107&108).
“I… wrote down the specific points for discussion with Begin. I
then read to Begin… they’re not willing to withdraw politically or militarily
from any part of the West Bank; not willing to stop the construction of new
settlements or the expansion of existing settlements, not willing to withdraw
Israeli settlers from the Sinai, nor if they stay to permit UN or Egyptian
protection for them; not willing to acknowledge that UN resolution 242 applies
to the West Bank/Gaza Strip area; and not willing to grant Palestinians a voice
in the determination of their own future.
Begin said this was a negative way to express their position, but
didn’t deny the accuracy of any of it. For the first time, over their strenuous
objections, the true position of the Israeli government was revealed,” 3/22/1977 (P. 180).
Speaking of the lobbying pressure, Carter was constantly pressed, as his notes reveal:
“Friday evening we only had forty-three votes. The lobbying
pressure is the most intense that anyone had ever seen on the Hill. It’s
unbearable for some people, like [Frank] Church, Gary Hart, [William] Hathaway,
Tom McIntyre, Birch Bayh, Wendell Ford, Floyd Haskell, and others- all of whom
agree that the proposal should be approved, but can’t stand up against the
pressure,” 5/15/1978 (P. 194).
“[Notes for the book] Since 1971, annual U.S. aid to Israel had
been about $1.4 billion. Later, in 1985, annual assistance was increased to
about $3 billion; it has been maintained at that level since then. This does
not include special loans and forgiven interest payments,” (P.304).
Some may wonder why Andrew Young left the politics all together, and never looked back. The force of the regime is harsh and brutal:
“I learned that Andy [Young] has gotten himself into serious
trouble by meeting with the UN PLO representative,” 8/14/1979 (P. 351). “Andy decided he
would resign today… Andy was not penitent at all, saying he had done what he
thought was right. It is absolutely ridiculous that we pledged under Kissinger
and Nixon that we would not negotiate with the PLO,” 8/15/1979 (P. 352)
The following statement is made at the time Vatican still had some credibility left:
“I told him [the pope] I would like him to make a trip to
Jerusalem. He replied that this is a sensitive subject for him… My belief is
that a visit by the pope to Jerusalem would reassure Christians and be well
received by Arabs, indicating that Jerusalem was not exclusively a Jewish place
to worship. He said there was the opportunity there for embarrassment. I told
him it would not be a catastrophe for the pope to be embarrassed if acting in a
good cause,” 10/6/1979 (P. 360).
It is important to note that the US government never publicly and officially acknowledged Israel’s nuclear facilities:
“We have a growing belief among our scientists that the Israelis
did indeed conduct a nuclear test explosion in the ocean near the southern end
of Africa,” 2/27/1980 (P. 405).
The following statement is one of the reasons Carter never saw a
second term:
“Reagan spoke to the B’nai B’rith last night and accused me of
betraying Israel,” 9/4/1980 (P. 462).
_____________________________
White House
Diary- Farra, Straus and Giroux; Copyright 2010 by Jimmy Carter
