That's Enough From The Peanut Gallery

Former President Hurls Insult From The Cheap Seats; Ignores Own Foreign Policy Track Record

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Former President Jimmy Carter Recklessly Lashes Out At President On Foreign Policy:

"Former President Carter Says President Bush's Administration Is 'The Worst In History' In International Relations, Taking Aim At The White House's Policy Of Pre-Emptive War And Its Middle East Diplomacy." ("Carter Blasts Bush On His Global Impact," The Associated Press, 5/20/06)

FLASHBACK: Foreign Policy Under Carter Administration:

"Carter's Foreign Policy Is Widely Considered A Failure." (Peter Beinart, Op-Ed, "The Rehabilitation Of The Cold-War Liberal," The New York Times, 4/30/06)

During A Commencement Address In 1977, Carter Claimed "We Are Now Free Of That Inordinate Fear Of Communism." "Four years ago, at another Notre Dame commencement, President Carter delivered what became one of his best-known and controversial statements: '...We are now free of that inordinate fear of communism which once led us to embrace any dictator who joined us in that fear. I'm glad that's being changed.'" (Lou Cannon, "'The Gipper' Returns to Notre Dame," The Washington Post, 5/18/81)

During His First Visit To A Communist Country In 1977, Carter Claimed "Old Ideological Labels Have Lost Their Meanings." "Carter, making his first official visit to a Communist country, left the plane in a light snow flurry and a bitter wing that snapped the Polish and American flags flying for the occasion. ... In his arrival statement, Carter said: 'It is a world in which old ideological labels have lost their meanings and in which the basic goals of friendship, peace, justice, human rights, and individual freedoms loom more important than ever.'" (Stephen H. Miller, The Associated Press, 12/29/77)

In 1979, 60 Americans Were Held Hostage In Iran For 444 days. "The U.S. and Iran broke relations in 1979 after Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held its occupants hostage for 444 days." ("American Delegation Of Peace Activists Arrive In Tehran," The Associated Press, 3/4/07)

• "Iranian Demonstrators Threatened ... To Execute Some 60 Americans Held Hostage At The U.S. Embassy In Tehran ..." (The Associated Press, 11/6/79)

• "The Seizure Of The Hostages And The Carter Administration's Inability To Free Them Had Eroded The Influence Of The United States Abroad ... And Left Him Appearing Confused And Ineffectual To The American People." (Nicholas M. Horrock, Op-Ed, "The Hostage Effect Are Iranians Seeking Repeat Role In U.S. Election History?" Chicago Tribune, 10/9/88)

In 1980, The U.S. Rationed Gasoline Because Of Strained Relations In The Middle East. "The Gasoline rationing plan is now legally in place." (Editorial, "Ready For Rationing?" The Washington Post, 8/5/80)

• The Stalemate On Peace Negotiations In The Middle East Led To Gas Rationing. "[T]he United States still remains dependent upon the Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries for nearly 40 percent of its oil imports, and the continuing stalemate on Middle East peace negotiations has increased the threat of future supply problems." (Peter Behr, "Assessing Energy Conservation," The Washington Post, 9/21/80)

• Prior To Rationing, Shortage Of Gas Caused Long Lines At Gas Stations. "In June 1979, when an oil shortage panic created long lines at U.S. gas stations ..." (Nicolas B. Tatro, "Hints Of Saudi Dissatisfaction Over Ties To United States," The Associated Press, 2/19/81)

In 1979, U.S. Ambassador To Afghanistan Was Murdered By Terrorists. "The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph (Spike) Dubs, was killed ... when Afghan police stormed the Kabul hotel room where he was being held by terrorist gunmen who had kidnapped him a few hours earlier." (John M. Goshko and Richard M. Weintraub, "U.S. Ambassador To Afghanistan Is Kidnapped, Slain In Shootout," The Washington Post, 2/15/79)

In 1979, The U.S. Embassy In Pakistan Was Attacked And Burned; One Marine Killed. "Moslem mobs 'shouting kill the American dogs!' stormed and burned the U.S. Embassy ... The State Department in Washington said one Marine was shot and killed and about 100 Americans were rescued from the roof of the burning building by Pakistani troops and taken to the British Embassy." (Mohammed Aftab, The Associated Press, 11/21/79)