Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter: on Foreign Policy
Alberto Gonzales:
Post-9-11 paradigm renders Geneva Convention obsolete
The basic changes in human rights policies were discussed and adopted in the White House, the Justice Department, and the Department of Defense--with spasmodic dissent from the State Department. Reports have revealed these kinds of official declarations:
- "The President, despite domestic and international laws constraining the use of torture, has the authority as Commander in Chief to approve almost any physical or psychological actions during interrogation, up to and including torture."
--Department of Defense - "In my judgment, this new [post 9/11] paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions."
--White House legal counsel Alberto Gonzales, now Attorney General, the chief law enforcement officer of the US
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.127
Sep 26, 2006
Bill Clinton:
Approved expanding Israeli settlements in West Bank
American opposition to settlement activity prevailed during the previous 4 decades, beginning when Dwight Eisenhower was president and extending through the terms of his successors, until 1993, when
President Bill Clinton gave almost blanket approval to settlement expansion.
President George H.W. Bush had been especially forceful in opposing specific Israeli settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, even threatening to cut off financial assistance to Israel.Israeli plans to retain far-reaching
West Bank settlements will likely spell the death knell for prospects for the "road map for peace," the keystone of President George W. Bush's Middle East policy.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.114-115
Sep 26, 2006
Dwight Eisenhower:
Opposed Israeli settlements in disputed areas
American opposition to settlement activity prevailed during the previous 4 decades, beginning when Dwight Eisenhower was president and extending through the terms of his successors, until 1993, when
President Bill Clinton gave almost blanket approval to settlement expansion.
President George H.W. Bush had been especially forceful in opposing specific Israeli settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, even threatening to cut off financial assistance to Israel.Israeli plans to retain far-reaching
West Bank settlements will likely spell the death knell for prospects for the "road map for peace," the keystone of President George W. Bush's Middle East policy.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.114-115
Sep 26, 2006
George W. Bush:
OpEd: obsessed with subverting ICC international authority
The Bush administration's obsession with the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an additional irritant. For several years, The Carter Center worked with Washington officials and leaders from many other nations to evolve the ICC,
designed to prevent and punish acts of genocide and horrendous war crimes.
The ICC charter, signed in 2002 by 139 nations, was carefully drafted to prevent punishment of Americans for genocidal acts overseas, provided US courts will address any such crimes.
However, the US is now attempting to force subservient nations to guarantee blanket immunity for American military personnel, contractor employees, and tourists.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.106
Sep 26, 2006
George W. Bush:
Opposed expanding Israeli settlements in West Bank
American opposition to settlement activity prevailed during the previous 4 decades, beginning when Dwight Eisenhower was president and extending through the terms of his successors, until 1993, when
President Bill Clinton gave almost blanket approval to settlement expansion.
President George H.W. Bush had been especially forceful in opposing specific Israeli settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, even threatening to cut off financial assistance to Israel.Israeli plans to retain far-reaching
West Bank settlements will likely spell the death knell for prospects for the "road map for peace," the keystone of President George W. Bush's Middle East policy.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.114-115
Sep 26, 2006
George W. Bush:
$1.2B for 5-year campaign against malaria in Africa
President Bush announced in June 2005 a plan to furnish $1.2 billion for a 5-year campaign against malaria in 15 African countries where 175 million people are at risk. This would be a major contribution--if the promise is fulfilled. The claims of
generosity are quite popular both at home and abroad, but most previous commitments have been abandoned by the White House, slashed by the Congress, or so bogged down in administrative complexities that little support actually reaches the people in need.
The annual US foreign aid budget for fighting malaria, for instance, has been $90 million, but 95% of the money is being spent on consultants and less than 5% on mosquito nets, drugs, and insecticide spraying to fight the disease.
Senator Sam Brownback complained about this policy, and received only "vague descriptions and math that doesn't add up," and demanded an audit by the government accountability office.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter,p.188-189
Sep 26, 2006
Jimmy Carter:
We have neglected alliances and international organizations
Our nation has declared independence from the restraints of international organizations and has disavowed many long-standing global agreements, including judicial decisions, nuclear arms accords, controls on biological weapons,
environmental protection, the international system of justice, and the humane treatment of prisoners. Even with our troops involved in combat and America facing the threat of additional terrorist attacks, we have neglected alliances with most of the
very nations we need to have join us in the long-term fight against global terrorism. All these political actions have been orchestrated by those who believe that the utilization of our nation's tremendous power and influence should not be
constrained by foreigners.Fortunately, these national policies and this disharmony have not yet become permanent.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p. 4-5
Sep 26, 2006
Jimmy Carter:
Got Chinese leader to allow Bibles and religious freedom
With the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, during his state visit to Washington, Deng and I had a number of wide-ranging talks. He asked what inspired my first interest in his country. I replied that I was raised as a Baptist and that our preeminent heroes
were the women Christian leaders who went to China as missionaries to spread the gospel.Deng pointed out that religious activities of that kind had been terminated when the People's Republic of China was established in 1949. Under the Communist
regime, in fact, the official government policy was atheism, and worship services and the distribution of Bibles and other holy books were prohibited. I asked if it might be possible to change these policies, and he asked for specific suggestions.
I made three requests: guarantee freedom of worship, permit the distribution of Bibles, and reopen the door to missionaries. [Deng promised] to provide for religious freedom and that Bibles would be authorized [but not missionaries].
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p. 25-26
Sep 26, 2006
Jimmy Carter:
Cuban embargo only punishes suffering Cuban people
Some American political leaders have adopted Fidel Castro as the ultimate human villain, and have elevated the small and militarily impotent nation of Cuba as one of the greatest threats to our nation's security and culture.
There was a justified concern, during a brief period more than 4 decades ago, when President John Kennedy was informed that Soviet missiles were being sent to Cuba, and the "Cuban missile crisis" was properly named.
Since then, the continued fixation on Cuba has become ludicrous and counterproductive. A punitive embargo has been imposed on the already suffering Cuban people, the freedom of our own citizens to visit and trade with Cuba has been curtailed, and
cultural and humanitarian cooperation has been outlawed. The only tangible results of this policy have been to hurt the people of Cuba and turn them against the US.
With the missile crisis resolved, in 1977 I removed all travel restraints.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.102-103
Sep 26, 2006
Jimmy Carter:
Religious Right wants Mideast war to hasten The Rapture
Almost everyone has heard of the "Left Behind" series. Their religious premise, mostly from the book of Revelation, describes the scenario for the end of the world.These believers are convinced that they have a personal responsibility to hasten this
coming of the "rapture" in order to fulfill biblical prophecy. Their agenda calls for a war in the Middle East against Islam (Iraq?) and the taking of the entire Holy Land by Jews (occupation of the West Bank?), with the total expulsion of all gentiles.
This is to be followed by infidels (antichrists) conquering the area, and a final triumph of the Messiah.
Based on these premises, some top Christian leaders have been in the forefront of promoting the Iraqi war, and make frequent trips to Israel, to
support it with funding, and lobby in Washington for the colonization of Palestinian territory. Strong pressure from the religious right has been a major factor in America's quiescent acceptance of the massive building of Israeli settlements.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.113-114
Sep 26, 2006
Jimmy Carter:
People believe foreign aid is 15% but it's actually under 1%
Americans are willing to be generous in helping others--and they believe that our government gives as much as 15% of our federal budget in foreign aid. But we are, in fact, the stingiest of all industrialized nations.
We allot about 1/30 as much as is commonly believed. Our gross national income (GNI) is about $11 trillion, of which we share with poor nations only 16 cents out of each $100. If we add all the donations from
American foundations and from other private courses to the government's funds, the total still amounts to just 22 cents per $100 of national income.When confronted with these embarrassing facts, many well-informed Americans reply that we are
quite generous in responding to catastrophes, such as the recent tsunami damage in Asia. This is true, and an admirable characteristic of our citizens, but most people do not realize that dealing with persistent suffering is equally important.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.187
Sep 26, 2006
John F. Kennedy:
Travel restraints after Cuban missile crisis kept until 1977
Some American political leaders have adopted Fidel Castro as the ultimate human villain, and have elevated the small and militarily impotent nation of Cuba as one of the greatest threats to our nation's security and culture.
There was a justified concern, during a brief period more than 4 decades ago, when President John Kennedy was informed that Soviet missiles were being sent to Cuba, and the "Cuban missile crisis" was properly named.
Since then, the continued fixation on Cuba has become ludicrous and counterproductive. A punitive embargo has been imposed on the already suffering Cuban people, the freedom of our own citizens to visit and trade with Cuba has been curtailed, and
cultural and humanitarian cooperation has been outlawed. The only tangible results of this policy have been to hurt the people of Cuba and turn them against the US.
With the missile crisis resolved, in 1977 I removed all travel restraints.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p.102-103
Sep 26, 2006
New Testament:
Bibles banned in China from 1949 until 1979
When the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, under the Communist regime, the official government policy was atheism, and worship services and the distribution of Bibles and other holy books were prohibited.I asked [Deng Xiaoping] if it
might be possible to change these policies, and he asked for specific suggestions. After a few moments' thought, I made 3 requests: guarantee freedom of worship, permit the distribution of Bibles, and reopen the door to missionaries. Before returning to
China, Deng Xiaoping told me that the basic law of China would be changed to provide for religious freedom and that Bibles would be authorized. However, he would not approve the return of Western missionaries because, he said, they had "lived like
royalty" & had tried to subvert the lifestyles of the Chinese people. Within 3 years, he had kept both his promises, with a proviso that any new church congregations would register with the government. They could then conduct services freely, as desired.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter, p. 25-26
Sep 26, 2006
Sam Brownback:
Cut in half the anti-malaria budget for Africa
Pres. Bush announced in June 2005 a plan to furnish $1.2 billion for a 5-year campaign against malaria in 15 African countries where 175 million people are at risk. This would be a major contribution--if the promise is fulfilled.
The annual US foreign aid budget for fighting malaria, for instance, has been $90 million, but 95% of the money is being spent on consultants and less than 5% on mosquito nets, drugs, and insecticide spraying to fight the disease.
Senator Sam Brownback, a conservative Kansas Republican, has complained about this policy, and has introduced a bill to force the administration to spend half of its malaria budget on treatment. Brownback pointed out that the government's list of
contractors on its Web site has not been updated for 4 years. The senator said he had received only "vague descriptions and math that doesn't add up," and demanded an audit by the government accountability office.
Source: Our Endangered Values, by Jimmy Carter,p.188-189
Sep 26, 2006
Page last updated: Aug 09, 2015