The Carter myth about foreign friends
America's worst president, Jimmy Carter, is making noise about President Bush again. Of course he made similar noises about Ronald Reagan who was a great president.
There is a lot of evidence that Carter is wrong when he says that the US is less respected in the world. Recent elections in Germany and France indicate that the US haters were defeated by people who want better relations with the US. William Drozdiak writes:
Here is another commentary on the warming relations with Europe. I have to add this question too, What is it about Carter that he assumes that when people are upset with us it is our fault? Could that be why he acted so disgracefully when the Iranians seized our embassy and held the staff captive for 444 days?
Don Surber does not hold Carter in high regard either.
There is a lot of evidence that Carter is wrong when he says that the US is less respected in the world. Recent elections in Germany and France indicate that the US haters were defeated by people who want better relations with the US. William Drozdiak writes:
France's newly elected president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has already stretched a warm hand of friendship across the Atlantic. He vowed to transform the venomous relations with Washington that prevailed under his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, urged his compatriots to emulate the social mobility and work ethic commonly found in the United States, and expressed pride in his nickname, "Sarko l'americain."He then goes on to deride several myths about trans Atlantic relations. Jimmy Carter should take note. What really upsets Carter is that the Bush administration decided early on that it would not let other countries dictate our strategy in defeating the enemies that attacked us. Certainly, we were wise to not let a failed president who groveled before the Islamist religious bigots of Tehran tells us how to deal with the latest group of religious bigots who attacked us.
Sarkozy's paean of affection for the United States echoed the sentiments of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who upon taking office in 2005 declared that she would strive to restore a close U.S.-German partnership. While President Bush is held in low esteem in many world capitals, the fact that the new leaders of "Old Europe" could win with pro-America platforms suggests that Yankee phobia may not be as toxic or universal as some pundits, mainly on the American left, claim.
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Here is another commentary on the warming relations with Europe. I have to add this question too, What is it about Carter that he assumes that when people are upset with us it is our fault? Could that be why he acted so disgracefully when the Iranians seized our embassy and held the staff captive for 444 days?
Don Surber does not hold Carter in high regard either.
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