How aggravating. MORE clear proof of how desperately we need REAL leaders, especially at our highest levels of leadership positions - Presidency, Cabinet, Congress, Judiciary, etc. ANOTHER (in this case with Carter, former) politician stating the obvious, and common sense, as if THEY have a sudden "revelation" that is the answer to an extremely, AND SOLVABLE, serious problem. "Stop the killing"? - what a unique idea. The people we have, and have had, in politics at every level are a shameful disgrace to a profession that, with the right people involved, COULD be so honorable, respected and powerful, ruined by the arrogance, monumental incompetence, greed, corruption, and cowardice of the persons (and their enablers) in the profession. Looking for the reasons that cause terrorism, poverty, violence, conflicts, unemployment, crime, and so on? Look no further than the bought-and-paid-for people who are politicians, who are slaves to money, who allow the conditions to exist that are destroying our country. You, by your lack of ACTIVE involvement (words do NOTHING), are letting this country be destroyed, but you have the power to stop the destruction. Take action and get involved. Start caring about ALL people, each other, and the governance of this country, instead of being so lazy and so easily manipulated, obsessed with having the newest "gadget", and the endless and shallow gossip, and rumors, that permeate our society, and that business exploits.
1
"How can this be solved peacefully"??!
Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell & Bush are experienced Mideast hands, right? Why not send them in to straighten everything out? Maybe they'll be welcomed as liberators.
Jimmy Carter for President!
1
President Carter,I wish you were in charge of the United Nations which is a total failure and a complete disaster under the current leadership.
Your call for 'Stop the Killing' should've been implemented on the day one of this Syrian War.
Just because we do not like the leader of a country, doesn't mean we've to remove him by force. And in the process millions of people who died and many millions more who were displaced and injured, are real human beings.
They're real people. Just like any of us.
Just because they're Muslims, we do not have to stop crying for their loss because they mourn for their dead just like we do.
So, why this lack of compassion for their plight ?
Only you among many others in this country read the scripture correctly, which clearly says, "Thou shall not kill." Period.
But for the last 5 years or so we as a nation and our allies are engaged in this horrible massacre of Syrian civilian citizens either directly or through our proxies in the middle east like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, U.A.E., just to name a few beside Assad who is nothing but a dictator.
So, "Why we're allowing the slaughter of the Syrian civilians by the millions ? Is it because they're Muslims whose blood is cheap just because they don't follow our Judeo- Christian doctrine ?"
I think, you know it as well as many others that 'crusade' is the only reason why we're allowing this Genocide in Syria, only because almost all of them are Muslims and we consider their blood "impure". Nothing else.
Your call for 'Stop the Killing' should've been implemented on the day one of this Syrian War.
Just because we do not like the leader of a country, doesn't mean we've to remove him by force. And in the process millions of people who died and many millions more who were displaced and injured, are real human beings.
They're real people. Just like any of us.
Just because they're Muslims, we do not have to stop crying for their loss because they mourn for their dead just like we do.
So, why this lack of compassion for their plight ?
Only you among many others in this country read the scripture correctly, which clearly says, "Thou shall not kill." Period.
But for the last 5 years or so we as a nation and our allies are engaged in this horrible massacre of Syrian civilian citizens either directly or through our proxies in the middle east like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, U.A.E., just to name a few beside Assad who is nothing but a dictator.
So, "Why we're allowing the slaughter of the Syrian civilians by the millions ? Is it because they're Muslims whose blood is cheap just because they don't follow our Judeo- Christian doctrine ?"
I think, you know it as well as many others that 'crusade' is the only reason why we're allowing this Genocide in Syria, only because almost all of them are Muslims and we consider their blood "impure". Nothing else.
1
Pres. Carter is a man of peace, wisdom and sage advice. Yes, stop the killing, but who started it? Isn't it incumbent on those who instigated this catastrophe to cease and desist? Shouldn't those who sent in jihadi proxies call off their dogs first, instead of acting as though they're the good guys? Think what you want, but Syria and Assad have had every right to defend themselves against the non-Syrian terrorists and invaders, sent there to enact regime change. We all forget John Kerry having dinner with the Assads, drinking wine, enjoying conversation. Mind you, that will never happen with the characters the US has been supporting with Saudi help. Never.
JIMMY CARTER Steps up to the plate to encourage working toward peace in Syria. He is pragmatic and clear eyed about the destruction that the Syrians have endured. The road ahead will be challenging. But the fact is that in all human history all wars have been ended by politically negotiated agreements. Using words rather than weapons saves lives and rebuilds nations.
2
Stop the killing.
1
More than any other country involved in the Syrian civil war, the United States has fomented, perpetuated and exacerbated the killing and consequent humanitarian crisis.
Five years ago, the CIA seized the opportunity presented by largely peaceful Arab Spring protests in Syria to foment civil war and violently overthrow Assad goverment. Much as they did in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the CIA financed, provided diplomatic cover, and tried to ligitimze the mostly foreign Islamic jihadis, who seek to establish a Sunni-Wahabbi goverment. CIA has financed, trained and armed rebels comprised of elements of al Qeada, Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, and ISIL.
Now theey're giving the Islamic rebels TOW missiles (tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided) capable of downing a commercial airliner at takeoff or landing. Shades of Stinger missiles in 1980s Afghanistan.
Despite their protestations to the contrary, the US actually prioritizes deposit Assad over defeating ISIL.
If the US really wanted to "stop the killing" and refugee crisis in Syria and defeat ISIL, they would end their support of the Islamist rebels and join with Russia to help the Syrian government regain control of its territory and borders. Only then can steps be taken for an orderly and peaceful transition of power in Syria.
Five years ago, the CIA seized the opportunity presented by largely peaceful Arab Spring protests in Syria to foment civil war and violently overthrow Assad goverment. Much as they did in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the CIA financed, provided diplomatic cover, and tried to ligitimze the mostly foreign Islamic jihadis, who seek to establish a Sunni-Wahabbi goverment. CIA has financed, trained and armed rebels comprised of elements of al Qeada, Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, and ISIL.
Now theey're giving the Islamic rebels TOW missiles (tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided) capable of downing a commercial airliner at takeoff or landing. Shades of Stinger missiles in 1980s Afghanistan.
Despite their protestations to the contrary, the US actually prioritizes deposit Assad over defeating ISIL.
If the US really wanted to "stop the killing" and refugee crisis in Syria and defeat ISIL, they would end their support of the Islamist rebels and join with Russia to help the Syrian government regain control of its territory and borders. Only then can steps be taken for an orderly and peaceful transition of power in Syria.
1
Assad leads a TERRORIST regime. He is a war criminal. His regime and his TERRORIST allies (Hezbullah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards) have murdered 20 times as many civilians as ISIS. Just yesterday his air force destroyed a convoy of trucks attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to a starving population.
Barrel bombs, poison gas, starvation - you name it. The regime has murdered over 400,000 and made refugees of half the pre-war population. The mass exodus to surrounding countries and to Europe is a direct consequence of Assad's siege of Syria's civilians. Assad must go. The solution is to put an end to the massive supply of weapons and money that have flowed to the war criminal Assad for the past five years from the Iranian mullahs and Putin. And the withdrawal of ALL foreign forces - Russians, Iranians, and Iranian proxies.
"Syria" is an artificial concept, just as "Iraq" is. There is a Shia (Alawite) region, a Sunni region, and a Kurdish region. Each should be autonomous.
The Kurdish people is a pro-Western anti-terrorist people with a distinct culture, language, and history who have been ignored by the world. Ultimately there should be a Kurdistan consisting of the Kurdish people in their contiguous territories in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. The Sunni and Shia of both Syria and Iraq should each be joined with their co-religionists into their own unions. In effect, the cobbled-together entities of "Syria" and "Iraq" should be disbanded and replaced by nation-states.
Barrel bombs, poison gas, starvation - you name it. The regime has murdered over 400,000 and made refugees of half the pre-war population. The mass exodus to surrounding countries and to Europe is a direct consequence of Assad's siege of Syria's civilians. Assad must go. The solution is to put an end to the massive supply of weapons and money that have flowed to the war criminal Assad for the past five years from the Iranian mullahs and Putin. And the withdrawal of ALL foreign forces - Russians, Iranians, and Iranian proxies.
"Syria" is an artificial concept, just as "Iraq" is. There is a Shia (Alawite) region, a Sunni region, and a Kurdish region. Each should be autonomous.
The Kurdish people is a pro-Western anti-terrorist people with a distinct culture, language, and history who have been ignored by the world. Ultimately there should be a Kurdistan consisting of the Kurdish people in their contiguous territories in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. The Sunni and Shia of both Syria and Iraq should each be joined with their co-religionists into their own unions. In effect, the cobbled-together entities of "Syria" and "Iraq" should be disbanded and replaced by nation-states.
4
How about we also stop arming everybody? Obama is about to provide even more weapons to Israel after providing Saudi Arabia with the bombs it uses to kill innocents in Yemen? Obama has sold more arms than any other President and his Nobel Peace Prize should be taken back. Instead of solar panels, fiber optics, windmills or High Speed Rail the US now is almost solely in the business of exporting the Weapons of Death? This is a disgrace and we will not have a peaceful world so long as the Merchants of Death, Lockheed, Boeing and the rest, are free to export their toxic wares all over the planet.
Kudos as always to Jimmy Carter, who has been ostracized from the Corporate War Democratic Party for daring to challenge the militarism of Israel.
Kudos as always to Jimmy Carter, who has been ostracized from the Corporate War Democratic Party for daring to challenge the militarism of Israel.
8
Would you consider running for president again? Please?
5
Unlike President Carter (whom I greatly respect) I wouldn't put the burden entirely on the shoulders of Russia and the United States. There are other actors with their own narrow agenda, like Saudi-Arabia, Turkey (the Kurdish issue), but also Iran and to some extent, Israel as well.
A joint Russian-US enforcement of a ceasefire and an immediate halt to ALL arms and logistical support to all parties is the only way to 'stop the killing'.
A joint Russian-US enforcement of a ceasefire and an immediate halt to ALL arms and logistical support to all parties is the only way to 'stop the killing'.
2
It's not Syria. And it's not Assad. It's Syria and Assad knowing whatever it does, Russian will back it. Therefore, it's Putin who supplies Syria, bombs aids groups and is responsible for all of the killing. Putin is the biggest cancer on this world now. And he will get his claws into anything he can.
6
Al Bashar's regime in Syria was as bad as any dictatorial government in the Middle East. With some undemocratic and repressive governments (e.g., Saudi Arabia and Jordan), the USA has had a good relationship. With Syria the USA didn't have a hostile relationship. Now, with this backdrop, watch the developments in the ME. The Arab Spring heralded change in a number of countries. But, certain regimes held their ground where the external powers extended their full support.
With the American connivance, the French and the British took down Gaddafi of Libya. But Saudi Arabia was protected along with its client regimes. Haplessly watching the Western powers and the USA on the side of the Sunni Muslim, Saudi Arabia, Iran, a Shia Muslim country, extended its open support to a fellow Shia country, Syria. The Iranians roped in Russia and China also on the side of Syria.
The initial rebellion against Bashar's rule four years ago was said to be by a relatively smaller pro-Sunni group owing allegiance to Saudi Arabia. Bashar's heavy handed suppression of that rebellion further spread the fire of opposition in Syria. But, at the same time, all other Islamic sects and ethnic groups clung to Bashar for their security. They felt if an anti-Bashar, anti-Shia pro-Saudi faction came to power, it will annihilate the Shias, Yezidis, Alawites, and Christians of Syria.
Pres. Jimmy Carter, a church preacher, must be familiar with the Islamic fault lines. Faith-reconciliation can only stop violence!
With the American connivance, the French and the British took down Gaddafi of Libya. But Saudi Arabia was protected along with its client regimes. Haplessly watching the Western powers and the USA on the side of the Sunni Muslim, Saudi Arabia, Iran, a Shia Muslim country, extended its open support to a fellow Shia country, Syria. The Iranians roped in Russia and China also on the side of Syria.
The initial rebellion against Bashar's rule four years ago was said to be by a relatively smaller pro-Sunni group owing allegiance to Saudi Arabia. Bashar's heavy handed suppression of that rebellion further spread the fire of opposition in Syria. But, at the same time, all other Islamic sects and ethnic groups clung to Bashar for their security. They felt if an anti-Bashar, anti-Shia pro-Saudi faction came to power, it will annihilate the Shias, Yezidis, Alawites, and Christians of Syria.
Pres. Jimmy Carter, a church preacher, must be familiar with the Islamic fault lines. Faith-reconciliation can only stop violence!
3
Oh. Come on. "Accidentally
bombed Syrian troops" ? Right. Putin and his best and brightest teammates manipulated us. The more he makes John Kerry and our state dept look bad, the better his secret agent Donald j Trumps chances to be his president are ! This is not obvious enough to at least be raised as a possible scenario???
bombed Syrian troops" ? Right. Putin and his best and brightest teammates manipulated us. The more he makes John Kerry and our state dept look bad, the better his secret agent Donald j Trumps chances to be his president are ! This is not obvious enough to at least be raised as a possible scenario???
"Stop the Killing" sounds so sensible, but sadly the logic behind this is dead wrong
The first thing to understand is why there is this killing in the first place.
The delusional western thinking is that this started with a bunch of middle-eastern ThomasJeffersons & GeorgeWashingtons struggling for modernized democratic self-rule
The Reality-Check is that the very best case in the middle-east for any democratic government is something like the Muslim-Brotherhood, Turkey, Pakistan, Taliban, Iran.
The folk who rose up in Syria & Libya are simply wanting to be the NEXT Dictator, Supreme-Leader, Al-Bagdadi, or something similar
The rebels are being attacked in Syria because they're trying to overthrow the govenment. They are being attacked in civilian areas because that's where they are,{they aren't stupid enough to mass out in the open somewhere that would make them easy targets}
The best thing we can do for them, is to help people who want to leave rebel stronghold get out, to safety, and then help Assad get his country back under control again
The US's stupid supplying these people with $$$, weapons, worthless-training, and the idea that we were going to be sucked into another regime-change operation is nearly 100% the reason why this war is even going on.
NEGOTIATIONS: The rebels will accept anything that will temporarily give them a military advantage, and then later, just going back to attempting to seize control for the next authoritarian state.
The first thing to understand is why there is this killing in the first place.
The delusional western thinking is that this started with a bunch of middle-eastern ThomasJeffersons & GeorgeWashingtons struggling for modernized democratic self-rule
The Reality-Check is that the very best case in the middle-east for any democratic government is something like the Muslim-Brotherhood, Turkey, Pakistan, Taliban, Iran.
The folk who rose up in Syria & Libya are simply wanting to be the NEXT Dictator, Supreme-Leader, Al-Bagdadi, or something similar
The rebels are being attacked in Syria because they're trying to overthrow the govenment. They are being attacked in civilian areas because that's where they are,{they aren't stupid enough to mass out in the open somewhere that would make them easy targets}
The best thing we can do for them, is to help people who want to leave rebel stronghold get out, to safety, and then help Assad get his country back under control again
The US's stupid supplying these people with $$$, weapons, worthless-training, and the idea that we were going to be sucked into another regime-change operation is nearly 100% the reason why this war is even going on.
NEGOTIATIONS: The rebels will accept anything that will temporarily give them a military advantage, and then later, just going back to attempting to seize control for the next authoritarian state.
I wonder why green on green killings in Syria are worse than ISIS killings of Christians and yazdi (yawn)
why we are obliged to treat them better than they treat themselves
And wonder why this green on green mass slaughter is not metaphor and predictor for how Arabs and Muslims would treat Jews and other infidels, including their own, if they had a chance
There are NO 'good guys' there; and our policy should be to maximize carnage, divide and conquer, all wars kill civilians
Papa Assad had it right, at Hama
= =
President Obama has favored the Iranis, thus the Assad regime
The fish rots from the head
=
I see nearby we are back to Reagan as evil, somehow rewriting Carter's own history of incompetence and enablement in Iran
Maybe Prescott Bush, 'so many Bushes / so little time'
or the Dulles brothers
= =
I think we should go back to Mani, Persian 200 BC, who gave his name to Manicheanism, to explain modern life
= =
Maybe Kermit Roosevelt (oops Dem), or maybe Ataturk, we should restore the Ottomans,and the tsars
...oops we are...
= =
Obama legacy time
Hitler asked does anyone remember the Armenians?
- nope, Christians are not martyr-worthy
why we are obliged to treat them better than they treat themselves
And wonder why this green on green mass slaughter is not metaphor and predictor for how Arabs and Muslims would treat Jews and other infidels, including their own, if they had a chance
There are NO 'good guys' there; and our policy should be to maximize carnage, divide and conquer, all wars kill civilians
Papa Assad had it right, at Hama
= =
President Obama has favored the Iranis, thus the Assad regime
The fish rots from the head
=
I see nearby we are back to Reagan as evil, somehow rewriting Carter's own history of incompetence and enablement in Iran
Maybe Prescott Bush, 'so many Bushes / so little time'
or the Dulles brothers
= =
I think we should go back to Mani, Persian 200 BC, who gave his name to Manicheanism, to explain modern life
= =
Maybe Kermit Roosevelt (oops Dem), or maybe Ataturk, we should restore the Ottomans,and the tsars
...oops we are...
= =
Obama legacy time
Hitler asked does anyone remember the Armenians?
- nope, Christians are not martyr-worthy
This piece needs to be presented to the person in charge of what is going on in Syria, but first you have to have it translated into Russian.
3
Jimmy Carter was one of the great Presidents in American history.
He is fondly remembered for defeating nascent the Iranian fascist theocracy, turning around the American economy from record inflation to the normalization of wages and production, and mostly, for wearing a sweater during his winter WH television debuts and lecturing Americans on how to turn down the thermostat during various Arab oil boycotts.
In his opinion piece today, he displays again his prescient powers once so widely disseminated during his presidential tenure;
the answer in Syria is to "stop the killing."
I'm just ashamed that I did not think of that first.
When Iranian rockets eventually begin landing in Israel via Hezbollah, and they will, I sure hope Mr. Carter will write another opinion piece in defense of the Jewish State encaptioned, " First, stop the rocket fire."
If the Iranians will listen to anyone, it will be to former President Carter. They won't want to mess with him again.
He is fondly remembered for defeating nascent the Iranian fascist theocracy, turning around the American economy from record inflation to the normalization of wages and production, and mostly, for wearing a sweater during his winter WH television debuts and lecturing Americans on how to turn down the thermostat during various Arab oil boycotts.
In his opinion piece today, he displays again his prescient powers once so widely disseminated during his presidential tenure;
the answer in Syria is to "stop the killing."
I'm just ashamed that I did not think of that first.
When Iranian rockets eventually begin landing in Israel via Hezbollah, and they will, I sure hope Mr. Carter will write another opinion piece in defense of the Jewish State encaptioned, " First, stop the rocket fire."
If the Iranians will listen to anyone, it will be to former President Carter. They won't want to mess with him again.
4
It's remarkable that, as he explains the motives of various "players", Carter can't bring himself to explain why the Americans are there in the first place and say anything about the American "contribution".
thanks to President Carter for his passionate commitment to human rights and for all his vast contributions.
Today's article in the Times by Prof. Timothy Snyder regarding Putin's tracking of Ivan Ilych ideas shows that side. Our side uses the ideas of our cold war theorists. So, each side has their agendas.
Diplomacy certainly is preferred, and Kerry and his counterpart are well intentioned, but limited by the wishes of their bosses.
We pray the killing will stop.
Today's article in the Times by Prof. Timothy Snyder regarding Putin's tracking of Ivan Ilych ideas shows that side. Our side uses the ideas of our cold war theorists. So, each side has their agendas.
Diplomacy certainly is preferred, and Kerry and his counterpart are well intentioned, but limited by the wishes of their bosses.
We pray the killing will stop.
There have been lots of pictures and video on the net showing airstruck vehicles and convoys of vehicles during the Syrian war. Most vehicles get smashed and there are bomb craters all around them.
The trucks shown in the photos look far too intact to have been struck by aerial bombs, and no craters can be seen on the ground. The trucks are largely intact and look more like they were attacked from the ground by small arms, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
I think the world is being played on this. The idea that the Russians would deliberately bomb a UN aid convoy after all that they have done to help create the ceasefire is simply absurd: Putin may be very tough in war, but he would never make such a strategic blunder as this during a de facto truce.
The trucks shown in the photos look far too intact to have been struck by aerial bombs, and no craters can be seen on the ground. The trucks are largely intact and look more like they were attacked from the ground by small arms, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
I think the world is being played on this. The idea that the Russians would deliberately bomb a UN aid convoy after all that they have done to help create the ceasefire is simply absurd: Putin may be very tough in war, but he would never make such a strategic blunder as this during a de facto truce.
It's time to bomb the Syrian air force into the stone age, along with all of their infrastructure.
500,000 dead. 2 million maimed. 11 million uprooted and dying a slow, agonizing death through starvation, dehydration, and disease.
It can't get worse. Obama can't be a lame duck on this. He has to act. For the love of God!
500,000 dead. 2 million maimed. 11 million uprooted and dying a slow, agonizing death through starvation, dehydration, and disease.
It can't get worse. Obama can't be a lame duck on this. He has to act. For the love of God!
'Over the weekend, the United States accidentally bombed Syrian government troops.'
Is it conceivable or plausible that the Russians bombed the convoy 'accidentally'? If we allow that possibility, then we are even.
Is it conceivable or plausible that the Russians bombed the convoy 'accidentally'? If we allow that possibility, then we are even.
Our government talks about helping refugees, cease fires and peace while our military kills.
Let us thank Pres Carter for the lasting peace between Israel and its neighbors Egypt and Jordan.
That having been said- I would like to indulge myself
It is past time we and the rest of the world backed out of the ME and sealed it up to the very best of our combined abilities. Nothing and no one in or out, no food, no oil, no medical supplies.
Then let them work through their issues. We can decide after the winnowing process if we want to have relations with whomever is left.
If indeed the Arab/Muslim world needs to go through a reformation to progress toward the 21st century lets set the stage for it as quickly as we can.
I don't want to wait 500 years for them to achieve civilization, I have things to do
That having been said- I would like to indulge myself
It is past time we and the rest of the world backed out of the ME and sealed it up to the very best of our combined abilities. Nothing and no one in or out, no food, no oil, no medical supplies.
Then let them work through their issues. We can decide after the winnowing process if we want to have relations with whomever is left.
If indeed the Arab/Muslim world needs to go through a reformation to progress toward the 21st century lets set the stage for it as quickly as we can.
I don't want to wait 500 years for them to achieve civilization, I have things to do
2
Unlike Bush 41, Carter doesn't say who he will vote for this election. Will he vote for she who's prints are all over this region or will cancel out republican party treason by committing his own form?
President Carter remains as naive as when he was our leader. He also seems very naive regarding the extreme religious views of the various warring factions in the middle East.
Peace at any cost is no peace.
Peace at any cost is no peace.
1
This is the same person who turned Afghanistan from a modernizing developing nation into a hellhole? Armed the worst of the worst islamic fundamentalists he could find with AA missiles, and trained them? A well-earned Nobel for peace, then. And a credible voice for peace, surely.
1
I respect Jimmy Carter a great deal. But, to frame Syria in terms other than a proxy war between the US and Russia borders on disingenuous. The tourniquet is in our hands, but we refuse to stop the bleeding.
In WWII the USSR and the US had a common enemy once Germany attacked Russia. Russia kept its word and prepared to attack Japan when Germany was defeated. Syria is more complex. Our enemies are both ISIS and Assad. Russia is a defender of Assad, only thereby an enemy of ISIS, and an enemy of our allies. If Assad decided to back ISIS temporarily, I believe so would Russia, and will at least take a posture of defending Assad if we directly attack his forces. Obama and Kerry are a well meaning, but naive team, and Putin runs circles around them politically and strategically. When, rather than punish Assad for crossing the "red line," we struck a deal with him, it solidified his position. Ever since then he has been entrenched in power and Russia does as it pleases there, cooperating with us so far as it serves its purposes. When Trump says that Putin is a better leader than Obama, this is what he means, though he seems to have trouble articulating complex thoughts. I do not have faith that any of the candidates running will have an edge on Putin and I'm sure he knows it. At some point, it is quite possible that either Russia or we will make a mistake and strike the other. I do not believe our current president or any of our candidates will have the ability or strength to deal with the fall out. I admire Carter's charitable work, but he adds nothing to this discussion. "Stop the killing" and "work beyond the lack of trust" are platitudes.
1
We broke it, we cannot fix it. Time to leave, mourn, and apologize by offering the Bush Cheney Rumsfeld team to a war crimes court.
Sure, won't happen, but the killing will always continue until the creators of aggressive war are held to criminal accounts.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene
Sure, won't happen, but the killing will always continue until the creators of aggressive war are held to criminal accounts.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene
2
If anyone knows of peace it is President Carter. His tireless humanitarian efforts are a shinning example of what moral and conscientious Americans aspire to.
If we are truly exceptional and serious about peace in the middle east and other parts of the world, would we not use every possible resource available to achieve those goals? President Carter is one of those invaluable resources. He has achieved so much in his lifetime, it seems disrespectful to ask more of him. I bet he would take it on if asked. Thank you President Carter for all you have done and continue to do.
If we are truly exceptional and serious about peace in the middle east and other parts of the world, would we not use every possible resource available to achieve those goals? President Carter is one of those invaluable resources. He has achieved so much in his lifetime, it seems disrespectful to ask more of him. I bet he would take it on if asked. Thank you President Carter for all you have done and continue to do.
dream on, jimmy. it isn't going to happen. the cold war (war by proxy) that Reagan ended has been restarted by Obama.
I'd hate to be the one to put a damper on things but it's been reported that the US-Russian brokered Syrian ceasefire has already fallen apart.
Jimmy Carter still doesn't understand how the works. Carter was elected president because America was in the throes of its post-Watergate funk. All of his meddling will only do more harm than good.
Jimmy Carter still doesn't understand how the works. Carter was elected president because America was in the throes of its post-Watergate funk. All of his meddling will only do more harm than good.
1
Thank you, Jimmy Carter. We women are tired of going through 9 months of pregnancy, labor and childbirth, nurturing the world's children, then seeing them turned into fodder for men's wars. I want to see Womb Power, we women refusing to provide sexual relations with warring men, until the killing stops.
We should stop our killing. In the last 2 years we have dropped 50,000 bombs and claimed to have killed 47,000 people. The United States is not more secure as a result. Let us withdraw all our troops, operatives, contractors, arms, drones, bombers and money from the entire Middle East.
3
I agree wholeheartedly with President Carter who represents the
best spirit of the American people. We in Argentina will always be
grateful to him and his administration for his support of human rights groups during the bloodiest military dictatorship in our history (1970´s). His policies helped save many lives.
Obama as well as those in the State Department and the Pentagon responsible for Middle Eastern policy could take a few lessons from Carter´s more humanitarian approach. The entire world could use it.
best spirit of the American people. We in Argentina will always be
grateful to him and his administration for his support of human rights groups during the bloodiest military dictatorship in our history (1970´s). His policies helped save many lives.
Obama as well as those in the State Department and the Pentagon responsible for Middle Eastern policy could take a few lessons from Carter´s more humanitarian approach. The entire world could use it.
21
Any article about war zones that does not include at least some mention of the specific arms in use and where they were manufactured is like a story about a football game that does not name any individual players. Makes it a lot harder to understand what is happening. Always name the brands and models.
2
We have one great way we can help Syria: not be involved. No weapons. No bombs. No money.
Our violence is still violence. The people who die from American bullets and bombs are still dead.
Lets get out of the religious civil war business.
Our violence is still violence. The people who die from American bullets and bombs are still dead.
Lets get out of the religious civil war business.
8
Mr. Carter has become one of the world's most productive and honored statesmen in history. I wonder what positive ways Donald Trump might use his post-presidency power.
3
Mr. Carter has contributed greatly to global society during the last 40 years. He continues to offer solutions to health and geopolitical problems. I wish him and his wife continued health
5
Jimmy Carter's poignant but pathetic call to stop the killing in Syria is a faint call in the wilderness we call the Middle East...but a bloody example of the complete failure of the United Nations as a world government organization that the big players don't want to have real power...meanwhile hundreds of thousands die and millions of refugees live in permanent camps or attempt to flee to paranoid countries that wish they would go away. Somewhere in the future of Earth (if we get a future) they will look back on us and shake their heads at the picture of the savages that we are. A long time ago the world community needed to put a no fly zone over the whole area and demand that the democidal killers be handed over to the international court. And globalized terrorist organizations should have been squashed and localized terror groups hunted down. How long will we have to tolerate these crimes against humanity while leaders of powerful nations play their territorial games???
Triage in the region; first stop the killing.
Second, kill everyone who violates the peace treaty. Difficult.
Third, or maybe first, recognize the reality of centuries-old conflict over religion and resources, and the mandated territorial divisions imposed after the World Wars. Until this is finally resolved, there will never be peace.
Forth, end the global oil addiction. President Carter had the right idea with solar collectors on the White House roof.... and then Reagan and the oil barons decided to have more oil wars, further inflamed by the criminal invasion of Iraq.
We, the "western powers" broke it. We bought it. And the vultures of war are coming home to roost today in the guise of damaged soldiers, massive public debts, and retaliation by "terrorists". Terrorists aren't born that way.
Second, kill everyone who violates the peace treaty. Difficult.
Third, or maybe first, recognize the reality of centuries-old conflict over religion and resources, and the mandated territorial divisions imposed after the World Wars. Until this is finally resolved, there will never be peace.
Forth, end the global oil addiction. President Carter had the right idea with solar collectors on the White House roof.... and then Reagan and the oil barons decided to have more oil wars, further inflamed by the criminal invasion of Iraq.
We, the "western powers" broke it. We bought it. And the vultures of war are coming home to roost today in the guise of damaged soldiers, massive public debts, and retaliation by "terrorists". Terrorists aren't born that way.
10
President Carter is a man of peace and wisdom, without doubt. However, even he won't go so far as to ask the US to restrain itself and stop its destructive efforts at regime change. We all have to ask, why not? Those 11 million displaced people and refugees were living rather good lives before the US and its imported jihadis decided it wanted to oust Assad and replace him with what - jihadis? Millions of people were forced to leave, not by Assad, but by religious extremists working for the US and Saudi Arabia. If the imported jihadis were so wonderful, they would have stuck around. None of the groups the US has supported are truly 'moderate', as that's an invented term used to camouflage the reality, that the US has been giving support to groups affiliate with al-Qaeda. So, while I think Pres. Carter has honest intentions, the US really needs to stop unnecessary meddling that causes death, misery and destruction. If the US really wanted to help Syria at any point, they would have sent in the Peace Corps, not jihadis.
5
Given the massive refugee catastrophe resulting from this conflict, I am surprised Europe is not mentioned. The refugee crisis should rise to the level of National Security - Continental Security - for Europeans to ensure their forceful participation at the origins of this humanitarian crisis. What are they doing to stop the killing that drives the refugees to their shores?
As the Human Rights President, you have my deepest respects.
As the Human Rights President, you have my deepest respects.
2
Jimmy Carter for president!
2
Dear President Carter, Did you authorize Mr Brezinski's trips to Afghanistan? He was your National Security Advisor. He went there under your watch in the late 1970's. Mr Brezinski guided and funded Pakistan's ISI to create the Taliban. Look at PBS videos from that era, sir. You used religious extremism as an instrument of war. We are still suffering the consequences.
2
Jimmy Carter has more goodness and concern for his fellow beings in his little finger than all of the leading politicians and candidates combined. Stop the killing, keep your positions. so simple and so at odds with war-mongering.
3
Mr President, it you never cease to amaze me on both your longevity and your hopefull attitude toward humans doing the right thing. May you live to be a hundred and I hope that some of the hope you have in man will come true.
Now for the hard part:
1. you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, so no matter how much we URGE the syrians to get their stuff together, only they can actually do it with their own will. Inshallah.
2. The Mid east has been in turmoil for how many millenia? Will it ever stop the fighting?
3. How did the Mccoys and the hatfields finally solve their fight? Is there something there that can be used to aid the Syrians?
4. If everyone in the region became a member of a fictional tribe---the "noonecaresaboutusexceptus" tribe, then there would be no tribal distinctions, everyone would be on an equal footing, and perhaps that way they would see each other as brothers, rather than tribal enemies.
5. tribes are the biggest problem to overcome and that is not likely to happen any time soon.
Jimmy, I wish you were on the ballot this year, I would be pleased to vote for you and your intelligent ways to peace.
Now for the hard part:
1. you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, so no matter how much we URGE the syrians to get their stuff together, only they can actually do it with their own will. Inshallah.
2. The Mid east has been in turmoil for how many millenia? Will it ever stop the fighting?
3. How did the Mccoys and the hatfields finally solve their fight? Is there something there that can be used to aid the Syrians?
4. If everyone in the region became a member of a fictional tribe---the "noonecaresaboutusexceptus" tribe, then there would be no tribal distinctions, everyone would be on an equal footing, and perhaps that way they would see each other as brothers, rather than tribal enemies.
5. tribes are the biggest problem to overcome and that is not likely to happen any time soon.
Jimmy, I wish you were on the ballot this year, I would be pleased to vote for you and your intelligent ways to peace.
bombing where civilians are present is immoral and should be outlawed like gas was nearly 100years ago. I think this type of bombing was first applied directly by Adolph Hitler and Gehring.
Sadly, I believe the Syrian war will end and the killing will stop after the country is reduced to total rubble and there is nothing left to fight over.
Seems that Carter is the proverbial voice in the wilderness. As the world gets crazier and crazier, and people demand an-eye-for-an-eye retaliatory measures, Carter is the voice of reason, asking that the killing just be stopped, by all sides. No excuses, no arguments, just stop. For this, he is ridiculed and derided by those who think that a war with Russia makes sense. Thank God for people like Carter, who still see hope for humanity, and has the courage to ask for the seemingly impossible. Just stop the killing!
3
Is an arms embargo impractical?
Stop the killing? In the Middle East, where the people have been enthusiastically killing each other for at least 1300 years? Where the sectarian divide that inspires much of the killing is as intractable now as it's ever been? And how do you propose to do that?
The old-fashioned Western way would have been to send in, not peacekeepers (They don't work.), but what used to be called a "punitive" expedition, the members of which would have killed anyone who refused to stop the killing. But I'm guessing President Carter would frown on that.
You have a better chance of curing cancer than you do of stopping the killing in the Middle East, I'm sorry to say.
The old-fashioned Western way would have been to send in, not peacekeepers (They don't work.), but what used to be called a "punitive" expedition, the members of which would have killed anyone who refused to stop the killing. But I'm guessing President Carter would frown on that.
You have a better chance of curing cancer than you do of stopping the killing in the Middle East, I'm sorry to say.
1
Fortunately for the US and Great Britain, Hitler was too crazy to surrender. Can you imagine sitting down and hammering out a peace agreement with a madman? Assad is not a world terrorist, but he does share too much with Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin and Ratko Mladic to cut a deal that would leave him in power.
2
Assad had YEARS to abdicate and run away. All who stayed will pay the price.
Check thyself.
Check thyself.
(rev)
I keep a copy of President Carter's book "Palestine Peace - Not Apartheid" at the ready to remind me of how astute about the Mideast this southern gentleman was when he was President.
But that said, we still need to move forward from now. It will not be Obama, not will it be Clinton who can "make a deal" with Russia to effect the common sense solutions that Jimmy Carter suggests in this opinion. Obama's finished and Clinton has too much nuclear baggage. Neither has the brains to weave their way from devastation to truth about our relationship with Putin and Assad. When SoS, Clinton totally ignored the Mideast, leaving in her wake the disaster which Mr Kerry, to his credit, has actually cared enough about to work on it. At least he has tried, although at times appearing like Don Quixote.
I firmly believe that right now only Donald trump, who is now graduated witrh an A in Mideast 201, has with his limited knowledge the wherewithal, his smarts, and his inner strength to get the job done and get the killing stopped.
Before the liberals have a chance to gasp at that comment, consider this. Only Mr. Carter, has truly done the right thing to call for an end to the violence. Obama is a basket case, and Clinton is just too scary to even contemplate as we move from today to election day.
I wish the former president many years of good health and blessings from above!
I keep a copy of President Carter's book "Palestine Peace - Not Apartheid" at the ready to remind me of how astute about the Mideast this southern gentleman was when he was President.
But that said, we still need to move forward from now. It will not be Obama, not will it be Clinton who can "make a deal" with Russia to effect the common sense solutions that Jimmy Carter suggests in this opinion. Obama's finished and Clinton has too much nuclear baggage. Neither has the brains to weave their way from devastation to truth about our relationship with Putin and Assad. When SoS, Clinton totally ignored the Mideast, leaving in her wake the disaster which Mr Kerry, to his credit, has actually cared enough about to work on it. At least he has tried, although at times appearing like Don Quixote.
I firmly believe that right now only Donald trump, who is now graduated witrh an A in Mideast 201, has with his limited knowledge the wherewithal, his smarts, and his inner strength to get the job done and get the killing stopped.
Before the liberals have a chance to gasp at that comment, consider this. Only Mr. Carter, has truly done the right thing to call for an end to the violence. Obama is a basket case, and Clinton is just too scary to even contemplate as we move from today to election day.
I wish the former president many years of good health and blessings from above!
3
"Just say no." It doesn't work.
Peace has to be enforced, the key term being force. This could happen many ways, none of them pretty. My view is that the US should cooperate with whatever plan the Russians prefer, because the Russians are seriously involved in Syria and intend to remain seriously involved. US gets off of it's bogeyman baiting high horse, sets aside it's preference to get rid of Assad, and with Russia strong-arms enough of the country to create some peace in some areas so civilians can migrate there and be safe. Assad will run it, we'll have to accept that. In the process we should develop a relationship with Russia that allows us to have some influence in the future of Syria.
Peace has to be enforced, the key term being force. This could happen many ways, none of them pretty. My view is that the US should cooperate with whatever plan the Russians prefer, because the Russians are seriously involved in Syria and intend to remain seriously involved. US gets off of it's bogeyman baiting high horse, sets aside it's preference to get rid of Assad, and with Russia strong-arms enough of the country to create some peace in some areas so civilians can migrate there and be safe. Assad will run it, we'll have to accept that. In the process we should develop a relationship with Russia that allows us to have some influence in the future of Syria.
2
President Carter has the unique quality to rise above viewing the world through the glass of ‘national interest’ and being able to perceive international events in the context of basic ‘human interest’.
He has done this for many years in many places and is widely respected for the role he has chosen to follow and thus may, with this appeal, open a temporary option for parties to breath and reconsider their own failings. Stop the killing has the appeal of reasonableness than may lay aside conflicting aggression, at least for a time. A wise proposal that could blossom into more. Thank you once again President Carter.
He has done this for many years in many places and is widely respected for the role he has chosen to follow and thus may, with this appeal, open a temporary option for parties to breath and reconsider their own failings. Stop the killing has the appeal of reasonableness than may lay aside conflicting aggression, at least for a time. A wise proposal that could blossom into more. Thank you once again President Carter.
1
I see from the various comments here that there are many people who haven't given up on spewing words of abuse at the former president. Mr. Carter was subjected to great abuse by the powers that be (the Democratic party) in Washington and by the media generally when he was president and that traditional unfortunately continues. I was fortunate to get to shake his hand on the night he was defeated for re-election and only in subsequent years did I come to realize how fortunate, indeed, I was.
He is not always right, but his intelligence and inner self confidence propels him to move forward and make a contribution. There are few citizens in the whole of American history who have publicly demonstrated a greater or deeper commitment to our nation and its ideals and the determination to make a positive difference.
No one has the ultimate key to peace in Syria and the middle-east, but the former president's words should be carefully and sincerely considered.
He is not always right, but his intelligence and inner self confidence propels him to move forward and make a contribution. There are few citizens in the whole of American history who have publicly demonstrated a greater or deeper commitment to our nation and its ideals and the determination to make a positive difference.
No one has the ultimate key to peace in Syria and the middle-east, but the former president's words should be carefully and sincerely considered.
1
Stuff like this is getting seriously embarrassing. Time after time, Russia has promised many things to many people, and kept it's word for a few hours or days before acting in completely contrary ways. Taking anything the people say, or making any plans based on projections of their future behavior, is just fantasy. The U.S. had its chance to make a difference in Syria, and decided not to. Pretending that anything else happened, or that we have any credible path to relevance now, accomplishes nothing more than to give Russia and its cynical clients a handle to make us look even sillier than our own foreign policy already has. People in that region do not play by any rules our cultural elite has ever been willing to acknowledge, let alone play by. It's hard to find a more vivid example of this than the one the Iranians gave then-President Carter. We cannot decide how the rest of the world will act or turn out, but at very least, we can stop acting like complete rubes and respond to events as they really are rather than as they appear through some kind of rose-colored spectacles that see good intentions where there are none. George W. looked into Putin's soul and liked what he saw. Well, there's a bridge in St. Petersburg with your name on it, too!
I was in my 20s when Jimmy Carter was President. Looking back, it seems like it was such a simple, straightforward and, well, honest, upright time. As does his op-ed here today.
But those times are no more.
We now have a bombastic, dangerous demagogue running for President. Though I thought Reagan a fool, a fraud and a panderer (starting his run for the Presidency, as he did, where 3 civil rights workers were killed and calling for "State's Rights," all in accord with Nixon's "Southern Strategy"), I nonetheless didn't, and don't, think he had the complete and utter emptiness of soul and spirit evidenced by ... well, I can't even say his name.
My point is that, though Mr. Carter's op-ed is eminently sensible and worthy of thoughtful discussion, we're living in times where sensibility and thoughtfulness are almost beside-the-point. And, so, I can't even give it my complete attention.
And that scares me to death.
But those times are no more.
We now have a bombastic, dangerous demagogue running for President. Though I thought Reagan a fool, a fraud and a panderer (starting his run for the Presidency, as he did, where 3 civil rights workers were killed and calling for "State's Rights," all in accord with Nixon's "Southern Strategy"), I nonetheless didn't, and don't, think he had the complete and utter emptiness of soul and spirit evidenced by ... well, I can't even say his name.
My point is that, though Mr. Carter's op-ed is eminently sensible and worthy of thoughtful discussion, we're living in times where sensibility and thoughtfulness are almost beside-the-point. And, so, I can't even give it my complete attention.
And that scares me to death.
Listen - I love President Carter but this liberal malfeasance that if I stamp my foot then the fighting will stop is the most dangerous form of magical thinking in the world today.
There are many people in the world today that are simply evil - if we continue to insert ourselves in these contests of tit-for-tat atrocities then we will reap the whirlwind.
We simply can not be the adult in the room for the entire world
There are many people in the world today that are simply evil - if we continue to insert ourselves in these contests of tit-for-tat atrocities then we will reap the whirlwind.
We simply can not be the adult in the room for the entire world
Unfortunately, it's going take more killing to "Stop the Killing," hence the putrid irony and bitter reality of war. Then there is Obama's reluctance to wrench up the force before he exits office- certainly not the legacy he wants to leave behind. He should have never made that dam red line comment- I'm sure one of his biggest regrets. But I still stand by him.
Back to Jimmy- He of all people should know the U.S. started this mess by toppling Mosaddegh in 1953- the Middle East was never the same and the United States was forever viewed as the evil imperialist. As our bible says, You Reap What You Sow - therefore I don't understand why our bible thumping conservatives in the GOP have such a hard time grasping the nature and severity of mid-east turmoil. After all, It wasn't their radical Muslim ideology which caused the mess we're in- it was undeniably and irrefutably our Christian bent penchant for thinking we are superior [in God and Country] than everyone else. That is what inspires terrorism and that is why people hate us.
Back to Jimmy- He of all people should know the U.S. started this mess by toppling Mosaddegh in 1953- the Middle East was never the same and the United States was forever viewed as the evil imperialist. As our bible says, You Reap What You Sow - therefore I don't understand why our bible thumping conservatives in the GOP have such a hard time grasping the nature and severity of mid-east turmoil. After all, It wasn't their radical Muslim ideology which caused the mess we're in- it was undeniably and irrefutably our Christian bent penchant for thinking we are superior [in God and Country] than everyone else. That is what inspires terrorism and that is why people hate us.
I agree fully with the sentiment and concrete proposals that President Carter is making here, but I think the reality is that Assad can only stay in power and Putin can only stay relevant in the region as long as the killing continues.
Killing is the end game men play which is why it is so important that our most powerful male power in the world is changed by a woman's hand.
As much as Mr Trump's hidden backers have tried to make it, this election is no joke for either us or the world.
Our nation represents the last most powerful gasp of aberrant male power on the planet and the only way to change this is by changing those in control who have mismanaged the world through force which has only brought them and their families the rewards of this destruction.
Healthy women nourish life and frightened men destroy it
As much as Mr Trump's hidden backers have tried to make it, this election is no joke for either us or the world.
Our nation represents the last most powerful gasp of aberrant male power on the planet and the only way to change this is by changing those in control who have mismanaged the world through force which has only brought them and their families the rewards of this destruction.
Healthy women nourish life and frightened men destroy it
Jimmy Carter has been making a moral case for peaceful, respectful human relations since at least the 1970's, before, during and after his time as President of our country. We want to think that his arguments come from naivety and a surreal belief in our potential to make moral choices that will serve future generations well. Mr. Carter is well aware of our need to address the presence in our communities of individuals and groups who use the threat and realities of misery, destruction, and death as means of negotiating for dominance. But, they can be made to be the few, the aberrations, the rarities, when the many are brave enough to make morally right choices. Else, what do we pass on to future generations?
President Carter sees what others refuse and he has a sober understanding of what is possible. Regrettably being correct in assessing a situation does not mean anyone is listening. Syria has become a battleground between various Muslim sects and all sides see God in the distance. The furies have yet to cool and they won't for a long time. The United States should tell the Russians that they will inherit this violence along their border in due time, thus Russia should find a better solution than propping up a self serving thug like Basher AL-Assad. US military involvement just fuels the war. We should insist on being able to help innocents get out but be honest that ending this war before all sides are ready will just allow it to smolder and start again in due time.
Since leaving office, President Carter has been a tireless advocate for causes in which he believes.
But the oblivious naivete evident in this op-ed echos Mr. Carter's response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan almost four decades ago. "A groundswell of public calls to stop the killing" won't, in fact "...compel the Syrian belligerents, and regional and international stakeholders to take notice..." any more effectively than President Carter's embarrassingly unsuccessful 1980 Olympic boycott compelled the Soviet Union to end its aggression in Afghanistan.
We all wish Jimmy Carter many more years of good health, but we are still suffering the aftershocks of four years of his disastrous foreign policy decisions. This piece is another sad example of his reality-free worldview.
But the oblivious naivete evident in this op-ed echos Mr. Carter's response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan almost four decades ago. "A groundswell of public calls to stop the killing" won't, in fact "...compel the Syrian belligerents, and regional and international stakeholders to take notice..." any more effectively than President Carter's embarrassingly unsuccessful 1980 Olympic boycott compelled the Soviet Union to end its aggression in Afghanistan.
We all wish Jimmy Carter many more years of good health, but we are still suffering the aftershocks of four years of his disastrous foreign policy decisions. This piece is another sad example of his reality-free worldview.
President Carter's appeal for common sense would be more plausible if the participants he mentions had shown that such an entity existed in their national lives. The United States has shown indifference and hostility to segments of its population. The hate filled invective and acts are based on the victims' race, sexual preferences, gender, religion and national origin. The conveyor belt for these words and acts may be found in Congress, Courts of Law, Centers of Education and alleged Higher Education, Healthcare, alleged religious pulpits and any other National store room of hate mongers. That such entities also exist in the other countries mentioned in this article is just a fact. How can they get together in a decision making exercise? Who is a capable and trustworthy leader? How do people with vision occluded by planks remove motes from the ocular apparatus of another? President Carter is my favorite US President and is as truthful as he is eternally hopeful. Lucifer is famous for having neither and I am afraid that his methods are involved in many of the matters mentioned here. Principles are in short supply among self aggrandizing human beings.
Carter is correct that we need to try. However, as he points out, there are all sorts of other characters in this mess who want the status quo to continue. We have some leverage, but we are not going to send ground troops. So, the likelihood of this ending soon is, unfortunately, not great. Someone will ultimately prevail militarily, or the factions will finally tire. My guess is this mess will carry on for awhile.
The United Sates should unilaterally establish and defend a safe haven for refugees in Syria. If this means shooting down Russian planes who violate the airspace, so be it. Turkey recently shot down a Russian plane with no apparent negative consequences. In fact they gained Russia's respect which we can only do by putting some teeth into our actions.
I think president Carter's proposals are eminently reasonable, but I would add a few caveats. The US policy for regime change in Syria pre-dates the civil conflict by several years. In other words, we planed to overthrow the government and simply used the conflict as cover to accomplish this goal.
Russia does have maintaining its Mediterranean port as a primary strategic goal. But they didn't intervene until the collapse of the Syrian government seemed eminent and the prospects of Syria becoming a rat line for Islamic terrorists into the Caucuses a likely reality. The Saudi interest is to counter Iran, but not because Iran has that much a presence in Syria. The Saudi's are trying to expand Sunni domination over countries like Syria that have a largely secular government and a toleration of various sects that the conservative Saudi's consider heretical to true Islam.
The major flaw in US policy was embarking on regime change to begin with and supporting the Saudi's to do the dirty work on the ground.
But a cease fire in place is a reasonable first step, with one exception. In cities like Aleppo that are divided between pro and anti government forces, civilians can't return unless some mechanism is in place to allow traffic and commerce to resume. Possible these areas can be put under a UN Peace Keeping Force while future status negotiations continue. But all in all the Carter proposal makes more sense than anything else being discussed.
Russia does have maintaining its Mediterranean port as a primary strategic goal. But they didn't intervene until the collapse of the Syrian government seemed eminent and the prospects of Syria becoming a rat line for Islamic terrorists into the Caucuses a likely reality. The Saudi interest is to counter Iran, but not because Iran has that much a presence in Syria. The Saudi's are trying to expand Sunni domination over countries like Syria that have a largely secular government and a toleration of various sects that the conservative Saudi's consider heretical to true Islam.
The major flaw in US policy was embarking on regime change to begin with and supporting the Saudi's to do the dirty work on the ground.
But a cease fire in place is a reasonable first step, with one exception. In cities like Aleppo that are divided between pro and anti government forces, civilians can't return unless some mechanism is in place to allow traffic and commerce to resume. Possible these areas can be put under a UN Peace Keeping Force while future status negotiations continue. But all in all the Carter proposal makes more sense than anything else being discussed.
1
Two deaths that occurred in the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" epitomizes the complexity of the Middle East. The first death occurred in the scene in which the Arab character played by Anthony Quinn shot an Arab nomad who had the audacity to drink water from the character's well without asking for permission to do so. The second death occurred in the scene in which Lawrence had to execute an Arab who had just killed another Arab to satisfy a blood feud. This was the only way to satisfy the code of the desert without continuing the feud among the two tribes involved. We are naive and even stupid to think we can change thousands of years of cultural mores with negotiations.
1
I keep a copy of President Carter's book "Palestine Peace - Not Apartheid" at the ready to remind me of how astute about the Mideast this southern gentleman was when he was President.
But that said, we still need to move forward from now. It will not be Obama, not will it be Clinton who can "make a deal" with Russia to effect the common sense solutions that Jimmy Carter suggests in this opinion. Neither has the brains to weave their way from devastation to truth about our relationship with Putin and Assad. When SoS, Clinton totally ignored the Mideast, leaving in her wake the disaster which at the very lease we can credit Mr Kerry with actually caring enough about to work on it.
Only Donald trump, who is now only learning, has the wherewithal to get the job done and get the killing stopped.
Before the liberals have a chance to gasp at that comment, consider this. Only Mr. Carter, has truly done the right thing to call for an end to the violence. Obama is a basket case, and Clinton is just too scary to even contemplate as we move from today to election day.
I wish the former president many years of good health and blessings from above!
But that said, we still need to move forward from now. It will not be Obama, not will it be Clinton who can "make a deal" with Russia to effect the common sense solutions that Jimmy Carter suggests in this opinion. Neither has the brains to weave their way from devastation to truth about our relationship with Putin and Assad. When SoS, Clinton totally ignored the Mideast, leaving in her wake the disaster which at the very lease we can credit Mr Kerry with actually caring enough about to work on it.
Only Donald trump, who is now only learning, has the wherewithal to get the job done and get the killing stopped.
Before the liberals have a chance to gasp at that comment, consider this. Only Mr. Carter, has truly done the right thing to call for an end to the violence. Obama is a basket case, and Clinton is just too scary to even contemplate as we move from today to election day.
I wish the former president many years of good health and blessings from above!
Our government says that ISIS is the greatest terrorist threat of the day to the U.S. and Europe. President Obama began another War against Iraq and Syria to “degrade” the serious terrorist threat posed by ISIS. How can the killing stop and the terrorism end if we don’t bring all parties to the table including large terrorist groups such as ISIS? There are reasons motivating groups like Al-Qaida, the Taliban, and ISIS to resort to such violent acts. Their voices need to be heard in an effort to end the violence and human misery. It will not end if the U.S. selects which parties are entitled to be heard and which are not. President Carter says his proposal cannot apply to any territory held by ISIS or other U.N. designated terrorist groups. What does that mean? Mr. Carter does not elaborate. Does it mean continue the bombing of just terrorist-held territory while the killing is stopped everywhere else and a freeze placed on territorial gains? If so, how do we prevent another accidental bombing of the wrong group of people, a hospital or a humanitarian relief convoy? Won’t such a mishap re-ignite the entire region again?
5
You evidently understand nothing of ISIS and its philosophy.
You write - " There are reasons motivating groups like Al-Qaida, the Taliban, and ISIS to resort to such violent acts. Their voices need to be heard in an effort to end the violence and human misery. "
To negotiate with someone successfully, you must be willing to give them at least a little of what they want. What do you suggest we give to ISIS? Maybe in exchange for peace we let just them burn the worst of "heretics" alive?
YOU CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH INSANITY.
You write - " There are reasons motivating groups like Al-Qaida, the Taliban, and ISIS to resort to such violent acts. Their voices need to be heard in an effort to end the violence and human misery. "
To negotiate with someone successfully, you must be willing to give them at least a little of what they want. What do you suggest we give to ISIS? Maybe in exchange for peace we let just them burn the worst of "heretics" alive?
YOU CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH INSANITY.
1
Former president Carter's suggestion to exclude ISIS from the ceasefire is appropriate. The U.S. negotiated a withdrawal of all forces from Iraq under the Bush administration. ISIS is an jihadist group that aspires to become a global power, to become the caliphate and to destroy the West. ISIS is opposed to the survival of an Iraqi or Syrian state and shown no interest in negotiation. The explosive advance of ISIS in Iraq led to the government of Iraq requesting support from the U.S. and other countries. The U.S. has pursued ISIS in Syria but has refrained from attacking government forces. The U.S. is not at war with either Iraq or Syria. ISIS is steadily losing territory in both Iraq and Syria. Their defeat as a territorial entity is a matter of months. If the U.S. and Russia coordinate attacks against ISIS, and the Syrian air force is grounded, there will be no accidents.
Assad had the image of a reformer as peaceful protests broke out in Syria in early 2011. He responded to unarmed demonstrators with bullets rather than using his reputation as a British educated moderate to negotiate the genuine grievances of the opposition. The regime's brutality has not been accidental.
But, stopping the killing is possible. Only when all people who recognize themselves as Syrian are given voice and a vote can political resolution emerge. This has to include those in refugee camps and those fighting Assad and in exile as well as those fighting with Assad.
Assad had the image of a reformer as peaceful protests broke out in Syria in early 2011. He responded to unarmed demonstrators with bullets rather than using his reputation as a British educated moderate to negotiate the genuine grievances of the opposition. The regime's brutality has not been accidental.
But, stopping the killing is possible. Only when all people who recognize themselves as Syrian are given voice and a vote can political resolution emerge. This has to include those in refugee camps and those fighting Assad and in exile as well as those fighting with Assad.
THANK YOU!! President Carter! Yes, this is exactly what is needed. STOP THE KILLNG! and the terror will abate.
14
That's right, Carolyn, continue the weak policies of Carter and Obama and the "terror will abate" - NOT.
1
Dear President Carter,
You have lived an exemplary life and continue to provide your wisdom, experience and enlightenment to the world.
You were criticized during your presidency for taking the hard medicine that broke the back of inflation after a decade of failed solutions by your predecessors.
By appointing Fed Chair Volcker a period of tight monetary policy followed that resulted in a temporary harsh recession - giving your critics ammunition - but ushered in decades of prosperity.
By appointing Alfred Kahn as your economic advisor and "inflation czar" you dismantled anti-consumer fixed price cartels that lowered costs in air fares, electricity and telecommunications.
You introduced and supported the notion of human rights in foreign policy, a novel concept at the time.
It takes the long view on human civilization and comports with the concept of karma - cause and effect - relevant to so many spiritual beliefs.
The Carter Center wages peace, fights disease, and builds hope all around the world. I love to support it.
The Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 was awarded to you "for decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
Some people still don't understand your myriad accomplishments and likely never will.
But I know you care as much about those critics as all other sentient beings.
You are truly a blessing on Earth.
You have lived an exemplary life and continue to provide your wisdom, experience and enlightenment to the world.
You were criticized during your presidency for taking the hard medicine that broke the back of inflation after a decade of failed solutions by your predecessors.
By appointing Fed Chair Volcker a period of tight monetary policy followed that resulted in a temporary harsh recession - giving your critics ammunition - but ushered in decades of prosperity.
By appointing Alfred Kahn as your economic advisor and "inflation czar" you dismantled anti-consumer fixed price cartels that lowered costs in air fares, electricity and telecommunications.
You introduced and supported the notion of human rights in foreign policy, a novel concept at the time.
It takes the long view on human civilization and comports with the concept of karma - cause and effect - relevant to so many spiritual beliefs.
The Carter Center wages peace, fights disease, and builds hope all around the world. I love to support it.
The Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 was awarded to you "for decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
Some people still don't understand your myriad accomplishments and likely never will.
But I know you care as much about those critics as all other sentient beings.
You are truly a blessing on Earth.
26
The Pentagon and the CIA don't want a successful cease-fire agreement and have done everything to disrupt it - to the point of committing airstrikes against Syrian military positions (oops…we're sooooo sorry) and allowing ISIS to advance against Syrian positions.
As Finian Cunningham writes for Opinion: "US-led air strike on the Syrian army base near Deir Ezzor last weekend was a deliberate act of sabotage. The Pentagon and CIA knew they had to act in order to kill the ceasefire plan worked out by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The compulsion to wreck the shaky truce was due to the unbearable exposure that the ceasefire plan was shedding on American systematic involvement in the terrorist proxy war on Syria."
What proxy war, you say? Just ask Hillary - she supports it and encourages it and will commit more troops, arms and money to keep the Pentagon and CIA happy in our ouster plans for Assad. The Pentagon and the CIA have been running clandestine programs for arming and training anti-government militants in Syria since the outset of the war in March 2011. This latest ceasefire was breached by "our" vetted "moderate" militant groups, which made it impossible for humanitarian aid convoys to enter Aleppo.
As the NYTimes writes: this bombing has "undercut American efforts to reduce violence in the civil war and open paths for humanitarian relief."
"Our" efforts to reduce violence? Oh, right. Blame the Russians…
As Finian Cunningham writes for Opinion: "US-led air strike on the Syrian army base near Deir Ezzor last weekend was a deliberate act of sabotage. The Pentagon and CIA knew they had to act in order to kill the ceasefire plan worked out by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The compulsion to wreck the shaky truce was due to the unbearable exposure that the ceasefire plan was shedding on American systematic involvement in the terrorist proxy war on Syria."
What proxy war, you say? Just ask Hillary - she supports it and encourages it and will commit more troops, arms and money to keep the Pentagon and CIA happy in our ouster plans for Assad. The Pentagon and the CIA have been running clandestine programs for arming and training anti-government militants in Syria since the outset of the war in March 2011. This latest ceasefire was breached by "our" vetted "moderate" militant groups, which made it impossible for humanitarian aid convoys to enter Aleppo.
As the NYTimes writes: this bombing has "undercut American efforts to reduce violence in the civil war and open paths for humanitarian relief."
"Our" efforts to reduce violence? Oh, right. Blame the Russians…
9
Exactly. In negotiations you must know what you want, what the other players want and find a way to get something for everyone. No one wants this fighting to stop. Even the dead if arisen would keep fighting.
Some possible positive actions with possible negative unforeseen consequences:
1) USA give the Syrian rebels anti-aircraft missiles with a technological guard against ISIS et al using them.
2) USA and Russia agree to only bomb ISIS. USA, Russia, and Syria set-up no fly zones for all non-ISIS territories. USA destroy Syrian air force if they break agreement.
3) USA pull out of Syria completely.
4) Arrange peace talks for Shia and Sunni throughout the world. Probably exclude the Saudi fundamentalists (Wahhabi) until much later.
5) Isolate and treat Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar like the rogue states they are until they stop supporting worldwide Islamic fundamentalism.
6) Bring Assad up for war crimes to the World Court now.
1) USA give the Syrian rebels anti-aircraft missiles with a technological guard against ISIS et al using them.
2) USA and Russia agree to only bomb ISIS. USA, Russia, and Syria set-up no fly zones for all non-ISIS territories. USA destroy Syrian air force if they break agreement.
3) USA pull out of Syria completely.
4) Arrange peace talks for Shia and Sunni throughout the world. Probably exclude the Saudi fundamentalists (Wahhabi) until much later.
5) Isolate and treat Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar like the rogue states they are until they stop supporting worldwide Islamic fundamentalism.
6) Bring Assad up for war crimes to the World Court now.
3
If the problem was Syria, there might be some cause to believe that a solution is possible. The problem, however, is the Sykes-Picot map of the Middle East and the rulers that it installed along with the >100 years that the victors of WW-II supported the dictators that Sykes-Picot installed.
Making matters worse is that the Sunni-Shi'a divide has been made worse during those 100 years.
The situation is quite a bit more difficult than just trying to resolve Syria. Even if we did that tomorrow, the problems of >100 years ago will continue to haunt us and the violence will simply more to another venue.
Minorities are ruling over majority populations. Family groups, tribal groups and ancient alliances have been divided by lines on a map drawn >100 years ago. The rage has simmered long and finally boiled over.
The only way to turn down the heat is to allow the people of the area to draw their own maps, elect their own leaders and get to the business of self-government without outside intervention. Of course that isn't going to happen so the killing, the demonization of "others" will continue till there isn't anyone left.
Making matters worse is that the Sunni-Shi'a divide has been made worse during those 100 years.
The situation is quite a bit more difficult than just trying to resolve Syria. Even if we did that tomorrow, the problems of >100 years ago will continue to haunt us and the violence will simply more to another venue.
Minorities are ruling over majority populations. Family groups, tribal groups and ancient alliances have been divided by lines on a map drawn >100 years ago. The rage has simmered long and finally boiled over.
The only way to turn down the heat is to allow the people of the area to draw their own maps, elect their own leaders and get to the business of self-government without outside intervention. Of course that isn't going to happen so the killing, the demonization of "others" will continue till there isn't anyone left.
3
Mr. Carter is an invaluable source of insight and a fine human being. He has no ulterior motives or agenda.
16
Jimmy, I am a fan of yours. But you did not kick out the revanchist, irredentist, vindictive and---excuse me---not to swift Zbigniew Brezinzsk, within six weeks of his Barnum-and-Bailey circus stunts
I saw the reports of him back in 1978-79, flying around with Zia ul-Haq---Zia ul-Haq!---jumping out of fuselages and aiming assault rifles toward Afghanistan. I remember that.
He declaired Namurrica open to do business with all serious anti-Communist mujahidin, from anywhere in the world, who were ready for an anti-Soviet "jihad". I had a little black-and-white TV in a rented student's room at a public Midwestern university and watched the clips in disbelief.
Did these people not know what fuse they were setting fire to? Was the Zbig really that stupid? Did he not understand that, with the collapse of the fallacy, that the most concerning issue in the world was the Cold War (a struggle that was actually an unconscious collusion to maintain untenable post-war European (INCLUDING the Russkies---don't make me explain again!) and Namurrican neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism by creating false rivals and then arming proxy war theatres and actors, while promulgating new theories about how to win, at dominoes [or backgammon])...
Okay, got to catch my breath. Heart's been working well, all my life; but one never knows, do one?
Jimmy, I love you, but the big Zbig should have been canned immediately. In 1979, I thought he was an idiot. Today, still do.
Bad card, buddy!
I saw the reports of him back in 1978-79, flying around with Zia ul-Haq---Zia ul-Haq!---jumping out of fuselages and aiming assault rifles toward Afghanistan. I remember that.
He declaired Namurrica open to do business with all serious anti-Communist mujahidin, from anywhere in the world, who were ready for an anti-Soviet "jihad". I had a little black-and-white TV in a rented student's room at a public Midwestern university and watched the clips in disbelief.
Did these people not know what fuse they were setting fire to? Was the Zbig really that stupid? Did he not understand that, with the collapse of the fallacy, that the most concerning issue in the world was the Cold War (a struggle that was actually an unconscious collusion to maintain untenable post-war European (INCLUDING the Russkies---don't make me explain again!) and Namurrican neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism by creating false rivals and then arming proxy war theatres and actors, while promulgating new theories about how to win, at dominoes [or backgammon])...
Okay, got to catch my breath. Heart's been working well, all my life; but one never knows, do one?
Jimmy, I love you, but the big Zbig should have been canned immediately. In 1979, I thought he was an idiot. Today, still do.
Bad card, buddy!
3
Should have been, "...not too swift...", sorry. It was an "o" mission.
1
Jimmy Carter,
You are my favourite President of my 68 years on this planet. You showed what courage was at the Chalk River Nuclear Reactor and demonstrated grace while under attack from both American political parties who only represent vested interests and never the interest of the vast majority of the American people. You never mention that America's middle income earners have been in decline since 1965 and that it is now 50 years of steady decline.
You have been blest with many fruitful and productive years and we need you now more than ever so I wish you many more. The most fearsome enemy we face is the face in the mirror. Your selflessness and humility should be an example to all of us.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You are my favourite President of my 68 years on this planet. You showed what courage was at the Chalk River Nuclear Reactor and demonstrated grace while under attack from both American political parties who only represent vested interests and never the interest of the vast majority of the American people. You never mention that America's middle income earners have been in decline since 1965 and that it is now 50 years of steady decline.
You have been blest with many fruitful and productive years and we need you now more than ever so I wish you many more. The most fearsome enemy we face is the face in the mirror. Your selflessness and humility should be an example to all of us.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
34
“A first step for Syria is to stop killing” is the right proposal. I like to go further than that by saying the last step is also to stop killing. Syria needs peace so does the world.
In http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/11/magazine/isis-middle-east-... the following view writ large: “The lack of an intrinsic sense of national identity joined to a form of government that supplanted the traditional organizing principle of society — left Iraq, Syria and Libya especially vulnerable when the storms of change descended… Much as the United States Army and white settlers did with Indian tribes in the conquest of the American West, so the British and French and Italians proved adept at pitting these groups against one another, bestowing favors — weapons or food or sinecures — to one faction in return for fighting another. The great difference, of course, is that in the American West, the settlers stayed and the tribal system was essentially destroyed. In the Arab world, the Europeans eventually left, but the sectarian and tribal schisms they fueled remained.”
There you have it.
Let the Syrians be their old and new selves: Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Jihadists, ISIS’, and Turks… but jettison the latter-day single nation-state phantasmagoria or nightmare. In as far as its territorial integrity is concerned, the wreckage historically wrought by imperialist powers can only be the way it is and no one seems capable of doing anything about it.
In http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/11/magazine/isis-middle-east-... the following view writ large: “The lack of an intrinsic sense of national identity joined to a form of government that supplanted the traditional organizing principle of society — left Iraq, Syria and Libya especially vulnerable when the storms of change descended… Much as the United States Army and white settlers did with Indian tribes in the conquest of the American West, so the British and French and Italians proved adept at pitting these groups against one another, bestowing favors — weapons or food or sinecures — to one faction in return for fighting another. The great difference, of course, is that in the American West, the settlers stayed and the tribal system was essentially destroyed. In the Arab world, the Europeans eventually left, but the sectarian and tribal schisms they fueled remained.”
There you have it.
Let the Syrians be their old and new selves: Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Jihadists, ISIS’, and Turks… but jettison the latter-day single nation-state phantasmagoria or nightmare. In as far as its territorial integrity is concerned, the wreckage historically wrought by imperialist powers can only be the way it is and no one seems capable of doing anything about it.
2
The arabs were doing this for over 1400 years, and you want to blame other nations for finding ways to profit off their natural hatred? This is no different than the equally atrocious slave trade from Africa that the Dutch, Spaniards, and Arabs traded in to the white american man. Yes the white man was wrong on all counts, and you should not be able to purchase a person, however those doing the selling do not have the same problems, and many arabs and africans still support and have slavery, yet now it is not urgent since western nations are not buying them on an open market.
Now we have the Trump way of bringing slaves in on temporary visas, underpaying them, and selling them in the cover of night.
Now we have the Trump way of bringing slaves in on temporary visas, underpaying them, and selling them in the cover of night.
The U.S. needs to replace guns and bombs with carrots and sticks. This won't help the military-industrial complex, but it will help the carrot and stick industries.
I am not being at all facetious.
I am not being at all facetious.
16
All those urging the US to get involved in Syria should report to their nearest recruiting station talk is cheap.
For those talking about regime change, how well did Hillary's regime change go in Libya and in Egypt? At least in Egypt the Egyptians corrected the effects of Hillary's interference?
And didn't we drop aid to the Syrian rebels which often ended up in the hands of ISIS?
For those talking about regime change, how well did Hillary's regime change go in Libya and in Egypt? At least in Egypt the Egyptians corrected the effects of Hillary's interference?
And didn't we drop aid to the Syrian rebels which often ended up in the hands of ISIS?
8
and what about W's regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan? Didn't end all that well.
With all due respect to President Carter I must pose a question (he has shown in the past) that he has not been reluctant to address: how do you write a piece of this kind and not mention Israeli interests in the conflict. I'm not even assuming any involvement at all but are we really saying they have no interests in the outcome?
4
President Carter is trying to simplify the situation, but it is not a fear to discuss Israel. He has already proven that. You are confusing him with ordinary statesmen.
Israel may have "interests" but Israel is not involved in the conflict (except for frequently providing free medical services to people who get to the border and ask for aid).
I have noticed that Carter has never waited years or until 500000 people have been killed to make his opinions about Israel known when Israel is involved. When Israel defends itself he condemns Israel.
When Israel helps Arabs murdering Arabs Carter is silent.
When Arabs murder Arabs Carter is silent. He waits until there are five hundred thousand dead and 2 million wounded!
Five hundred thousand dead and 2 million wounded! That is no small number.
Completely different standards for Israel and not-Israel. I wonder why.
I have noticed that Carter has never waited years or until 500000 people have been killed to make his opinions about Israel known when Israel is involved. When Israel defends itself he condemns Israel.
When Israel helps Arabs murdering Arabs Carter is silent.
When Arabs murder Arabs Carter is silent. He waits until there are five hundred thousand dead and 2 million wounded!
Five hundred thousand dead and 2 million wounded! That is no small number.
Completely different standards for Israel and not-Israel. I wonder why.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Jimmy Carter, he's a statesman first and foremost. His article is an opinion piece. It gives pause for thought, is well articulated and asks for parties to come to the table and seek one, common goal. Stop the killing!
If you can't achieve one goal, how can you even expect to achieve longer term objectives?
Many seem to share opinions whilst holding grudges as if it's personal. Why not remove our egos and think with a more humanitarian mind? After all, it's people's lives that are at stake!
I think what Jimmy Carter is eluding to is, there's a better way! Neither side, despite their agendas, is succeeding in achieving their objectives.
So yes, let's start with all sides agreeing, first and foremost with, Stop the killing!
If you can't achieve one goal, how can you even expect to achieve longer term objectives?
Many seem to share opinions whilst holding grudges as if it's personal. Why not remove our egos and think with a more humanitarian mind? After all, it's people's lives that are at stake!
I think what Jimmy Carter is eluding to is, there's a better way! Neither side, despite their agendas, is succeeding in achieving their objectives.
So yes, let's start with all sides agreeing, first and foremost with, Stop the killing!
19
Unfortunately, President Carter's reasoning evidences a serious flaw, when he says, "...the United States and Russia must find ways to work beyond the lack of trust that undermined the previous cease-fire...."
Sadly for one's hopes for peace and a resolution to the ongoing horror, the fundamental problem is not merely lack of trust or conflicting desires for control of turf. That is true for some parties, but for others the basic goal is the destruction of their perceived enemies. Not everyone wants to stop the killing across the board.
President Carter cannot help but view things through his own ethical and religious values. However, if we want to truly understand the region and maintain any hope for contributing to a lessening of its violence, we must cease the tendency to view what goes on there through the lens of Western political, social, and moral values.
Sadly for one's hopes for peace and a resolution to the ongoing horror, the fundamental problem is not merely lack of trust or conflicting desires for control of turf. That is true for some parties, but for others the basic goal is the destruction of their perceived enemies. Not everyone wants to stop the killing across the board.
President Carter cannot help but view things through his own ethical and religious values. However, if we want to truly understand the region and maintain any hope for contributing to a lessening of its violence, we must cease the tendency to view what goes on there through the lens of Western political, social, and moral values.
6
Is there historical evidence of one side in a conflict completely destroying the opposing side? It is an impossible goal which make the statement a good argument for stopping the conflict.
President Carter concedes that the terrorists will continue to fight and it is necessary to consider that point. What is not mentioned is that Assad himself can be classified as not only the legitimate leader of Syria but also a terrorist because of his crimes against humanity. He will not quit if he understands that he will end up sitting in the docket in the Hague.
President Carter concedes that the terrorists will continue to fight and it is necessary to consider that point. What is not mentioned is that Assad himself can be classified as not only the legitimate leader of Syria but also a terrorist because of his crimes against humanity. He will not quit if he understands that he will end up sitting in the docket in the Hague.
President Carter has endorsed the policy that Secretary Kerry has energetically pursued for over a year. It is clear that he also recognizes that there are implacable enemies in Syria that desire to destroy their opponent. In 2013 pressure from Russia resulted in Assad removing chemical weapons from Syria. Pressure is now needed to ground Assad's air force so that the U.S. and Russia can jointly pursue the defeat of ISIS in Syria. Pressure is also needed from the U.S. on opposition groups fighting Assad to observe the ceasefire. Given firm resolve by the U.S. and Russia the ceasefire can largely hold.
But Mr. Fankuchen, your suggestion is to swap Carter's lens for another lens which you identify as the lens of Western political, social and moral values. However, if we look closely, that lens becomes multiple lenses, lenses that are in virulent opposition with one another. Just check the current political struggle going on in America right now--you know the one I mean. Considering that, it seems to me that Carter's lens is just as valid as any of the squabbling lenses, perhaps more so, since President Carter doesn't waste time and energy dealing with trash-talking squabblers.
To what point ?
War is not a issue of its own, and so is peace. First of all you need an objective, a post war order, before you make up a strategy. No cease-fire will persists if everyone has totally diverging objectives.
Do we want to split up syria along ethnic boundaries ? Do we want Assad (who is liable for the uttermost civil casualities) to unite syria ?
Just admit, you have no ideas, there will be no Camp David this time. We will see the ME tear itself apart, and luckely we are not a key player in this madness, nor should we try to meddle.
The only issue for the west is to deal with the diaspora of the arabs.
War is not a issue of its own, and so is peace. First of all you need an objective, a post war order, before you make up a strategy. No cease-fire will persists if everyone has totally diverging objectives.
Do we want to split up syria along ethnic boundaries ? Do we want Assad (who is liable for the uttermost civil casualities) to unite syria ?
Just admit, you have no ideas, there will be no Camp David this time. We will see the ME tear itself apart, and luckely we are not a key player in this madness, nor should we try to meddle.
The only issue for the west is to deal with the diaspora of the arabs.
3
What President Carter proposes has happened before in Syria. The fighting has stopped. Then the US helped start it up again.
The rebels stopped fighting years ago. They loudly complained that they could not go on without weapons and money from the West. The US set up and ran bases in Turkey and Jordan to provide it, and the fighting resumed without let up until today.
Just cut them off. In a short while, the fighting would run down.
There. The killing is stopped. Now move on to Part Two of President Carter's idea. Talk instead of killing, with positions frozen.
What would stop Assad from exploiting this? Russia. Russia came into this late in the game, when Assad was losing to the US sponsored terrorists. Actual good faith would go a long way to getting both the large powers out of Syria.
The objection that Putin has no good faith overlooks that the US which has repeatedly failed in that regard, in Syria, in Libya, and elsewhere. Putin does not have the money to waste, if we would actually stop fighting. What happened first in this resumption? A major US strike, wiping out a Syrian position and allowing a key advance by ISIS. So don't only blame Putin.
The rebels stopped fighting years ago. They loudly complained that they could not go on without weapons and money from the West. The US set up and ran bases in Turkey and Jordan to provide it, and the fighting resumed without let up until today.
Just cut them off. In a short while, the fighting would run down.
There. The killing is stopped. Now move on to Part Two of President Carter's idea. Talk instead of killing, with positions frozen.
What would stop Assad from exploiting this? Russia. Russia came into this late in the game, when Assad was losing to the US sponsored terrorists. Actual good faith would go a long way to getting both the large powers out of Syria.
The objection that Putin has no good faith overlooks that the US which has repeatedly failed in that regard, in Syria, in Libya, and elsewhere. Putin does not have the money to waste, if we would actually stop fighting. What happened first in this resumption? A major US strike, wiping out a Syrian position and allowing a key advance by ISIS. So don't only blame Putin.
25
Is this terrorism? http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21706225-dr-assad-t...
Branding everyone who's taken up arms to defend themselves, their families, against a mass murderer a "terrorist" is an insult to the people of Syria. Arguing with you about the Syrian war is pointless. The perceptual lens through which you see the world is as distorted as your analysis of the conflict is inane, rendering argument ever so futile. Putin mustn't be criticized!, not in Ukraine, not in Syria.
Save your whataboutery.
Branding everyone who's taken up arms to defend themselves, their families, against a mass murderer a "terrorist" is an insult to the people of Syria. Arguing with you about the Syrian war is pointless. The perceptual lens through which you see the world is as distorted as your analysis of the conflict is inane, rendering argument ever so futile. Putin mustn't be criticized!, not in Ukraine, not in Syria.
Save your whataboutery.
President Carter, you are right. "Stop the killing" is the first thing to do. But who is responsible for most of the killing? The Assad regime. A year ago it looked as though it would falter, then Russia joined the frail in September. Now emboldened by Russian airstrikes and aided by Iranian forces and the Hezbollah, Assad has the upper hand. He wants to regain control over the whole country, and has no desire to step down. The opposition, backed by Turkey and the Arab Gulf states will continue to fight, as they have no appetite for keeping him in power.
It's unclear whether Putin wants to stand by Assad indefinitely. The US and the West are keen on ending the war, but they are powerless. A year ago a partition of Syria would have been realistic. Today Assad wants the whole country back under his rule.
It's unclear whether Putin wants to stand by Assad indefinitely. The US and the West are keen on ending the war, but they are powerless. A year ago a partition of Syria would have been realistic. Today Assad wants the whole country back under his rule.
6
Does anyone still believe that the bombing in Deir Ezzor was an accident? Let me list the indications that is was not:
- conflicting reports: some say that the area had been observed by the US for days. Others that the decision was made on the spot.
- the search to deflect attention by claiming that these were "former prisoners turned into makeshift conscript soldiers". Of course this is completely irrelevant.
- ISIS was ready and attacked immediately after the bombing
- strategic importance: this was not just the killing of a few of the thousands of Syrian soldiers in the area. It was a very strategic attack that gave ISIS control over the mountains near the airport and that way makes it impossible for the Syrian army to use the airport. It may well lead to the fall of Deir Ezzor to ISIS.
- the Pentagon made it very clear that they didn't like the truce. This was the perfect way to sabotage it.
- conflicting reports: some say that the area had been observed by the US for days. Others that the decision was made on the spot.
- the search to deflect attention by claiming that these were "former prisoners turned into makeshift conscript soldiers". Of course this is completely irrelevant.
- ISIS was ready and attacked immediately after the bombing
- strategic importance: this was not just the killing of a few of the thousands of Syrian soldiers in the area. It was a very strategic attack that gave ISIS control over the mountains near the airport and that way makes it impossible for the Syrian army to use the airport. It may well lead to the fall of Deir Ezzor to ISIS.
- the Pentagon made it very clear that they didn't like the truce. This was the perfect way to sabotage it.
17
Right on, Wim. It's all about regime change and ousting Assad, helped by our proxy fighters - aka, ISIS. I'm just surprised that we haven't started yet another "humanitarian bombing campaign" to kill the Syrians more humanely.
2
The way to stop killing is to stop killing--namely, the US should stop killing.
But this is too simple, isn't it?
"Only the dead have seen the end of war."
Think for yourself?
But this is too simple, isn't it?
"Only the dead have seen the end of war."
Think for yourself?
18
Assad has killed more than 250,000 Syrians but the "US should stop killing"??
4
I have said this here before, but I feel compelled to say it again: President James Earl Carter is easily the best example of what a great person does with the very important position of being a former president of the USA.
He is a great American, and a shining example of the best ideals of our nation. Humanity needs more people like him, now more than ever.
He is a great American, and a shining example of the best ideals of our nation. Humanity needs more people like him, now more than ever.
157
It's a great pity that he wasn't a better president. Not only did he leave office deeply unpopular, he was the one who actually started the Democratic Party's betrayal of its working class base.
The US Regime Change Machine must be stopped Now! for peace to ever come to Syria. Hillary voted for Bush's invasion & regime change in Iraq, then led the "humanitarian intervention" crusade in Libya and after Qaddafi was tortured with a bayonet in his anus & murdered, she gloated, "We came, we saw, he died!" But Putin was horrified and realized that he, too, was on Hillary's Regime Change Hit List. After all, it was Hillary the Hawk, who had declared that "Asad must go!" & henceforth, US military support was sent to "the rebels in their civil war"...after how much US "covert-democracy-spreading intervention" had been going on in Syria before? Also, evidence piles up, that it was players from her State Dept. who instigated the Kiev coup...but Russia was blamed for defending its vital interests: mainly its Sevastopol Black Sea naval base... by incorporating Crimea...with the Russian-Crimean citizens' consent...into Russia. The result: the US-led economic sanctions against Russia meant to weaken & destabilize its government. We've seen this Made in America movie before: in the US-UK-instigated 1953 Iran coup to assure our cheap oil supply, the overthrow of Allende in Chile 1973 in behalf of American copper barons, the overthrow of Albenz in Guatemala 1954 in behalf of United Fruit's exploitation of a huge swath of their land. So now, Hillary with her neocon & neolib friends is ready to turn their new Cold War hot. I won't vote for either the Hawk or the Sociopath.
19
Right on, Jean. You forgot to add the Cheney quip: The Middle East is "filled with our oil under their sand."
2
From the man who facilitated the birth of The Islamic Republic of Iran.
4
No he didn't. It was that traitor Reagsn and his thugs like Ollie North who sold weapons to the Iranians to fund the terror of the psychopathic murderer Somoza,
80
President Carter showed great courage in allowing the deposed Shah to get medical treatment in the United States near the end of the Shah's life. To have done otherwise would have been to turn a cold shoulder to someone who had been a close friend of the United States (regardless of whether that friendship, and the results of it in Iran, was ultimately a proper role for our country). Even the spectacular failure of the attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran showed courage, because he chose the option that was believed to carry the lowest risks of human deaths.
1
Wrong:
Islamic Republic of Iran: founded 1979.
Ronald Reagan, presidency: 1981-89.
Islamic Republic of Iran: founded 1979.
Ronald Reagan, presidency: 1981-89.
Get the US and its minions out and stop all support for all combatants. Let them exhaust themselves into oblivion. Ditto for the Russians, who are embroiled mainly as a response to U.S. and NATO meddling in a region that is a lot closer to them. That agreement between the U.S. and Russia to disengage is the only first step to a lasting peace. Then get all official foreign agitators, the
'coalition' that looks only after its own interests and power moves OUT.
'coalition' that looks only after its own interests and power moves OUT.
9
War is always about power, those who have it, those who want it and those who want it back. The lives of people always become irrelevant in war. The plight of refugees, the dead and maimed means little to those who care only about themselves and their ambitions. Perhaps the long suffering people displaced in this war need to be given a government in exile and a place at every meeting and discussion about resolving these wars. those who have the most to lose need to be empowered and supported in that empowerment.
8
Mr. Carter mentions the interests of other nations having a strong hold in Syria.
Russia for the Med port, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia also have their ambitions. What are ours? Really, why are we there? Is our involvement necessary other than in taking in 100,000's of refugees? Get US out. NOW.
Russia for the Med port, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia also have their ambitions. What are ours? Really, why are we there? Is our involvement necessary other than in taking in 100,000's of refugees? Get US out. NOW.
9
OP - There are several:
1) Oil, always has been and still is although you have more domestic production now than a decade of so age. That won't last, they have way, way, more.
2) Arm's sales, particularly to Israel and the Saudi's.
3) Containment of Russia, even though the cold war is over, it isn't really. Containment of Iran and Iraq, etc. You don't want them to have nukes.
This from a brief article by the Brookings Institute. If you are interested, and you should be because of all the blood and treasure your country has poured into the middle east, I am sure you can find much more detailed information without trying too hard.
1) Oil, always has been and still is although you have more domestic production now than a decade of so age. That won't last, they have way, way, more.
2) Arm's sales, particularly to Israel and the Saudi's.
3) Containment of Russia, even though the cold war is over, it isn't really. Containment of Iran and Iraq, etc. You don't want them to have nukes.
This from a brief article by the Brookings Institute. If you are interested, and you should be because of all the blood and treasure your country has poured into the middle east, I am sure you can find much more detailed information without trying too hard.
2
We don't take in 100,000 of refugees.
2
President Carter, thank you for your international work. The job you do will never be finished, but your work with Guinea worm eradication has had amazing results, as has the fair election processes the Carter Center oversees in countries around the world.
I'm wondering if being from Georgia USA, a racial hotbed in the past, you might have some luck helping us mend the racial divide that currently exists in the U.S. From my perspective, it's equally as important as the incessant killing elsewhere and wars elsewhere in the world. Heck, if we cannot live together here, how can we tell others how to do so?
As a white male Southern Baptist, anything you could do to get your church and other Christian denominations to help stop the brutal killings of unarmed black men and women would be appreciated. Isn't that what Christ would want?
I'm wondering if being from Georgia USA, a racial hotbed in the past, you might have some luck helping us mend the racial divide that currently exists in the U.S. From my perspective, it's equally as important as the incessant killing elsewhere and wars elsewhere in the world. Heck, if we cannot live together here, how can we tell others how to do so?
As a white male Southern Baptist, anything you could do to get your church and other Christian denominations to help stop the brutal killings of unarmed black men and women would be appreciated. Isn't that what Christ would want?
32
Carter left the Southern Baptists years ago because of their untenable positions on a number of issues.
1
A half a million people -- 500,000 lives lost -- photos of two children elicit compassion but it is not enough. As Americans, we are outraged by the death of our citizens but, as world citizens, we must feel the pain of every lost soul. What will it take to stop the killing? For those who dismiss President Carter's plea, what is your solution?
23
The airstrikes on the UN humanitarian convoy proves that a shower of our cruise missiles on Assad regime and his airforce is long overdue.
1
One wonders why the current Appeaser-in-Chief hasn't asked the former Appeaser-in-Chief to bring his insights and efforts to the latest intractable "crisis" in that region.
Ask Bin Laden how appeased he feels.
Or the dozens of other terror "leaders" with whom our President as dealt.
How did your hero Boy George stand up?
Saudi wanted Bin Laden alive, and that is how bush kept him.
Or the dozens of other terror "leaders" with whom our President as dealt.
How did your hero Boy George stand up?
Saudi wanted Bin Laden alive, and that is how bush kept him.
President Carter, I hope our President keeps in contact with you and considers your counsel on these affairs as your efforts are among the only lasting Peace efforts in the modern era in the Middle East.
16
im afraid that there just hasn't been enough killing yet. the situation in Syria is not going to get any more peaceful until either the Russians and Assad kill all the rebels and their associated civilian populations, or the US steps up and starts knocking off the Syrian air force, a few Russian bombers that are bombing the rebels and hopefully puts a hellfire in Assad's living room.
2
Stop the killing? That's maddening simplistic. Jimmy Carter is starting to sound like Professor Noam Chomsky does when he says if we really want to stop this plague of terrorism in the world we, the United States, should stop committing our own acts of state terror against Muslims and Arabs. Sorry, we got no dog in this fight. I had with war when I served as a medical corpsman in Vietnam. I saw how the road to hell is paved with good intentions. In fact, I think both President Barack Obama and President Vladimir Putin are both fools on a fool's errand as they are essentially in a proxy war with each other that just might explode in their faces. I saw the last proxy war with Russia, then known as the Soviet Union, who backed communist North Vietnam in the Vietnam War. From what I can recall, that war didn't turn out too well for us. Just as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and also the intervention in the Libyan civil war haven't turned out too well for us as we enter our second decade of war after the 9/11 attacks. And I'm tired of seeing Russia being demonized by us. It didn't work in Vietnam. And it won't work now. Obama really has no business with his air campaign in Syria. He's violating The War Powers Act of 1973 which was enacted because of the imperial presidencies of LBJ and Richard Nixon almost cause us to have a Third World War. Do we really want yet another war, perhaps, a land war if it escalates out of control of Russia and the United States? I say, Nyet.
8
You realize you condemned Noam Chomsky and then the rest of your post was similar to the sort of thing Chomsky would say. Good for you both, but the first two sentences didn't really fit with the rest of your post.
2
Another fact that is important to consider that a large number of troops in the Syrian Arab Army, the militia's supporting Assad consist of poor Afgan conscripts that Iran has dropped on the front lines in Syria, with no regard for their lives or well being. These poor, untrained individuals are often hit by Anti Tank Guided Missiles shot by rebels far away while resting or taking cover. One missile has the potential to take dozens of lives away in an instant. Horrific propaganda videos are uploaded to YouTube daily by "moderate" Sunni rebels gleefully celebrating the deaths.
These rebels don't build these ATGMs themselves, nor do they have the resources to purchase them on the black market. They are handed to them by the U.S. and Gulf governments.
In order to even consider a cease fire, it is imperative that the U.S. stop arming "moderate" rebel groups and selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, which in turn arms the same or more extreme militias with ATGMs or worse.
While Assad is a genocidal tyrant who is perfectly happy to dismiss all deaths as "casualties of war," the U.S. bears a large responsibility for the needless deaths of innocents by enabling rebel groups to kill with impunity and ease.
These rebels don't build these ATGMs themselves, nor do they have the resources to purchase them on the black market. They are handed to them by the U.S. and Gulf governments.
In order to even consider a cease fire, it is imperative that the U.S. stop arming "moderate" rebel groups and selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, which in turn arms the same or more extreme militias with ATGMs or worse.
While Assad is a genocidal tyrant who is perfectly happy to dismiss all deaths as "casualties of war," the U.S. bears a large responsibility for the needless deaths of innocents by enabling rebel groups to kill with impunity and ease.
10
Yes, how naive to push for peace.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Sadly, there appears to be a lot more will for war, death, and destruction than for peace.
President Carter and President Obama: Thoroughly decent, smart, mature, civilized men ahead of their time in history. It is a curse for them, I imagine, but actually a blessing for us. Somebody has to say it. Thank you for saying it, President Carter.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Sadly, there appears to be a lot more will for war, death, and destruction than for peace.
President Carter and President Obama: Thoroughly decent, smart, mature, civilized men ahead of their time in history. It is a curse for them, I imagine, but actually a blessing for us. Somebody has to say it. Thank you for saying it, President Carter.
29
"Blessed are the peace makers," and former President Jimmy Carter certainly is one. And so is Secretary of State John Kerry. I hope Mr. Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov can pressure Syrian President Bashir al-Assad to "Stop the Killing." As President Carter points out we are watching the slow-motion annihilation of the Syrian population and the creation of yet another "failed state" joining Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. He's right, "The Killing Must Stop." The petty political posturing about "regime change" concerning Mr. Assad must be set aside for that to happen.
57
Getting rid of Dr. Assad might not be a solution to the problem, but it would be good for my morale.
13
September 20, 2016
Justified killings in a delusional paradigm in the name of the Prophet and Tribal salvation is ingrained and systemic and one can not take steps on the earth when to life meanings is other worldly - World prayer for the fallen is the path to ending the violence - let's have the good Jimmy Carter lead the great prayer Awakening interdenominational and interfaith and all we be alright first in hearts and then on the earth that is the mother of all wellness and illnesses - that we earn and yet control by truth heart and mind...
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
Justified killings in a delusional paradigm in the name of the Prophet and Tribal salvation is ingrained and systemic and one can not take steps on the earth when to life meanings is other worldly - World prayer for the fallen is the path to ending the violence - let's have the good Jimmy Carter lead the great prayer Awakening interdenominational and interfaith and all we be alright first in hearts and then on the earth that is the mother of all wellness and illnesses - that we earn and yet control by truth heart and mind...
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
1
September 20, 2016
In the world of ideas there comes a time when background concert of magnaitude will bear the slings and arrows of the way our human famiies lie in wait for glory…..
Please induldge and offer the times benevelolence and compassions to will peace everywhere.
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 (Carnegie Hall 1995) (720p)
Published on Jun 12, 2014
Piano Soloist: Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신
Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신 & 小澤 征爾 Ozawa Seiji
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR4vXCsbnkk
JJA Manhattan, N. Y.
In the world of ideas there comes a time when background concert of magnaitude will bear the slings and arrows of the way our human famiies lie in wait for glory…..
Please induldge and offer the times benevelolence and compassions to will peace everywhere.
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 (Carnegie Hall 1995) (720p)
Published on Jun 12, 2014
Piano Soloist: Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신
Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신 & 小澤 征爾 Ozawa Seiji
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR4vXCsbnkk
JJA Manhattan, N. Y.
1
September 20, 2016
In the world of ideas there comes a time when background concert of magnitude will bear the slings and arrows of the way our human families lie in wait for glory….. Please indulge and offer the times benevolence and compassions to will peace everywhere. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 (Carnegie Hall 1995) (720p) Published on Jun 12, 2014 Piano Soloist: Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신 Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신 & 小澤 征爾 Ozawa Seiji https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR4vXCsbnkk
JJA Manhattan, N. Y.
In the world of ideas there comes a time when background concert of magnitude will bear the slings and arrows of the way our human families lie in wait for glory….. Please indulge and offer the times benevolence and compassions to will peace everywhere. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 (Carnegie Hall 1995) (720p) Published on Jun 12, 2014 Piano Soloist: Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신 Evgeny Kissin 예브게니 키신 & 小澤 征爾 Ozawa Seiji https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR4vXCsbnkk
JJA Manhattan, N. Y.
2
Carter says "stop the killing" and he's portrayed as naive! The men, women and children in the midst of the carnage or meandering deadly obstacle courses seeking help surely don't think Mr. Carter is naive.
Here is a ninety year old man who understands reality with a clarity few of us can claim. He didn't get my vote in the 80's but he sure has it now.
Here is a ninety year old man who understands reality with a clarity few of us can claim. He didn't get my vote in the 80's but he sure has it now.
70
President Carter's opinion makes complete sense at this stage of the war. The sheer number of victims negates any naysayers. The Syrian people have suffered enough. Stop the killing and let the humanitarians aid those in need, politics later. Quite simple but accurate.
41
Although few Americans choose to believe it, we have little or no say in what others decide to do. We could stop participating in the killing ourselves by remaining neutral in disputes beyond our own borders.
16
So... you are saying we should not have entered the European portion of World War II? (Undeniably, Japan bombed us first in the Pacific theater.)
Actually, the United States is able to exert TREMENDOUS pressure when it chooses to do so. The question has been applying it in a way that makes sense.
Actually, the United States is able to exert TREMENDOUS pressure when it chooses to do so. The question has been applying it in a way that makes sense.
7
No he is saying that if the U.S. stopped what it was doing, Syria would be fight between Assad backed by Russia and ISIS. It would not stop the killing. Russia doesn't want a pipeline from Iraq to the Mediterranean. Russia doesn't want to lose market share with its monopoly over oil sold to Europe. ISIS wants Eastern Syria for its caliphate. Assad wants to crush the opposition to his returning to rule. The U.S. has no dog in this hunt best I can tell. Syria is not strategic. We should get out since we cannot compel peace.
1
I am saying that the world order of 2016 bears little resemblance to the world order of 1946, which I am old enough to remember well.
3
"Stop the killing."
What makes Mr. Carter think that stopping the killing forms ANY part of either Bashar al-Assad's OR Vladimir Putin's desires?
Assad wants those who challenge his rule of what remains of Syria dead -- "MORTO" as those who love "The Godfather" remember. Putin welcomes the opportunity to kill Islamist jihadists in Syria in order to avoid the need to kill them in Russian Federation enclaves.
After Mr. Obama's erasure of his own "red-line", what incentive exists to get either of these men to "stop the killing"? Kumbaya?
What makes Mr. Carter think that stopping the killing forms ANY part of either Bashar al-Assad's OR Vladimir Putin's desires?
Assad wants those who challenge his rule of what remains of Syria dead -- "MORTO" as those who love "The Godfather" remember. Putin welcomes the opportunity to kill Islamist jihadists in Syria in order to avoid the need to kill them in Russian Federation enclaves.
After Mr. Obama's erasure of his own "red-line", what incentive exists to get either of these men to "stop the killing"? Kumbaya?
1
Do Americans want to stop killings, or they are more concerned to get rid of Asad? American-backed rebels definitely don't want to stop killing. I guess that is exactly the peoblem. All sides think that other side will not stop killing.
2
I find you to be the single most clueless commentator on this site. Utterly ignorant and full of confidence in your ignorance. You are a walking talking advertisement for more hate, more wars and more media inspired disinformation ignorance.
You blame everyone (Carter, Obama, Russia, the ME) EXCEPT the one's really guilty. That is OUR military Industrial Complex who ALWAYS push for more wars, more collateral damage more nation destruction (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ukraine, Vietnam, Angola) and more democracy sabotage (Egypt, Honduras, Ukraine, Brazil, Venezuela).
There is one real determined powerful enemy out there China (Russia would actually like to get on with us but we insist on breaking ALL post 1989 undertstanding on NATO and missile placement right on their borders as we did in 1962; Turkey then Poland now) but hey, China are the one you ignore, figures!
You blame everyone (Carter, Obama, Russia, the ME) EXCEPT the one's really guilty. That is OUR military Industrial Complex who ALWAYS push for more wars, more collateral damage more nation destruction (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ukraine, Vietnam, Angola) and more democracy sabotage (Egypt, Honduras, Ukraine, Brazil, Venezuela).
There is one real determined powerful enemy out there China (Russia would actually like to get on with us but we insist on breaking ALL post 1989 undertstanding on NATO and missile placement right on their borders as we did in 1962; Turkey then Poland now) but hey, China are the one you ignore, figures!
8
Here we go again Rich, it's Obama! Flat tire, Obama, rainy day, Obama, hang nail, Obama. 20 years from now it'll still be Obama. Shake the fog out of your head and realize all of this isn't Obama's fault. Some of it maybe, to hear you tell it, it's all Obama all the time.
5
I disagree with anything Carter says. His boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games accomplished absolutely nothing!
4
Well, that makes a lot of sense. Even if I agreed about the 1980 boycott, the idea that being 'wrong' on one issue invalidates everything Carter has ever said and done and any opinion or idea he might have .... your post is good evidence of how desperately we really, really need to introduce courses in critical thinking and logic in K-12 schools.
12
Oh and how America and its people suffered from that! Years of famine , disease and anarchy. I can appreciate why you'd harbor a grudge for 46 years.
5
His presidency accomplished absolutely nothing!
No doubt Jimmy can handle this situation just as he did convincing Bill Clinton not to bomb North Korea's fledgling nuclear weapons facilities and negotiate a deal in which North Korea would promise never ever ever to build a nuclear weapon in return for an end to sanctions (sound familiar?) and be accepted back into the community of nations. And we've been living happily ever after.
4
Seems I recall that No. Korea had IAEA nuclear inspectors on the ground and then the Bush Administration came to power and wanted to discontinue all things Clinton. It was during the Bush Administration that NK kicked out the inspectors and restarted their nuclear program. Don't forget NK was included as part of the Axis of Evil by Bush. No. Korea tested their first weapon in 2006 under Bush.
17
I have much respect for President Carter. But I feel he is a bit naive here. Beginning with Bashar al-Assad, there are countless "combatants" in the Syrian theater who lack both a conscience and even the minimum of respect for the lives of other humans. Talk of stopping the killing when killing is a way of life is falling on deaf ears.
2
I hope President Carter's idea is adopted, and that it works. But it's fragile. As we have seen too often in other trouble spots of the world, it takes all sides to make peace, but only one to break it, and once the shooting starts again, everyone feels justified in taking up arms again - 'he started it'. The fighting then takes on a life of its own, no longer purposeful (if one can ever call it that) or with any defined goal. At some point it has to dawn on someone that there will be nothing left to fight for, hasn't it? In a Carthaginian peace, which is where Syria seems to be headed, there is no 'winner', as there is nothing left to 'win'.
4
"....Russia is interested in a Mediterranean port; Iran wants a linkage with Hezbollah in Lebanon; Turkey’s primary goal is undermining Kurdish ambitions; and Saudi Arabia cares most about preventing another Iranian foothold in the Arab world. "
Strangely missing in your list is Israel and Israel's interests. Could it be that removing Assad may be to Israel's benefit as it will break the connection between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah? And then there is the Golan. Why is this rarely covered in the news?
Strangely missing in your list is Israel and Israel's interests. Could it be that removing Assad may be to Israel's benefit as it will break the connection between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah? And then there is the Golan. Why is this rarely covered in the news?
8
Even if true, perhaps it's not covered in the news because it makes no sense. Do you honestly believe that if Assad magically disappeared there would be no connection between Iran and Syria and/or Iran and Hezbollah? Also, Assad and Hezbollah are not the same, you know.
You imply that Israel's interests here are somehow given as much weight as the others mentioned in the article. Israel does indeed have interests, but Israel is far more fragile that Iran and its surrogates. Look at a map. Here today, gone tomorrow.
You imply that Israel's interests here are somehow given as much weight as the others mentioned in the article. Israel does indeed have interests, but Israel is far more fragile that Iran and its surrogates. Look at a map. Here today, gone tomorrow.
1
Removing Assad makes southern Syria into the wild west, where the status quo-Syria as Hezballah arms route- remains the same.
Keep on blaming Israel.
Keep on blaming Israel.
2
With all due respect for Mr. Carter I must say I am somewhat gobsmacked by his seeming naiveté. The people of this region, and its dominant religion, have been joyfully killing one another, and any one not like them, since forever. It's what they do.
Religion, clan, nationality are simply excuses...
Religion, clan, nationality are simply excuses...
5
Your comment stinks of ignorance on the long-term problems facing the region. The most recent conflicts are the child of European imperialism and the redrawing of the region by European powers following WWI and continuing through the 20th century. "joyfully' killing each other?
9
Sorry - This is Arab culture They slaughtered each other under the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. They slaughtered each other, as did christians, over textual minutia in their "sacred texts" long before that.
Recognizing an aspect of a culture based upon factual data is not practicing bigotry it is practicing Sociology.
Of course Sociology is a soft science, if a science at all
Recognizing an aspect of a culture based upon factual data is not practicing bigotry it is practicing Sociology.
Of course Sociology is a soft science, if a science at all
The author's words would carry more weight if he had done something about the killing fields in Cambodia on his watch.
4
yes, because the nation and its people could not wait to get involved in yet another land war in Asia.
Yup. Simple. Just get everyone to agree to stop the killing. How, precisely? By begging like he did to the Ayatollah in 1979? You see where that got us.
Jimmy Carter has a good heart, but was never able to wrap his head around dealing with people from different governments and cultures. YOU CAN'T APPROACH SYRIA LIKE IT WAS AN IOWA CITY GIRL SCOUT BAKE SALE.
The folks aren't going to agree to stop killing anyone except their own. Their mission on earth is to rid it of infidels. As in everyone else.
Please start there and reboot this weepy pile of drivel. Then join us in the year 2016.
Jimmy Carter has a good heart, but was never able to wrap his head around dealing with people from different governments and cultures. YOU CAN'T APPROACH SYRIA LIKE IT WAS AN IOWA CITY GIRL SCOUT BAKE SALE.
The folks aren't going to agree to stop killing anyone except their own. Their mission on earth is to rid it of infidels. As in everyone else.
Please start there and reboot this weepy pile of drivel. Then join us in the year 2016.
1
Unfortunately, history shows clearly that the author of the so-called "Peace Accords" was duped. This does not make him a bad person, and should not open him to ridicule, but it clearly shows = his lack of understanding of how Middle Eastern governments, their proxies, and the so-called "opposition" think and operate (and what those differences are). His ultra-biased approach led to more bloodshed and long, drawn-out conflicts. With all due respect, President Carter's views have proven to be not worthy of significant attention other than to respect his prose. Simplified answers did not work then, and certainly do not work now.
2
Right. We should supply weapons to rebels allied with Al Qaeda and support more killing. Or bomb Assad and then the rebels allied with Al Qaeda can take over. Or Isis. Or they can fight each other over the spoils. Makes perfect sense to a laptop realist, I guess.
2
Jimmy Carter would not approve of baseless name calling. Your response does not reflect my comment. Magic thinking cannot stop the killing. Understanding realities on the ground and working within the confines might. What has been done is not working... the strongest leadership generally inflicts its will, right or wrong.
1
The lack of U.S. leadership in trying to resolve the Syrian crisis or at least preventing additional carnage is astonishing. Our consensual inaction is based on the fact that we don't want to be caught in another quagmire a la Iraq... But the two situations cannot be more different and we have a moral obligation to intervene as we did in Bosnia and Kosovo. Russians, Iranians and the rest of the players on the ground have different interests but they understand one language and that's force. Instead of wasting precious time with Sergei Lavrov to negotiate another truce which will take even less time to falter, Sec. Kerry should round up our NATO allies and the UN security council to establish a no fly zone as soon as practicable. No matter if it's a Russian warplane or a Syrian one, if you fly you will get shut down. This is the only way today to force the different parties to get back to the negotiating table.
1
Thanks for your honest contribution, Mr. Carter, but this is a war for regime change in Syria and I doubt anything is going to change that. If it wasn't that we supported the rebels, I suspect this entire tragedy would have ended no later than 2012, when we insisted Assad must go before peace talks. It seems so hypocritical when you look at the dictators surrounding Syria and their disregard for human rights, yet we support them. All that is necessary is to stop funding the opposition with lethal weapons, money, etc. and the war will end. Let the citizens of Syria decide who their leaders should be.
3
I'm sorry but I don't understand this at all. Mr. Assad is not interested in stopping the killing. He regards anyone in Syria who does not support him as a terrorist. The Russians will not allow Mr. Assad to be deposed or defeated. What cards does this leave us in the West to play?
3
I love and admire Jimmy Carter. He continues to be great. But I'd like to see the US and its real friends take out the Syrian air force, and bomb it to zero or ground it, and then push for Carter's peace. It is time for the US to show its friends and allies that we can punish our enemies to protect our allies.
John Kerry has asked for some punitive strikes, to get the attention of our deadly enemies in the region. Taking out the Syrian air force, would get some respect. Right now the Syrian government doesn't need peace, we are letting them win the war, by destroying and killing their Sunni populations.
John Kerry has asked for some punitive strikes, to get the attention of our deadly enemies in the region. Taking out the Syrian air force, would get some respect. Right now the Syrian government doesn't need peace, we are letting them win the war, by destroying and killing their Sunni populations.
4
This arrogant and destructive mindset, typical of that discredited and obnoxious view of ourselves as "the one exceptional nation" in today's world, is precisely what has led to the so-called "Syrian crisis," and many, many others too numerous to mention. That perpetual war philosophy of yours is doubtless what in the end will do us in; mark our words.
26
And Russia would sit by and watch?
6
I'll dare call this man of peace a Protestant saint, though I don't doubt that he'd blush to see this.
5
President Carter is proposing the most basic possible step in resolving the conflict. He's right that resolving the larger issues will take more time. Nonetheless, stopping the killing now is an excellent test of all the parties' willingness to participate in any negotiation process. If one of them can't agree to at least freeze in place, and allow relief to flow, it will show that they really have no intention of ever negotiating. This is a fascinating test of intentions.
55
Can anyone imagine Donald Trump making such an eloquent and informed appeal?
88
Mr. Trump's interests center on elegance more than eloquence.
Come to think of it, eloquence is simply not in Trump's DNA.
Come to think of it, eloquence is simply not in Trump's DNA.
2
Yes. If it were ghost written by President Carter. And, coming from Trump's mouth, would be a lie or sarcasm. The truth is he would make such a great deal with Putin on dividing up the spoils in Syria it would make your head spin.
Jimmy is right on.
63
Have we no decency? We seem to have lost a fundamental tenet of American foreign policy which might be stated - there is no political or fiscal goal we can attain that is worth the annihilation of a civilization. Even during WWII, even when Truman dropped the bomb on Japan - Kyoto was excluded as a target for fear of the utter social damage it would do, and the repercussions to the survivors, and the inevitable repercussion they would bring upon us.
We are trivializing human life in the quest for our chess board position - and some would argue this is simply the horror of war we should accept. The enemy doesn't share our values and is willing to plumb the depths of soullessness. We must fight them at their level.
But why? It never was true before.
We have stopped seeing our humanity as a strength, and it is important for the public to realize that those who would have us treat an enemy, or a collateral population as objects with human value less than ourselves, will just as easily toss us into that category when it suits them.
We are trivializing human life in the quest for our chess board position - and some would argue this is simply the horror of war we should accept. The enemy doesn't share our values and is willing to plumb the depths of soullessness. We must fight them at their level.
But why? It never was true before.
We have stopped seeing our humanity as a strength, and it is important for the public to realize that those who would have us treat an enemy, or a collateral population as objects with human value less than ourselves, will just as easily toss us into that category when it suits them.
27
During WW2, before dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, American bombers fire-bombed Tokyo, repeatedly. Parts of the city were incinerated because the buildings - especially the residential areas - were made of wood. One raid - Operation Meetinghouse - destroyed nearly 16 square miles and killed an estimated 100,000 Japanese, mostly civilians. So much for "decency" in WW2.
Of course, the Japanese had plenty of opportunity between 7 December 1941 and 15 August 1945 to realize that they only needed to surrender unconditionally in order to avoid the death and destruction we delivered. They had assaulted us first, and at that moment, they lost all the benefit of our treating them with "decency", for they had rejected being "decent" to us. And they could have returned to that simply by surrendering unconditionally. Yet that concept was beyond their irrational, deranged philosophy.
Our "humanity" should be based on reality: That no one has the right to initiate the use of physical force against us. And if they violate our rights to life and liberty, they have themselves to blame when we retaliate with utter destruction.
In this war, the US has not been attacked - and therefore, we have no need or authority to be involved. Let the Arabs kill themselves over pieces of sand. The Syrians have trivialized human life, as is evidenced by their quest for a Jihadiphate.
Of course, the Japanese had plenty of opportunity between 7 December 1941 and 15 August 1945 to realize that they only needed to surrender unconditionally in order to avoid the death and destruction we delivered. They had assaulted us first, and at that moment, they lost all the benefit of our treating them with "decency", for they had rejected being "decent" to us. And they could have returned to that simply by surrendering unconditionally. Yet that concept was beyond their irrational, deranged philosophy.
Our "humanity" should be based on reality: That no one has the right to initiate the use of physical force against us. And if they violate our rights to life and liberty, they have themselves to blame when we retaliate with utter destruction.
In this war, the US has not been attacked - and therefore, we have no need or authority to be involved. Let the Arabs kill themselves over pieces of sand. The Syrians have trivialized human life, as is evidenced by their quest for a Jihadiphate.
8
True, but vaporizing Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war cold in its tracks and ultimately DID save hundreds of thousands of American lives and probably millions of Japanese lives caught up in a society in which dying for the emperor rather than surrendering was the greatest honor in life. Maybe it's time to finally consider -- something Obama doesn't have the mindset for -- how to cauterize this bleeding sore on civilization in its tracks once and for all, too?
Cauterization - by the US - is unneeded and unwanted. Pretty much everything the US has tried to do in the Middle East has ended with more hatred for the US in the Middle East. This is not a "bleeding sore on civilization" - it is a bleeding sore on the religion that espouses Jihad, and only when the members of that religion realize that their philosophy is wrong will the bleeding sore be healed.
JQ Adams: "She goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy." Wise words. We desperately need to obey them. Unfortunately, few Presidents since Lincoln have adhered to them, and the D & R candidates for POTUS are even more bloodthirsty than their predecessors.
Wars of self-defense are justified. No other war is.
JQ Adams: "She goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy." Wise words. We desperately need to obey them. Unfortunately, few Presidents since Lincoln have adhered to them, and the D & R candidates for POTUS are even more bloodthirsty than their predecessors.
Wars of self-defense are justified. No other war is.
4
It's Assad who plays both sides to continue the killing.
I say it's time to take him out.
I say it's time to take him out.
4
Hillary will.
3
Because assassinating foreign leaders has always worked so well in the past. Right. I agree he's got to go, but it's the Syrians that have to do it - not any outside entity, and especially not us. For Western forces to 'take him out', whether fatally or by deposition, capture, and arrest, would allow extremists to adopt him as a 'martyr' (even if they'd hated him before; if politics makes strange bedfellows, revolution makes even stranger marriages of opportunity) and paint the US and allies as imperialist, colonialist, etc. Our intervention has to be, insofar as possible, limited to humanitarian aid and moral leadership, and any military assistance has to go through the UN, for the sake of our always shaky credibility.
4
Mr. Carter was a flawed president and had difficulty leading in the late 1970's. I think history will treat him better than the pundits and the voters did at the time. I don't know if his analysis is good now or not, but I know he is a good leader. I am glad that he weighs in whether or not he is right on every issue. His leadership since his presidency has been unprecedented and I am glad he is still with us.
16
@ Rob Berger
Whatever flaws or merits Mr. Carter may have had in the 70's are ancient history now. One thing is for sure and will live on: he is the ONLY U.S. president to have done anything worthwhile AFTER his presidency – thus the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize awarded him for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.
And still going....
Whatever flaws or merits Mr. Carter may have had in the 70's are ancient history now. One thing is for sure and will live on: he is the ONLY U.S. president to have done anything worthwhile AFTER his presidency – thus the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize awarded him for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.
And still going....
2
Thank you President Carter. I would like to agree, but I just can't see how a cease fire would work when faced with a regime like Assad's, along with his Russian enablers.
When Assad crossed Obama's "red line" and used chemical weapons, we failed to follow through on a stated response to attack him. Last month when evidence was presented of the regime's continuing use of chlorine gas as a weapon, we did nothing. No wonder Assad and Putin laugh at the idea they will ever be held to account.
Only one thing works with people like that. As soon as evidence of the regime's involvement with the air strike on the UN relief convoy is established, we should completely destroy Assad's air force and all of the infrastructure that force needs to operate.
When Assad crossed Obama's "red line" and used chemical weapons, we failed to follow through on a stated response to attack him. Last month when evidence was presented of the regime's continuing use of chlorine gas as a weapon, we did nothing. No wonder Assad and Putin laugh at the idea they will ever be held to account.
Only one thing works with people like that. As soon as evidence of the regime's involvement with the air strike on the UN relief convoy is established, we should completely destroy Assad's air force and all of the infrastructure that force needs to operate.
13
David, are you really being serious about destroying "Assad's air force and all the infrastructure that force needs to operate?" Do you want a proxy war with Russia? That's what will happen because we would have been committing an act of war against Russia's ally Syria. I served in Vietnam. That was our previous proxy war with Russia, then known as the Soviet Union. From what I can recall, that war didn't turn out too well for us. And after how badly we're prosecuted the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and also the intervention in the Libyan civil war, we certainly don't need yet another land war that we can call a military blunder. I understand your dismay and anger. But to be frank, I think we have no dog in this fight as horrible and brutal as this war has been. It would be like pouring kerosene on a fire.
22
David, of course you realize ( or you may not) that an airstrike on Assad would mean engaging Russian air force as well. Who knows where that would lead?
It is this type of knee jerk reaction that got us into the quagmire of the ME 15 years ago. It might feel good for about 10 minutes- and then you realize you've made the mess even worse.
I thank goodness every day we have Obama as our Commander in Chief and he has assiduously kept us out of deeper military involvement in the ME- especially Syria. Most Americans realize deeper military involvement in the ME is a no win proposition and is like stepping into quicksand. Our current conflicts in the ME is the longest in our history- longer than both world wars.
Unless you are prepared for your grand kids and great grand kids to go off to war in the ME- diplomacy is the way to go. Jimmy Carter is correct- the killing must stop so that Syrians can return to their country and oust Assad themselves and rebuild their own country. We can help but we cannot nation build for them.
It is this type of knee jerk reaction that got us into the quagmire of the ME 15 years ago. It might feel good for about 10 minutes- and then you realize you've made the mess even worse.
I thank goodness every day we have Obama as our Commander in Chief and he has assiduously kept us out of deeper military involvement in the ME- especially Syria. Most Americans realize deeper military involvement in the ME is a no win proposition and is like stepping into quicksand. Our current conflicts in the ME is the longest in our history- longer than both world wars.
Unless you are prepared for your grand kids and great grand kids to go off to war in the ME- diplomacy is the way to go. Jimmy Carter is correct- the killing must stop so that Syrians can return to their country and oust Assad themselves and rebuild their own country. We can help but we cannot nation build for them.
11
"Only one thing works with people like that" was the cause of millions of women and children splattered on walls of Nam and Iraq. It is what the cops say just before they kill an unarmed black man. It is what the wifebeater or the abusive parent says. "People like that" devalues others, stopping any dialogue, any resolution except violence.
1
Kudos to Pres. Carter for adding his voice to bring about peace to Syria. But it looks like the U.S. Military did not get the memo that a cease fire was in effect when they "bombed" terrorists. Or maybe the paperwork got lost or does no one even look at evening news or read the papers at the War Department? Then the Syrians feel obliged to retaliate and the rebels would be obliged to retaliate against the retaliation and the cycle continues. Somebody needs to be fired in the U.S. chain of command for not following
10
President Carter, you are right, "American-Russian leadership is critical for this approach to work". However, it's been clear for a while now that we cannot control our allies.
The week of 'ceasefire' started with Israel striking Syrian government forces last Monday because of an errant fire from across the border. Every time the rebels want to trigger Israel into action, they throw something across the border and Israel reacts by striking Syrian forces. And the week ended with our strike against Syrian forces that killed dozens. Where did WE get the intelligence to strike? Most likely from rebels that are fighting against Assad.
As long as we cannot control our so-called allies, Syrians will continue to die. Why don't we instead just let Putin and his allies clean up the country with Turkey's help, and sit back and watch.
The week of 'ceasefire' started with Israel striking Syrian government forces last Monday because of an errant fire from across the border. Every time the rebels want to trigger Israel into action, they throw something across the border and Israel reacts by striking Syrian forces. And the week ended with our strike against Syrian forces that killed dozens. Where did WE get the intelligence to strike? Most likely from rebels that are fighting against Assad.
As long as we cannot control our so-called allies, Syrians will continue to die. Why don't we instead just let Putin and his allies clean up the country with Turkey's help, and sit back and watch.
8
finally! A reason to blame Israel for this mess!!
5
Sure Westo. If only those bad sneaky Jooooze wouldn't attack poor 'ol Assad's murderers ... I mean troops -- for no other reason than shooting rockets and mortars into Israel, Assad, al Nusra Front, ISIS, the Kurds, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard would all be sitting around the campfire singing Kumbaya with Russia providing the catering. Now why didn't the rest of the world think of this??!! As they always say, it takes a genius to see the obvious.
3
Jonny: Never underestimate the imagination of an anti-Semite.
3
I trust the author of the Camp David peace Accords more than any other to be able to grasp and deal with this complex situation. As noted, Russia is interested in a Mediterranean port; Iran wants a linkage with Hezbollah in Lebanon; Turkey’s primary goal is undermining Kurdish ambitions; and Saudi Arabia cares most about preventing another Iranian foothold in the Arab world. These interests are already threatening the tenuous cease-fire.
We have one president candidate who is well versed in these subtleties and has moved in this sphere for decades, and one who could not likely find any of these places on a map. It is sad to see how far down the extremists have brought our country.
We have one president candidate who is well versed in these subtleties and has moved in this sphere for decades, and one who could not likely find any of these places on a map. It is sad to see how far down the extremists have brought our country.
38
The temporary truce began to break down after we fired on Syrian government forces, killing a large number of them. The Russians called for a meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss our action. Instead of humbly asking for forgiveness, our U.N. ambassador, Samantha Powers, blasted Russia for having called the meeting. My guess is that it was her defiant, non-apolegetic attitude that put the "final nail in the coffin” of our temporary truce.
7
Apologies were made and rejected. I watched your Ambassador. I did not see defiance; rather, I saw incredulity at Russia's obvious ploy in once again trying to make the US look like the only bad guy, and Russia a world leader prepared to call out war crimes.
4
Give credit to former Pres. Carter for wanting to halt the bloodshed but Assad's regime has already butchered hundreds of thousands of people. Unfortunately, Carter's late to the crisis. At this point, what's a few more months of fighting if that will result either in the overthrow of the regime or a severe beating that forces its retreat to an "Alawi-stan?" Seriously, Syria is pure poison and it needs an apocalyptic moment of cleansing.
President Carter's life of humanitarian wisdom in practice reflects his words. His model of integrity and compassion remains a beacon of the best we could imagine. His thoughts and actions illumine the highest good people can do for each other, or the world, unlike others who are more interested in the benefits to themselves. I too thank our wonderful President for all of his contributions to making the world a better place.
18
Assad's forces are cowards, killing their own people indiscriminately, with the overt complicity of Russian thug, Putin. When will this all end? When will the common enemy, Assad, leave, with the deep guilt of killing so many for keeping power? Are we really this powerless to allow this massacre to go on, unabated? No will nor courage to intervene effectively?
The killing will end when there's only one man standing.
at that point - suicide is an option
Disagree with this piece. Assad/Russia/Iran never were interested in a ceasefire. They bombed as soon as the latest agreement was made, seeing how much they could get away with. Apparently Carter is willing to give it all another try. Carter’s idea that the U.S. should go ahead and expand the bombing to include non-ISIS “terrorists” (the Kerry-Lavrov plan) is based on an illusion. He says if we do this “fighters in their ranks are likely to be tempted to abandon them and move to areas that offer better living conditions.” Is he kidding? Where are they going to move to?
The point is not to give drips of “humanitarian aid” like Gaza to areas under siege, but to break the sieges. The U.N. drops food to the Assad area besieged by ISIS. Why not drop it in Aleppo and Madaya, etc. As Promoting Enduring Peace and CODEPINK said in our January letter printed in this paper: #DropFoodNotBombs
The point is not to give drips of “humanitarian aid” like Gaza to areas under siege, but to break the sieges. The U.N. drops food to the Assad area besieged by ISIS. Why not drop it in Aleppo and Madaya, etc. As Promoting Enduring Peace and CODEPINK said in our January letter printed in this paper: #DropFoodNotBombs
9
"Reliable sources estimate the number of Syrians killed to date at almost half a million, with some two million more people wounded."
Civilian deaths from past horrific aerial bombardments:
London Blitz: 43,000 civilians dead, 46,000 injured
Bombing of Dresden: 22,700–25,000 deaths
Tokyo: 88,000–100,000
Hiroshima: 50,000–60,000
German attack on Poland with operation Wasserkante: 20,000 - 25,000.
Aerial bombardments of civilians was somehow thought to be a horror which humanity had somehow put in its past.
With all the griping in this country about the existential destruction of white American society under Obama, or the red-state's terror of some invasion of the Syrian refugee country-snatchers, & with whatever real vicissitudes we actually do each face in even these best of circumstances, at least we're not in Aleppo.
It seems absurd to take our issues so seriously with this going on in the world.
Civilian deaths from past horrific aerial bombardments:
London Blitz: 43,000 civilians dead, 46,000 injured
Bombing of Dresden: 22,700–25,000 deaths
Tokyo: 88,000–100,000
Hiroshima: 50,000–60,000
German attack on Poland with operation Wasserkante: 20,000 - 25,000.
Aerial bombardments of civilians was somehow thought to be a horror which humanity had somehow put in its past.
With all the griping in this country about the existential destruction of white American society under Obama, or the red-state's terror of some invasion of the Syrian refugee country-snatchers, & with whatever real vicissitudes we actually do each face in even these best of circumstances, at least we're not in Aleppo.
It seems absurd to take our issues so seriously with this going on in the world.
10
Some of us can walk and chew gum at the same time, and similarly care about domestic issues and also about the devastation in Aleppo. The difference is that as individual American voters and citizens we might be able to do something concrete and immediate about the domestic issues, whereas the best we can do for the people of Aleppo is maybe to send some money to the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders and wring our hands from the sidelines.
2
President Carter has contributed a badly needed core point: stop the killing. The myriad issues preventing sustained peace talks will not go away at the Geneva conference table. But as Carter observes, they won't go away either as the bombing, shootings and assaults continue. Therefore, the first step of getting all sides to essentially sit in place and pit down their arms and planes could be the first step in an eventual -- lasting -- ceasefire.
The way things are now, it is clear that all parties are engaged in a long term defeat, with the so-called victors in no better shape than the defeated.
Time to give a time out a chance.
The way things are now, it is clear that all parties are engaged in a long term defeat, with the so-called victors in no better shape than the defeated.
Time to give a time out a chance.
32
Stop the killing? Wow, who would have thought of that! Unfortunately President Carter dramatically overestimates U.S. influence in the region and in fact around the world. George W's misguided foray in Iraq demonstrated one thing to the world, that being the U.S. is not able to win a retracted conflict and does not have the stomach for a full blown no holds WWII style war. When the combatants don't care about their own life they certainly will not even notice the U.S. wagging its finger at them. The conflict in Syria will only end when all sides simply burn themselves out.
11
The U.S. is the enemy of Assad, ISIS, and Putin. The U.S. is helpless in Syria, and perhaps makes matters worse. Let Assad and Putin work together against ISIS and leave the U.S. out of it.
We should not trust Putin to be working with us.
We should not trust Putin to be working with us.
5
As with Libya and Iraq, US policy towards Syria has not been rational with regard to humanitarian and moral arguments for war.
The people there are not unified socially, and external geopolitical forces (Sunni/Shia rivalry & other foreign powers) would encourage them to fight for political and social control. Thus, further inflaming & prolonging any civil war would cost many tens of thousands of lives. This itself lays bare the false rationale for humanitarian and moral arguments for intervention.
The US is clinging to a no-win policy. Why provide support for a multi-sided war, when you don't want the Assad regime to lose, don't trust your Islamist rebel allies, and won't like many of the possible awful consequences if your side wins?
Regime change doesn't appear to be in US interests, but there are strong unAmerican motivations from many of our Sunni allies in the Middle East to push the US to support Syrian regime change or its further destabilization -- to "salt the earth". Domestically also, it is reasonable that pro-Israel perspectives may push for civil war due to the Hezbollah and Golan Heights issues.
The only un-muddled choice is a universal sentiment among Western cultures that ISIS and their head-chopping ilk is abhorrent and a threat that may justify military action. What is not mentioned much is that early on, ISIS had garnered support from many within the Sunni Arab world, as well as (at the very least), an apathetic tolerance from Turkey.
The people there are not unified socially, and external geopolitical forces (Sunni/Shia rivalry & other foreign powers) would encourage them to fight for political and social control. Thus, further inflaming & prolonging any civil war would cost many tens of thousands of lives. This itself lays bare the false rationale for humanitarian and moral arguments for intervention.
The US is clinging to a no-win policy. Why provide support for a multi-sided war, when you don't want the Assad regime to lose, don't trust your Islamist rebel allies, and won't like many of the possible awful consequences if your side wins?
Regime change doesn't appear to be in US interests, but there are strong unAmerican motivations from many of our Sunni allies in the Middle East to push the US to support Syrian regime change or its further destabilization -- to "salt the earth". Domestically also, it is reasonable that pro-Israel perspectives may push for civil war due to the Hezbollah and Golan Heights issues.
The only un-muddled choice is a universal sentiment among Western cultures that ISIS and their head-chopping ilk is abhorrent and a threat that may justify military action. What is not mentioned much is that early on, ISIS had garnered support from many within the Sunni Arab world, as well as (at the very least), an apathetic tolerance from Turkey.
8
Jimmy Carter just wants to help. Maybe if he went to Aleppo or Damascus and stood in the central square and shouted "Please Stop Fighting!" he would get some kind of result.
The truth is: The US should stay out of Syria, and let each group of the followers of jihad fight every other group of the followers of jihad. Because that's what this is all about - followers of jihad obeying jihad to achieve jihad and establish The Caliphate. Doesn't matter whether it's ISIS, or Assad, or the Arab Springers.
Let the Arabs kill themselves over pieces of sand. Keep US forces and weapons out of Syria. Let Russia "broker" some peace agreement. We are not responsible for Syria's insanity - Syria is. As a result, intelligent Americans don't hold themselves or their fellow citizens responsible for Syria's insanity.
Keep our troops, our guns, and our money here at home.
The truth is: The US should stay out of Syria, and let each group of the followers of jihad fight every other group of the followers of jihad. Because that's what this is all about - followers of jihad obeying jihad to achieve jihad and establish The Caliphate. Doesn't matter whether it's ISIS, or Assad, or the Arab Springers.
Let the Arabs kill themselves over pieces of sand. Keep US forces and weapons out of Syria. Let Russia "broker" some peace agreement. We are not responsible for Syria's insanity - Syria is. As a result, intelligent Americans don't hold themselves or their fellow citizens responsible for Syria's insanity.
Keep our troops, our guns, and our money here at home.
18
Surely all sides must tire of killing and being killed. Jimmy Carter is right.
Enough of the never ending wars. Start with a truce to try a fresh approach. Look to settle differences in other ways.
Enough of the never ending wars. Start with a truce to try a fresh approach. Look to settle differences in other ways.
32
Thank you President Carter. An adult has entered the room.
159
An adult?
He has it backwards.
Stop the war.
That is the only thing that will stop the killing.
To do that you need a courageous man in the White House who will keep his word not just talk like Obama about passing a "red line" and doing absolutely nothing when it was violated when Assad dropped chemical barrel bombs on innocent civilians.
Talk does nothing unless the combatants sit down at the table and agree.
Putin loves the killing as well as Assad, his flunky. Russia runs Syria not Bashar.
I love President Carter. He is the only decent man ever to occupy the White House besides FDR. But people like Bashar and Vladimir only respect and fear counterpunches that they know will be lethal to them personally. We need now a General Patton type to deal with these thugs. Better now than later when the situations is totally out of control.
I love President Carter. He is the only decent man ever to occupy the White House besides FDR. But people like Bashar and Vladimir only respect and fear counterpunches that they know will be lethal to them personally. We need now a General Patton type to deal with these thugs. Better now than later when the situations is totally out of control.
3
You're suggesting that this is not "totally out of control"?
3
By totally out of control I meant all out war with Russia. We, the US, must stop Russia in Syria, if not, then Putin will know that even NATO will do nothing if he/Russia reoccupies Eastern Europe. That would be his next step. If he occupies the Baltics, we all might be facing nuclear war. That is why Putin must be stopped in Syria. Putin does not want a cease fire in Syria and Kerry is just too dumb to get it.
1
President Carter's reasoning unfortunately has a serious flaw. He writes, "...the United States and Russia must find ways to work beyond the lack of trust that undermined the previous cease-fire...." Sadly for peace and resolution hopes, the fundamental problem is not merely lack of trust or conflicting desires for control of turf. That is true for some parties, but for others the basic goal is the destruction of their perceived enemies. Not everyone wants to stop the killing across the board.
9
James Earl Carter - a never ending voice in service of humanity, now 14 years after his Nobel Peace Prize. We thought he might have been taken from us by this time. Instead, he is not only with us still, but leading us with moral persuasion, political clarity, and hope.
219
Mr. Carter you say, "The targeting of the humanitarian convoy, a war crime, should serve as an added impetus for the United States and Russia to recommit to the cease-fire." Yes, and mass-murderer Assad and his regime must be charged and brought to trial for war crimes against their own people at The Hague International Court immediately.
Unfortunately, there are powerful, greedy people behind every faction in Syria, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East and they want chaos - they do not want to stop the destruction and death. There is no easy answer but I know what thing for sure - The Con Don is not the solution.
Unfortunately, there are powerful, greedy people behind every faction in Syria, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East and they want chaos - they do not want to stop the destruction and death. There is no easy answer but I know what thing for sure - The Con Don is not the solution.
37
Let Jimmy Carter take over. Even at his age and in his precarious health--perhaps because of it--he thinks more clearly and with more humanity than anyone else on the national scene. He might even inspire Vladimir Putin to consider "the wages of sin." Old, wise men who must daily confront their own ending and the meaning of the life they have lived can perhaps open the eyes, minds and hearts of those younger men still flush with ambition. Will you serve, Mr. Carter?
224
Mr. Carter is serving in his own way and always has. The problem is that not enough world leaders think the way he does and we need to make sure that more people who think like him - but still are realistic about the forces of evil at work - are elected.
43
Well said, and njglea, too. President Carter's summary of the foreign interests in the area is so concise and clear. Trump probably has never heard of nor thought about some of these players/issues in the region.
It boggles the mind that any American thinks that Donald Trump has the brains and diplomatic/foreign policy competence to lead this country in these complicated and dangerous times.
It boggles the mind that any American thinks that Donald Trump has the brains and diplomatic/foreign policy competence to lead this country in these complicated and dangerous times.
13
There is no evil just stupid and more stupid.
1
As always, President Carter gets to the heart of the matter: Stop the killing. All else (except, of course, the defeat of the terrorists) can wait. The Syrian people are in desperate straits and world can no longer watch in silence.
Please stop the killing.
Please stop the killing.
111
God bless Secretary Kerry for trying to assuage Syria's intractable brutality, but the brutes are determined to persist in their lethal brutishness, while mendaciously playing the negotiation game with their fingers crossed behind their backs. Assad is a mass murderer and Putin is a gleeful accessory to the carnage in addition to his nasty habit of serial, pathological lying.
Talking with these war criminals makes as much sense as reasoning with Hitler in 1938. I fail to understand why Kerry persists in this futile exercise with men who prove time and again that their word is of no value at all.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Talking with these war criminals makes as much sense as reasoning with Hitler in 1938. I fail to understand why Kerry persists in this futile exercise with men who prove time and again that their word is of no value at all.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
8
Let's be clear,
There only reason why the killing has gone on and Assad has stayed in power is do to the whims of Russia's dictator; Putin. ( much like the same reason China decides North Korea's fate)
Proxy wars still go on in our world while superpowers jockey for global positioning. The wars will not end until the ( three ? ) stop.
Not a nanosecond before.
There only reason why the killing has gone on and Assad has stayed in power is do to the whims of Russia's dictator; Putin. ( much like the same reason China decides North Korea's fate)
Proxy wars still go on in our world while superpowers jockey for global positioning. The wars will not end until the ( three ? ) stop.
Not a nanosecond before.
12
Thank you President Carter for your tireless work trying to make our world a better place.
243
A more constructive and rightfully appreciative comment than mine, Tom. Bravo for writing it.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
14
No thanks, everybody can make proposals to better the world.
And this proposal is just a request for peace - so what ?
And this proposal is just a request for peace - so what ?
1