Carter defends plan to meet Hamas leader

Monday 14th April, 05:11 AM JST

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kinniku at 12:46 PM JST - 14th April

Why do they use the term "militants"?

Because Hamas is a militant political entity.
frontandcentre at 12:50 PM JST - 14th April

RR ("II" - forgot your password?)

I think that's a pretty offensive thing to say about someone who is well respected internationally and has worked continuously for peace since the end of his presidency.

The attitudes that you express are exactly what perpetuates the deaths on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You offer no solutions at all - just a slow process of ethnic cleansing and continual oppression. This is a bankrupt and dangerous philosophy, as the Israelis are learning to their cost and the Palestinians to their even greater cost
skipthesong at 01:16 PM JST - 14th April

FnC: "well respected internationally and has worked continuously for peace since the end of his presidency."

But, do you think that is what Hamas wants? Peace with Israel is not in their interests last we heard.
kinniku at 01:19 PM JST - 14th April

Although I may not always agree with President Carter, I do think he certainly does have a good heart and he means only well. What is very interesting is that is it exactly because of President Carter's previous comments about Israel that he may be one of the few western politicians to be able to convince Hamas to take serious steps on the road to peace.
skipthesong at 01:26 PM JST - 14th April

IF he is so concerned about peace, why didn't he push to get things worked about between the races in America. Him talking to Hamas could be quite the same by talking to the KKK and the Black Panthers..
kinniku at 01:39 PM JST - 14th April

Skip,

With all due respect, Hamas (for better or worse) was elected by the Palestinian people and does respresent how many feel about the present situation. If it is possible, it would certainly move the region closer to peace to have Hamas on board.
fireant at 01:40 PM JST - 14th April

skipthesong, Carter had great support among blacks when he ran for governor and president precisely because he could talk to the Black Panther-ish and the KKK. He helped Georgia (and Atlanta) become more racially tolerant while he was governor than most others. However, this news item isn't about racism in America, it's about Hamas.
kinniku at 01:42 PM JST - 14th April

Sorry, Skip.

I meant to respond to this as well.

But, do you think that is what Hamas wants? Peace with Israel is not in their interests last we heard.

You are correct that peace does not seem to be in Hamas's interest up to this point. Certainly they have not indicated otherwise in any specific and clear way. However, wouldn't it be nice if they finally decided to change their minds?
Sarge at 02:26 PM JST - 14th April

"Why did they use the term "militants"?

They were just being polite.
skipthesong at 05:58 PM JST - 14th April

kinniku: I hear that a lot, that Hamas was elected by the people. Yes, and so were the Nazis, the KKK had people elected to the government as well. (some would say they didn't really have a choice under circumstances - I could care less) The point is moot to me. If that is what the people really want, then I am convinced they DON'T want peace and Carter isn't going to be able to do a thing. There really is no end to this situation until Israel is gone and all Jews globally are gone.

fireant: I was being sarcastic however, thanks for the info, didn't know that.
Farmboy at 06:52 PM JST - 14th April

“I find it hard to understand what is going to be gained by having discussions with Hamas about peace when Hamas is, in fact, the impediment to peace,” Rice said Friday, after reports of the planned meeting surfaced.

Now whatever you think about Carter, or about Hamas, you have to admit this is a moronic statement. Why in the world would you need to talk to anyone about peace who WASN'T an impediment to peace?
Loki520 at 07:11 PM JST - 14th April

Farmboy... you know... that is quite an astute observation. I'm surprised there was more than a couple of posts before someone mentioned it.

FNC... "well-respected"? Well, duh! Anyone that capitulates, caves and gives the other side (whomever it is he is dealing with at that time) everything they ask for is of COURSE gonna be well-respected by them. His negotiation skills are internationally renowned on ALL the middle school debate teams. With the exception of Egypt (which was more Begin than him) exactly WHAT has the peanut farmer done for the US?
Zaphod at 11:15 PM JST - 14th April

However, wouldn't it be nice if they finally decided to change their minds?

Sure it would. However, then they would not be Hamas any more. Jimmy Carter ignores the content of the Hamas Charter and think he can turn Hamas into a peaceful organization by simply talking to them. That is bizarre.

Then again, he is also the guy who supported Iranian mullah revolution on the premise that Khomeini is a nice "holy man".

There are no words to describe the degree of delusion of this man.
SuperLib at 02:11 AM JST - 15th April

Well, both sides are right. Meeting with Hamas does in fact reward them for building a platform based on violence. It can be used as a blueprint for others who might also decide that violence is the right way to get attention. Plus you have the fact that Carter is no friend to Israel.

But on the other side maybe he can talk to Hamas and get them to soften their stance. He's done it before with other nations in the Middle East.

I think the second argument outweighs the first...for now. I support it.
Helter_Skelter at 04:35 AM JST - 15th April

Why do they use the term "militants"?

Good point sabiwabi. Terrorists would have been more appropriate. Anyway, Carter is a total POS. Had he been president during WWII, we'd all be speaking German.