JImmy Carter says US tortures

[no name 1]

If anyone would know, a former Prez would.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former President Jimmy Carter said Wednesday he is convinced the United States engages in torture that clearly breaches international law and told CNN President Bush creates his own definition of human rights to escape violating them."I don't think it. I know it, certainly." the former president told CNN's Wolf Blitzer when asked if he thinks the United States commits torture.

"Our country for the first time in my lifetime has abandoned the basic principle of human rights," Carter continued. "We've said that the Geneva Convention does not apply to those people in Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo, and we've said we can torture prisoners and deprive them of an accusation of a crime to which they are accused."

Carter's comments come on the heels of a New York Times report that disclosed the existence of secret Justice Department documents supporting the use of "harsh interrogation techniques" including, according to the Times, "head-slapping, simulated drowning, and frigid temperatures."

Last week, the White House confirmed the existence of the documents though would not make them public. Responding to the report last Friday, Bush defended the techniques used and said, "This government does not torture people."

Asked about the president's comments, Carter said, "That's not an accurate statement if you use the international norms of torture as has always been honored — certainly in the last 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was promulgated."

"But you can make your own definition of human rights and say we don't violate them, and you can make your own definition of torture and say we don't violate them," Carter added.

Responding to Carter's comments, a senior White House official said, "Our position is clear. We don't torture. It's just sad to hear a former president speak like that."

In the wide-ranging and at times blunt interview, Carter also weighed in on the 2008 presidential race including sharply criticizing Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani and acknowledging he disagrees with Democratic frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama over how fast America can safely withdraw from Iraq.

"[Giuliani] is foolish," Carter said regarding the former New York Mayor's contention that the United States should be open to use force on Iran. "I hope that he doesn't become president and try to impose his conviction that we need to go to war with Iran."

As for the rest of the Republican field, Carter said, "They all seem to be out-doing each other in who wants to go to war first with Iran, who wants to keep Guantanamo open longer, and, and expand its capacity - things of that kind.

"They're competing with each other to appeal to the also right wing, war mongering element in our country, which I think is the minority of our total population," he added.

But Carter wouldn't say which candidate he feared the most in the Republican field.

"I wouldn't want to judge between them," he said. "Because if I condemn one of them it might escalate him to the top position in the Republican ranks."

Carter also directed some criticism toward Clinton and Obama for refusing to pledge at a recent debate to withdraw all troops by the end of their first term if elected president.

"I disagree with their basic premise that we'll still be there," Carter said. "I think the American people want out. If there is unforeseen development where Iraqi people request American presence over period of time I think that would possibly be acceptable, but that's not my personal preference."

source

Edited October 10, 2007 by devilette

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Woah.

[GaryC 7]

Jimmy Carter is an idiot. He isn't in the loop any more and has no more information than anyone else.

[no name 1]

Jimmy Carter is an idiot. He isn't in the loop any more and has no more information than anyone else.

As a former Prez, I think he PROBABLY has a damn good grasp of what we do & don't do Gary...

He will face a lot of flack by making this public, you don't think he thought about that before he spoke?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Is de capitating innocent peoples heads in the rule book? Decapitation is an execution thats right.

Edited October 10, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[Fandango 1,440]

cold temps, lolz

Jimmy needs to eat some peanuts and settle down.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Jimmy thinks he is still president

Rest home needed.

At least one person listens to him.

Edited October 10, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ever since Jimmy Carter signed off and provided a positive assessment on the rigged election in Ethiopia in 2005 (an assessment that no other observer would sign on to), he's lost credibility with me.

[bgreed 0]

Carter was an idiot when he was president and nothing has changed.

[Heracles 417]

Jimmy Carter is an idiot. He isn't in the loop any more and has no more information than anyone else.

As a former Prez, I think he PROBABLY has a damn good grasp of what we do & don't do Gary...

He will face a lot of flack by making this public, you don't think he thought about that before he spoke?

And then people wonder why so many call the left anti-American. This sort of ####### does not help America's reputation overseas.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Jimmy Carter is an idiot. He isn't in the loop any more and has no more information than anyone else.

As a former Prez, I think he PROBABLY has a damn good grasp of what we do & don't do Gary...

He will face a lot of flack by making this public, you don't think he thought about that before he spoke?

And then people wonder why so many call the left anti-American. This sort of ####### does not help America's reputation overseas.

Actually, being able to take critical look in the mirror and openly say what you see (or think you see) is one of the things that people like about America. There are many countries in the word where such thing would land you in jail. We and the rest of the free world are typically admired for our freedom of speech.

[Aaron_WSU 0]

truth is, probably every country in the world would torture murderers if it meant preventing more deaths. It isn't something we should openly admit though.

[Peikko 1,575]

[Jasman0717 9]

He's not supposed to say that

[SteveLaura 0]

Jimmy Carter is an idiot. He isn't in the loop any more and has no more information than anyone else.

President's Daily Brief

Former Presidents are entitled to receive the PDB, if they so desire, only after the sitting President actually receives his daily briefing.