When attacking the sitting president is just not enough…
Jimmy Carter viciously attacked Prime Minister Tony Blair today for being “apparently subservient” to George W. Bush!
Carter says Blair’s support of Bush- not Al Qaeda or insurgents -has increased the tragedy in Iraq.
** BBC AUDIO HERE
(3 minute audio clip)
Jimmy Carter blames Bush and Blair for an increase of violence in the Middle East and particularly the Palestinian Territories!
The BBC reported:
Former US President Jimmy Carter has criticised outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his “blind” support of the war in Iraq.
Mr Carter told the BBC Mr Blair’s backing for US President George W Bush had been “apparently subservient”.
He said the UK’s “almost undeviating” support for “the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world”.
His comments came as Mr Blair paid what is likely to be his last visit to Iraq.
He flew into the capital, Baghdad, for talks with President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki at which he is expected to push for greater reconciliation between Iraq’s Sunni and Shia factions.
Mr Carter said that if Mr Blair had distanced himself from the Bush administration’s policy during the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq it might have made a crucial difference to American political and public opinion.
“One of the defences of the Bush administration… has been, okay, we must be more correct in our actions than the world thinks because Great Britain is backing us,” he told the Today programme on Radio 4.
“So I think the combination of Bush and Blair giving their support to this tragedy in Iraq has strengthened the effort and has made the opposition less effective and prolonged the war and increased the tragedy that has resulted.”
The war had “caused deep schisms on a global basis”, he said, and he hoped Mr Blair’s successor, Gordon Brown, would be less enthusiastic in his support for it.
The former US president has been a fierce critic of the US-led war in Iraq.
Carter says that he hopes the new Prime Minister will be less enthusiastic and will not support the war efforts in Iraq.
Shameless!
Update: The worst president blasted Bush today, as well, while promoting his collection of weekly Bible lessons. The Administration responded:
“Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man,” said Amber Wilkerson, Republican National Committee spokeswoman. She said it was hard to take Carter seriously because he also “challenged Ronald Reagan’s strategy for the Cold War.”
Zing!
