Jimmy Carter

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In a statement, he described the Nobel committee's decision Friday as support for Obama's work toward peace and harmony in international relations.

Carter says the award shows the Obama administration represents hope not only for Americans, but for people around the world. (AP)

Huff Post
 

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Times Online

“I think that an overwhelming proportion of the intensely-demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, he’s African-American,” Mr Carter told NBC television, in a potentially explosive intervention in national politics.

“I live in the South, and I have seen the South come a long way. But that racism inclination still exists, and I think it has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief among many white people, not just in the South but across the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country.

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"I don't believe the invasion of Iraq has made a positive impact on the war on terrorism."  [Esquire]

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CNN

(CNN) — Former President Jimmy Carter tells CNN he believes photos showing detainee abuse should be released to the public — putting him at odds with President Obama, who has said the release of those pictures could endanger U.S. troops.

In an interview set to air Monday night, Carter told CNN's Campbell Brown some of President Obama's supporters are disappointed in him. "Most of his supporters were hoping that he would be much more open in the revelation of what we've done in the past," said the former president, although he added that he still respects Obama's judgment on the issue: "I don't agree with him, but I certainly don't criticize him for making that decision."

Opinion Source Information:

What Happened to the Ban on Assault Weapons?
By JIMMY CARTER
Published: April 26, 2009

A majority of Americans also support banning assault weapons. Many of us who hunt are dismayed by some of the more extreme policies of the National Rifle Association, the most prominent voice in opposition to a ban, and by the timidity of public officials who yield to the group’s unreasonable demands.

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"But none of us wants to own an assault weapon, because we have no desire to kill policemen or go to a school or workplace to see how many victims we can accumulate before we are finally shot or take our own lives. That’s why the White House and Congress must not give up on trying to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, even if it may be politically difficult.

"An overwhelming majority of Americans, including me and my hunting companions, believe in the right to own weapons, but surveys show that they also support modest restraints like background checks, mandatory registration and brief waiting periods before purchase." 

What Happened to the Ban on Assault Weapons? [NYT]

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From this Larry King Live transcript:

KING: So the United States plays a key role, in your book, in solving this?

CARTER: The key role. Absolutely.

KING: The key role?

CARTER: I think so, because you have to remember that the United States provides Israel with about $10 million of aid every day. And that's very important. And, also, the international community is led by the United States in giving Israel support and defending Israel from attacks, both military attacks and also political attacks, through the United Nations and otherwise.

So Israel depends substantially on goodwill from the United States. And I think that almost overwhelmingly, the Israeli people want peace. They don't want continued violence and war the rest of their lives and their children's lives. And those opportunities for making real progress come just every now and then. And I think this year is a time when one of those opportunities has come.

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Jimmy Carter explains the title of his book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid" to NPR:

Mr. President, perhaps I could begin with the title of your book, which has caused a bit of debate. Could you just make, briefly, the best case you can for why "apartheid" is the best word to use?

Well, I'll try to make a perfect case. Apartheid is a word that is an accurate description of what has been going on in the West Bank, and it's based on the desire or avarice of a minority of Israelis for Palestinian land. It's not based on racism. Those caveats are clearly made in the book. This is a word that's a very accurate description of the forced separation within the West Bank of Israelis from Palestinians and the total domination and oppression of Palestinians by the dominant Israeli military.