Jimmy Carter Engages In Wishful Thinking; Lies About Hamas

In light of President Obama's successful greenlighting of the raid to kill Osama bin Laden, former President Jimmy Carter was interviewed and he expressed regret over not sending sufficient forces to attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran. The failure of the mission (Operation Desert Eagle) was doomed when helicopters crashed and the team could never reach its mission objectives.

Carter compared the success of the recent mission to get Osama bin Laden with Operation Eagle Claw, his administration’s failed 1980 attempt to rescue the hostages held captive in Iran. “When people ask me what I would change from when I was in the White House” said Carter ruefully, “I always say I would send one more helicopter…if I knew then what I know now, I would have sent one more helicopter.”

It would have taken more than one additional helicopter to guarantee success, but that's all so much wishful thinking.

The real problem with Carter isn't his regret in not sending sufficient forces to rescue the American hostages in Iran, but the fact that he continues to lie and obfuscate on behalf of Hamas and other terror groups. Once again, he absolutely lies about Hamas and the US treatment of the terror group:

Carter, 86, also spoke about Middle East peacemaking efforts during his presidency. He said while not wanting “to get too personal” when discussing the Reagan administration, “hardly a word was said about Middle East peace for the next eight years. Those things hurt.” Talking about the 21st century, Carter said there are “chances now to see peace in the Middle East that were dormant last year.”

He was critical of certain US policies in past eras, noting that the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas was not deemed a terrorist organization until after its candidates prevailed in lawful elections. He added, “It’s not a very popular thing in our country to say anything that criticizes the incumbent government of Israel.”

That portion in bold is as spectacular and clear a lie as can be established. A handy dandy search of the US State Department reveals that Hamas was on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list in
1999:

Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
October 8, 1999Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
Armed Islamic Group (GIA)
Aum Shinriykyo
Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group, IG)
HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)
Hizballah (Party of God)
Japanese Red Army (JRA)
al-Jihad
Kach
Kahane Chai
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE)
Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK, MKO, NCR, and many others)
National Liberation Army (ELN)
Palestine Islamic Jihad-Shaqaqi Faction (PIJ)
Palestine Liberation Front-Abu Abbas Faction (PLF)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)
al-Qa'ida
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17 November)
Revolutionary People's Liberation Army/Front (DHKP/C)
Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA)
Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL)
Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)
Definition of Terrorist Activity Used in These Designations

For Hamas, the entry involves the following background:

HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) a.k.a. Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, Students of Ayyash, Students of the Engineer, Yahya Ayyash Units, Izz Al-Din Al-Qassim Brigades, Izz Al-Din Al-Qassim Forces, Izz Al-Din Al-Qassim Battalions, Izz al-Din Al Qassam Brigades, Izz al-Din Al Qassam Forces, Izz al-Din Al Qassam Battalions

Description: Formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. HAMAS's strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and a few areas of the West Bank. Also has engaged in peaceful political activity, such as running candidates in West Bank Chamber of Commerce elections.

Indeed, the group was added to the FTO list in 1993, which is about the same time the Oslo Accords were consummated.

Carter clearly lies about this indisputable fact, which is par for the course when it comes to Carter discussing anything having to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict. It shows an ongoing willingness to ignore Hamas and its murderous intent (including against US citizens over the years), and savaging Israel at every opportunity even when Israel is doing nothing more than protecting itself from unending attacks from terrorist groups like Hamas.