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Says U.S. poised to ‘relinquish unquestioned domination’ as superpower

 Cheryl Chumley

Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter – whose own post–White House years have been marked by criticisms and low poll numbers of his foreign policy – has spoken out against President Obama’s overseas’ actions, saying the country under the current administration is weaker than it was “six or seven years ago,” at a time when George W. Bush led.

From Aspen, the former liberal leader said Obama’s foreign policy was “minimal,” at best, the Aspen Daily News reported.

“To be as objective as I can,” Carter said, the newspaper reported, “I can’t think of many nations in the world where we have a better relationship now than when [Obama] took over. I’m not saying it’s his fault, but we have not improved our relationship with individual countries and I would say that the United States’ influence and prestige and strength in the world is probably lower now than it was six or seven years ago.”

Carter, 90, didn’t exactly sing the praises of the former Bush administration, but the timeline he gave for when he thought America was strong placed it at the feet of the previous White House.

Meanwhile, Carter gave out high kudos for Secretary of State John Kerry, a figure who has caused angst among Israeli authorities, media critics and defense officials, some of whom actually called for him to go home during joint peace talks with the Palestinians in 2014.

On Kerry, Carter said: “[He’s] one of the best secretaries of state we’ve ever had. [He’s been] courageous, innovative and dynamic.”

Carter also showed his progressive roots during the chat with Aspen Institute president and CEO Walter Isaacson, telling a Greenwald Pavilion audience the United States ought to become a peace-maker to the world.

“I think that the historical trend is for the United States to relinquish its unquestioned domination of the world’s politics, and economy,” Carter said, the Aspen Daily News reported. “I think that the American superpower’s goal should be to be a champion of peace.”

He also openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, painting him as someone who wants to take over Palestinian property – but called Russian President Vladimir Putin a man with a sense of humor.

“I never thought” Netanyahu wanted a two-state solution, Carter said. “In fact, I was in Jerusalem for a visit when Netanyahu made his speech and said he would accept a two-state solution, and I didn’t believe him then. Everything he’s done has indicated he does not want … a Palestinian nation next door to Israel. My belief is that he wants to take over the entire West Bank, except for a few tiny spots.”

On Putin, Carter recalled his personal sit-down with the Russian leader and said: “He never turned to his foreign minister, he gave all the answers himself. He was quite relaxed, he had a good sense of humor, which was a surprise to all of us,” the newspaper reported.

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