Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Jimmy Carter on the events in Ukraine (on Letterman)
I thought it was interesting how Carter viewed the events in Ukraine.
He was straightforward but also diplomatic in his comments.
This part of the interview starts at about 3:18
Letterman: (And) were you President today, would you invoke the same embargos, the same rules?
"I think.. it was inevitable in my opinion that Putin was going to invade and take over Crimea.
I think no matter what they threaten against him or.. he would have done it because Russia considers Crimea to be part of their country and Crimean's, and Crimean's Decedents... a large majority of them consider themselves to be Russians. But I think that's where he needs to stop, and no matter what pressure Obama or the Europeans had done he would have gone ahead and taken over Crimea... after they voted in a referendum to join (Russia) whether it was fair or not. But I don't think he should be permitted to go any further."
Letterman goes on to ask a theoretical question where if the US were to take over Windsor, Ontario, could we get away with that?
"I Doubt that the people of Windsor would approve (laughter)"
Letterman pushes the question further to which Carter replies:
"That's true (that Crimea is strategic) As you know, the Soviets under Khrushchev gave this to the province of Ukraine back in 1954, so it has always been considered to be part of Russia based on that and Russians had a right, as you know, to keep about 20,000 people there along with their Navy Base for the Black sea, so it was kind of very deeply associated, more with Russia than it was with Eastern Ukraine."
Letterman asks if this is going to increase internal strife in Ukraine?
"It depends on whether Putin tries to go into Ukraine any further. I think Putin will try to move more vigorously into Eastern Ukraine but he won't do it by military force. He's going to try and seduce the issue (with) Ukrainians, many of whom speak Russian and so forth to look on Russia on a favorable basis.He's going to move them with loans and with trade concessions and that sort of thing so that they will think that Russia is a good place to join.But I don't think he will move militarily."
Letterman (paraphrase) In 10 years do you think any of these sanctions will have an effect?
I don't think so, you know as a matter of fact what we have done so far is just name some prominent Russians whose bank accounts are frozen who can't trade with the Western World, I don't think so..
"I think.. it was inevitable in my opinion that Putin was going to invade and take over Crimea.
I think no matter what they threaten against him or.. he would have done it because Russia considers Crimea to be part of their country and Crimean's, and Crimean's Decedents... a large majority of them consider themselves to be Russians. But I think that's where he needs to stop, and no matter what pressure Obama or the Europeans had done he would have gone ahead and taken over Crimea... after they voted in a referendum to join (Russia) whether it was fair or not. But I don't think he should be permitted to go any further."
Letterman goes on to ask a theoretical question where if the US were to take over Windsor, Ontario, could we get away with that?
"I Doubt that the people of Windsor would approve (laughter)"
Letterman pushes the question further to which Carter replies:
"That's true (that Crimea is strategic) As you know, the Soviets under Khrushchev gave this to the province of Ukraine back in 1954, so it has always been considered to be part of Russia based on that and Russians had a right, as you know, to keep about 20,000 people there along with their Navy Base for the Black sea, so it was kind of very deeply associated, more with Russia than it was with Eastern Ukraine."
Letterman asks if this is going to increase internal strife in Ukraine?
"It depends on whether Putin tries to go into Ukraine any further. I think Putin will try to move more vigorously into Eastern Ukraine but he won't do it by military force. He's going to try and seduce the issue (with) Ukrainians, many of whom speak Russian and so forth to look on Russia on a favorable basis.He's going to move them with loans and with trade concessions and that sort of thing so that they will think that Russia is a good place to join.But I don't think he will move militarily."
Letterman (paraphrase) In 10 years do you think any of these sanctions will have an effect?
I don't think so, you know as a matter of fact what we have done so far is just name some prominent Russians whose bank accounts are frozen who can't trade with the Western World, I don't think so..
#t=354