Jimmy Carter warns against war with Iran

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Agency France-Presse

CHICAGO — Former US President Jimmy Carter warned against a possible war with Iran Monday as he decried his nation’s involvement in unjust conflicts at a summit of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in Chicago.

Carter, a naval veteran who served as Democratic president from 1977 to 1981, said that while he is “not against conflict when necessary,” the criteria for a just war are often not met.

War is only just when it is a “last resort” after “every other possible peaceful resolution” is exhausted, when all efforts are made to protect civilians, when the purpose of the conflict is to make the situation better, not worse, when society in general agrees it is just and when the level of violence is “proportional to the injury received,” he said.

“That would obviously exclude our recent policy of preemptive war,” Carter said in a keynote address. . .

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/04/23/jimmy-carter-warns-against-war-with-iran/

---

Ironic that as chickenhawk Mitt Romney boasts of his wonderful time in France (instead of Vietnam), this Navy veteran warns us against the kind of war Romney would love to start (with other people's kids as fodder).

[teddy51]

1. Very smart logic by a former President! I hope that the Obama Administration heeds his words. n/t

[tularetom]

2. We can have a war with Iran (or anybody else) but only if we bring back the draft

Our military is tired and depleted after ten years of ego driven wars. We just are unable to provide the staffing for armed forces capable of sustaining yet another war in the mideast with a volunteer army.

So as far as I'm concerned, any politician who shoots his mouth off about a war with Iran is actually talking out of his ass unless he also calls for restoration of universal conscription.

[Purveyor]

3. universal conscription. And might I add without deferments and opt-outs. +1 eom

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. All Republicans have to serve including Romney, Rove and Bush brothers

[ProudProgressiveNow]

8. Agreed!

I was in the last ever draft lottery. I would hope we never go there!

[tularetom]

10. I was actually a draftee

I was discharged in 1962 after completely wasting 2 years of my life. But I got help paying for my education and I was able to buy a home with no money down through the VA.

[90-percent]

21. Same here

Turned 18 in April, 1972. If I had been drafted, I am sure I would no longer be of this earth. I just don't have what it takes for military life or fighting in wars. I'd turn to a sobbing heap of jello. I would have lost my mind if I went to Viet Nam.

Our world leaders contemplate war as casually as changing the drapes in the living room. What monsters we have running this planet!

A real war with Iran would bring back the good old days of daily body counts and all that other misery of the Viet Nam War era. To what end and for what purpose?

-90% Jimmy

[alp227]

11. If politicians' children had to be drafted, would politicians think more deeply when voting for war?

[Tax Man]

14. and romney's five sons go first

they've 'served in their own way'. fine; now let them serve our way.

[SunSeeker]

17. +1,000!!

[lib2DaBone]

4. Ya think?

A country that is broke.. that can't afford roads or schools.. should keep spending $40 BILLION per month in the desert?

Hey.. why not give a few more Billion in foreign aid to Israel and Egypt.. keep them wars going...

[Amonester]

16. They also want to cut Food Stamps...

Imagine that.

[hayrow1]

5. Jimmy Carter could be the most outstanding person alive today

Sure hope he lives to be 150 or something near that age.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. K&R! Yet another reason to love Jimmy Carter!

He's actually been on the job since 1977!!!

[Domingo Tavella]

7. War is always tempting

unless you have the draft solidly in place. If not, everyone likes it. The war profiteers like it for obvious reasons, the people like it because it makes them feel proud and patriotic, the professional military love it because they get to validate their career choice, and the volunteer soldiers totally love it because it is what they volunteer for and because the public loves them for volunteering! In the age of the Internet, the draft might just be the best antidote against war, which makes its reinstatement very unlikely.

[Blue Owl]

9. cc: Sen. Klobuchar

This is what a real democrat sounds like.

[dflprincess]

12. I wish I had seen this article before I emailed her yesterday.

Though I don't suppose it would do much good.

I did suggest she be honest enough to change her party affiliation so we would have the chance to find an actual DFLer to run. I've never regretted any vote more than the one I cast for her in 2006. (I did support Ford Bell as long as he was in the endorsement race, sadly he didn't last long - not with both the state and national party machines lined up against him.)

[unkachuck]

13. President Carter....

....is a brilliant and courageous man....how many of the other former presidents would have the balls to tell the perpetual war-mongers and the mic-establishment to go to hell....none!

[SunSeeker]

18. OK, Jimmy, but STFU about Romney being a "moderate."

I can't remember if I was watching CNN or MSNBC a few hours ago, but I just saw Carter in an interview saying Romney is a "moderate." Seriously, Jimmy? What exactly is Romney "moderate" about?! Are you trying to get him elected?!

[rl6214]

19. Romeny is and will be whatever it takes to get the votes he needs

[SunSeeker]

20. Romney is a liar; he is not and never will be a moderate.

We simply cannot let him pivot from his pro-Personhood Amendment, pro-Paul Ryan budget stances. One thing Romney has been consistent on is his support for the 1% at the expense of the 99%. I am disgusted that Carter would call him a moderate, especially since so many people respect Carter's opinion. He might actually get Romney votes with that outrageous line.

[blackspade]

22. +1000 For the former Prez.

[lonestarnot]

23. K & R!