Is Carter nuts or does he have a point?

[Keith P]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/...mas/index.html

(CNN) -- Hamas deserves to be recognized by the international community, and despite the group's militant history, there is a chance the soon-to-be Palestinian leaders could turn away from violence, former President Jimmy Carter said Wednesday.

Carter, who monitored last week's Palestinian elections in which Hamas handily toppled the ruling Fatah, added that the United States should not cut off aid to the Palestinian people, but rather funnel it through third parties like the U.N.

"If you sponsor an election or promote democracy and freedom around the world, then when people make their own decision about their leaders, I think that all the governments should recognize that administration and let them form their government," Carter said. (Watch the former president cautiously defend Hamas -- 4:35)

"If there are prohibitions -- like, for instance, in the United States, against giving any money to a government that is controlled by Hamas -- then the United States could channel the same amount of money to the Palestinian people through the United Nations, through the refugee fund, through UNICEF, things of that kind," he added.

Carter expressed hope that "the people of Palestine -- who already suffer ... under Israeli occupation -- will not suffer because they are deprived of a right to pay their school teachers, policemen, welfare workers, health workers and provide food for people."

As president, Carter brokered a 1979 peace accord between Israel and Egypt at Camp David. That effort helped earn him the Nobel Peace Prize. Through his work at the Carter Center in Atlanta, he regularly monitors elections in numerous countries.

Hamas, which has called for the destruction of Israel and has long been considered a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department, was expected to fare well in last week's elections. But it dominated them, winning 76 of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Fatah, which had been in power for decades, earned only 43.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution saying that no aid should be provided to the Palestinian Authority "if a ruling majority party within the Palestinian Parliament maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel."

Carter said "there's a good chance" that Hamas, which has operated a network of successful social and charitable organizations for Palestinians, could become a nonviolent organization. (Watch how democracy and religion coincide among Palestinians -- 2:30)

The 39th U.S. president said he met with Hamas leaders in Ramallah, in the West Bank, after last week's elections.

"They told me they want to have a peaceful administration. They want to have a unity government, bring in Fatah members and independent members," Carter said. But he added that "what they say and what they do is two different matters."

However, Carter noted, Hamas has adhered to a cease-fire since August 2004, which "indicates what they might do in the future." He said Hamas is "highly disciplined" and capable of keeping any promise of nonviolence it might make.

[PETA]

he may well be both

[BigBallinColin]

I just hope he is right. that shit is either going to get better or a LOT worse.

[zerojunkie]

I heard they were seeking Islamic countries to replace the aid that would be lost if the US & EU ceased funding. That certainly doesn't bode well for any peaceful intentions they might allude to.

[Big Andy]

Reward good behavior, don't reward bad behavior, right?


If they behave as terrorists in their governing position, don't negotiate with them. If they step up to the plate to legitimately participate in the political processes without using terrorism, than take what you can get.


Sitting around debating about it isn't going to help, nor will shutting them out of negotiations simply because of the group's past. Give em a clean slate, and then give em the shaft if they resort to terrorism.

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by Big Andy

Reward good behavior, don't reward bad behavior, right?


If they behave as terrorists in their governing position, don't negotiate with them. If they step up to the plate to legitimately participate in the political processes without using terrorism, than take what you can get.


Sitting around debating about it isn't going to help, nor will shutting them out of negotiations simply because of the group's past. Give em a clean slate, and then give em the shaft if they resort to terrorism.

Sounds fair to me.

[Satchel]

I think we should give them a chance on a very short leash. It might go a long way in showing that we really do support democracy.

[DAUNYA]

They are against Israel. The U.S. has funded for the Israeli Army to be more high tech and dangerous than our own because they guard a border. If a terrorist force knocked out Israel, wouldn't there be a shift in power so that the terrorist would have a LOT more control. I am really wondering.Someone tell me please so I can ease my worried mind.

[BigBallinColin]

there is no way they could "knock out" israel. at some point they would nuke the gaza strip and all hell would break loose.

[DAUNYA]

oh. I U'right, maybe Carter has a point.

[DAUNYA]

oops, I mean U'r right.