Interesting: Carter defends controversial book

homeofthebrave · Post by **homeofthebrave** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:37 am

Carter defends controversial book

By CHARLES ODUM,
Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 7 minutes ago

ATHENS, Ga. - Former President Jimmy Carter said Saturday that the storm of criticism he has faced for his recent book has not weakened his resolve for fair treatment of Israelis and Palestinians.

"I have been called a liar," Carter said at a town hall meeting on the second day of a three-day symposium on his presidency at the University of Georgia.

"I have been called an anti-Semite," he said. "I have been called a bigot. I have been called a plagiarist. I have been called a coward. Those kind of accusations, they concern me, but they don't detract from the fact the book is accurate and is needed."

Following the publication of the book: "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," 14 members of an advisory board to his Carter Center resigned in protest. Those former board members and other critics contend the book is unfairly critical of Israel.

"Not one of the critics of my book has contradicted any of the basic premises... that is the horrible persecution and oppression of the Palestinian people and secondly that the formula for finding peace in the Middle East already exists," the 82-year-old Carter said.

Carter said he was pleased the book has stimulated discussion of an issue that has been "omitted from the public consciousness" for at least the last six years.

"Israel needs peace and the Palestinian people need peace and justice and I hope my limited influence will help to precipitate some steps," he said.

The three-day conference was arranged to mark the 30th anniversary of Carter's 1977 inauguration.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070120/ap_ ... conference

jr5681 · Post by **jr5681** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:00 am

82 and still writing, What an Idol, Its sad that people on his staff resigned b/c they are afraid to stand up for the man.

Marriam · Post by **Marriam** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:13 am

I heard some of those people have been on his staff for many, many years. There's got to be more to this than this one isolated incident, after all, this area of his political stance is something he's always had a passion for ~ and these staffers were getting paid. $$$ We can't all quit a job because we work for someone we no longer respect. Say it a'int so!

jr5681 · Post by **jr5681** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:15 am

I don't know when the crap hits the fan.... Or maybe something negative was/is coming and noone wanted to be the fall-person