I don't think Carter made a great President, I certainly didn't agree with his position on the Olympics and didn't like the interest rates during his term but he has been a good ambasador for the US since leaving office. An interesting commentary:

Jimmy Carter: 'The war has been unnecessary'

The former president talks about the war in Iraq and how Sen. Kerry can counter 'flip-flopping' attacks
Today show
Updated: 1:13 p.m. ET Sept. 30, 2004Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter turns 80-years-old this October. “Today” host Katie Couric recently sat down with Carter in Atlanta, Ga., to talk about the war in Iraq, if he thinks the world is safer without Saddam Hussein in power, and the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.


Saddam Hussein and the Iraq elections
Jimmy Carter: “Well, the world is safer without Saddam. Certainly the people of Iraq are better without Saddam. I never have believed that Saddam Hussein was a direct threat to the security of the United States or Great Britain or China or Japan or Australia.”

Katie Couric: “But what about grave and gathering threat as President Bush has said?”

'It was false to state that Saddam Hussein had a vast store of weapons of mass destruction or that Iraq was a direct threat to the security of the United States. The war has been unnecessary.'


— Jimmy Carter
Former U.S. president

Carter: “That was a false statement. It was false to state that Saddam Hussein had a vast store of weapons of mass destruction or that Iraq was a direct threat to the security of the United States. The war has been unnecessary. And now I think we've reached a point in Iraq that it's become a quagmire – very similar to what we experienced in Vietnam. There's no real extrication for us to accomplish the goals that we had when we went in. I think a lot of the violence in Iraq now is directly attributable to the fact that U.S. forces are there. And there's no clear concept at any early stage of when they will be withdrawn. I personally do not believe they're going to be ready for the election in January. But I think we should go through the election and as soon as there's some tangible semblance of a democratic government in Iraq, get us out of there.”

Couric: “But turning Iraq into a democracy is a good thing to you?”

INTERACTIVE


• Coalition deaths in Iraq since major fighting ended


Carter: “I think that's a very admirable thing – sure. You could list 50 countries in the world that don't have democracies, and it would be better if they had all democracies. But to attack a country almost unilaterally and waste away the almost universal global support and friendship and alliances that we had after the tragedy of 9/11 is what has been done.”

Couric: “Why do you think the elections are in such perilous shape?”

Carter: “Because there's no security there. You know, we just finished, the Carter Center did, our 52nd election. All of our elections have been in troubled countries where the outcome was doubtful. But in every case there has to be a central government that can set up the constitution and bylaws and rules so that an election can be held peacefully. I don't see that happening as long as the terrible violence continues in Iraq. And if you look at the statistics on deaths on wounded and so forth in the last three or four months instead of getting better and more peaceful apparently the situation's getting worse.”

How Kerry can counter the 'flip-flop' attack
Couric: “President Bush and Vice President Cheney have portrayed Sen. Kerry as a flip-flopper who lacks the resolve to successfully wage the war on terror. Whether you agree with that assessment or not, that strategy seems to be resonating among Americans according to the polls. How does Sen. Kerry counter that in your view?”

Carter: “Well, I agree with your premise that this attack on Sen. Kerry has had very serious consequences for him in the opinion of the public.I know from experience that circumstances change and the knowledge that you have about an event changes. And when the times change and the circumstances change or when you learn more information, it's natural for a strong leader to say, "okay, my previous commitments, my previous statements were erroneous.' I think what Sen. Kerry needs to do between now and the election is first of all take advantage of the three debates … also to let the people know that under changed circumstances he would do differently if he were in the White House. And that's I think the task that he has. It's not an easy task to overcome that stigma of flip-flopping. But everybody has to change position to accommodate changing times.”

Jimmy Carter and Katie Couric? Now there is a pair to draw to. The most pathetic and pacifist president ever and a goofy left wing tv star. We better consult them next time we do anything militarily!!

"but he has been a good ambasador for the US since leaving office"

Yep he went over to NK in 1994 during Clinton's term and negotiated a peace deal with NK. He got them to promise they would not develop nukes. Carter came back and told Clinton that he had NK's word there was no nukes program now or in the future. carter shook hands with Kim Il Sung and told clinton he really trusted him and his word. Turns out they where working on nukes right down the street while CArter was there and the rest is history.
Maybe you are basing his being a good Ambassador on his giving away the Panama canal. Maybe not hewas president then.

Nice guy with a naive view of the world. Funny thing is Kerry has the same view and it was developed from his admiration of Carter.

Nice guy good grandpa but he should stay on the farm.

Jimmy Carter and John Kerry Are political soulmates.

If you like the way Jimmy Carter handled the hostage crisis during his administration--where Islamo-fascists held Americans hostage in Iran for 444 days while Jimmy (Kerry's political soulmate) tried to deal the terrorists with negotiations---Vote for Kerry--he's promissed to fight a 'more sensitive' war on terror.

Well guys, if we try to solve every conflict via military action, we're going to run out of $$ and soldiers. As I said, after leaving office Carter served as a successful diplomat in many arena, including the middle east.

Jeff'ed,

Just the opposite it is a waste of money to have the most powerful army in the history of the world and negate it's effect by being opposed to using it. If we did it right we would never have to use it. How many countries do you think are going to push GW? Iran and NK are talking like carpet salesman now waiting to see if he will get re elected. If he does they will come to the table pretty quick because they know they cannot talk for another 4 years.

As an analogy Tell your kids you are going to punish them and never do it and see how far they push you. Negotitate and be there friend like so many parents try to do today. Until kids under stand that there is a consistant line drawn in the sand your side and thiers they will never respect you. Until they know that terrible consequences lie on the other side of the line they will live on your side. It's their job and it's human nature. Knowing that they have the power to operate freely on thier side of It gives them the power they need to to self determine and learn to make decisions properly. I have never had to lay a hand on my kids or hardly raise my voice. I do not believe in either. But they know where they stand at every point along the way. It's how all people want to live.

I respected Jimmy Carter for his humanitarian efforts until he started whoring them out by politicizing them. He truly is the worst president the United States has ever had and as an elder statesman he is one this country;s biggest detractors and enemies. Send him back to the peanut farm where he belongs.