Jimmy Carter Disagrees With Obama Decision To Block Detainee Photos

In an interview with CNN's Campbell Brown, former president Jimmy Carter said he disagreed with President Obama's decision to oppose the release of photos depicting detainee torture. " I don't have the responsibility to deal with the consequences, but I think ... most of his supporters were hoping that he would be much more open in the revelation of what we've done in the past."

Campbell Brown: Weigh in if you will on the torture debate, what about prosecuting Bush administration officials who approved waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics. You know, there's a real split in your party about this issue. What do you think?

Former President Carter: Well, I think prosecuting is too strong a word, what I would like to see is a complete examination of what did happen, the identification of any perpetrators of crimes against our own laws or against international law and then after all that's done, decide whether or not there should be any prosecutions. But the revelation of what did happen is what I think I would support.

Campbell Brown: If you look at the US relationship today with the Muslim world, you could argue that there has been a lot of, of, -- had been a lot of other issues that have caused a lot of damage. One of those being the images of the prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib when they became public. And now we are hearing or learning that there are more pictures of detainee abuse. Many arguing they should also be made public. President Obama wants to keep them under wraps. Do you agree with his decision?

Former President Carter: No, but I respect what his decisions are. I don't have the responsibility to deal with the consequences, but I think they, most of his supporters were hoping that he would be much more open in the revelation of what we've done in the past. But he's made a decision with which I really can't contend that he doesn't want to resurrect the past, he doesn't want to punish those who are guilty of perpetrating of what I consider crimes against our own laws and against our own constitution. And the revelation of those pictures might very well inflame further animosity against our country causing some harm to our soldiers, so I don't agree with him, but I certainly don't criticize him for making that decision.

Campbell Brown: But you don't agree with that point because he's made it, many in the military have made it -- that it does fuel anger at American troops and could endanger them more?

Former President Carter: Well I think it is hard to realize how much anger there already is based on the revelations that have already been made and any knowledgeable person within the Arab world or around the rest of the countries on earth know that these pictures exist -- they can now only imagine how bad they are and maybe the actual publication of them wouldn't exacerbate an already bad situation.

The full interview airs at 8 P.M. Eastern Time.

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Comments

[neoprimordial]

11:55 PM on 06/02/2009

I think Obama should have released the photos AND prosecuted any and all in the Bush administration who were responsible for breaking or subverting the law. If you're not going to prosecute, you don't want to be releasing those photos, but the job is left undone if you don't prosecute.

President Obama, the folks who perpetrated and facilitated torture need to be indicted and brought to justice. This needs to happen and you can make it so. Make it so, please, for the posterity of this nation.

[Tugar]

02:27 PM on 06/02/2009

I SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THIS ONE !

I am not a conservative , nor am I a Republican, but showing pictures of detainees being handled as many put it as, (abusively), would not serve any good purpose for anyone. I am in agreement with President Obama on this one. I know the GOP and their many mouth pieces stepping up to speak constantly everyday, don't want detainee's photos or related documents to be opened and shared with the world, because doing so would bring criticism to them, if not charges.

But, war is hell, and forget the Geneva Treaty. The people that we are facing today in battle are not members of any established governmental army, they fight and use anything they can get their hands on, including using torturous methods. So, in answer to former Pres. Carter, I say, leave it alone, Pres. Obama knows what he is doing, and he has indeed made the right decision on this one !

And I just don't understand why the US has to always air what we do, other countries don't put everything they do on DISPLAY ! Sometimes, telling too much is like the old phrase: "LOSE LIPS SINKS SHIPS" !

[PatCcj]

11:36 AM on 06/02/2009

Carter's presidency was a failure in large part due to the opposition of entrenched interests. He was serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil (& warned about the dangers), he wanted to stop using only military solutions to conflicts & to enforce financial regulations. Sounds good now after 20+ years of "me first" mentality. He probably would have got the hostages home if Reagan & the repubs hadn't undermined the effort. Perhaps his main failing was in being too naive as to just how dirty politics can get. He was and still is a man of great principles, faith, & reason.

[toyboat]

09:58 AM on 06/02/2009

I agree that Obama has flipped the script on quite a few issues but if those photos are gonna get any more people hurt then I say don't release them. We already know what a joke the last administration was & they're attrocities are numerous we don't need these photos to tell us what we ALL already know.

[Okieborn]

08:40 AM on 06/02/2009

I agree with former President Jimmy Carter !!
President Obama has turned a deaf ear to his campaign promises !!
The American Citizenry is once again on the long wait list !!!

[ModernTimes1]

10:13 AM on 06/02/2009

Nothing is more passionate than the outrage of the weak and self-righteous.

[MemoryAlpha]

06:31 PM on 06/02/2009

Continued abusive posting behavior:
Noted.

See also:
MagisterLudi
Solaris123

Recommendation:
Cross reference IP addresses.

[mamala4]

07:36 AM on 06/02/2009

Carter IS known as one of the worst presidents EVER....now he is trying to make a name for himself...and in order to do so, you would think he would be smart enough NOT to break with a popular, intelligent and diplomatic president...people don't change....

[TheBaffler]

08:25 AM on 06/02/2009

Oh, please. He was a mediocre president, but a great ex-president who's grown quite wise. Obama would be wise to heed Carter's advice.

[ResistanceisFutile]

08:56 AM on 06/02/2009

Nobody, including Obama owns Carter. He was an average President and Obama is pushing average as well.

Carter is a moral and decent man who has served mankind noblely since leaving office. Obama would do well to seek his council.

[thenorthshore]

05:44 AM on 06/02/2009

next to jfk

and barry, jimmy was the most do-nothing president

the US has ever elected

[Puzzles]

08:20 AM on 06/02/2009

Yeah, why didn't do something --like clear Brush on a ranch while on the most vacations ever.

[totaldisbelief]

08:26 AM on 06/02/2009

you're blowing smoke ...again.

[wordvarc]

02:24 AM on 06/02/2009

I agree with Pres Carter on the torture memos. But we're not currently the President. Who knows what he's dealing with...

On the other hand, I said the same when w invaded Iraq...he had to have more information but couldn't present it...Yet w had nothing!

[Bitsko]

02:19 AM on 06/02/2009

There's a reason there's no by-line on this story. There is no story.

[Avanti2]

01:38 AM on 06/02/2009

Carter's Presidency was a disaster and most of his political utterances since he left office have been a disaster. Why anyone would listen to him is beyond me. He should spend all his days on Habitat......
and leave the serious stuff to others......

[patrickgarret]

01:59 AM on 06/02/2009

He had a greater job growth rate than Bush. Look it up and quit believing what you heard.

[Avanti2]

02:16 AM on 06/02/2009

I lived through Carter. 16% mortgage rates. 12 % inflation rates. 21% Prime Rates. 260 plus Americans held by the Iranians for over 400 days. Dead American Soldiers in the Iranian Desert from a very poorly planned and executed hostage rescue effort that was micro managed from the Oval Office by Carter. Lines that were a block long to purchase 5 to 10 gallons of gas. This was Jimmy Carter.

[Solja]

02:04 AM on 06/02/2009

And you should head on back to Drudge where your opinion on Carter actually matters to someone. Here, nobody cares what you think of Carter. He is still a more decent man that the Bush/Cheney regime.

[sonshine]

01:15 AM on 06/02/2009

I am so glad that President Carter can still offer wise counsel and wise reasoning to today's difficult issues.

[kankan]

01:11 AM on 06/02/2009

Mr. Carter hit the nail on the head with his perspectives. Freedom is free in America and other democratic societies, but it comes with a price. Leaders of the nations must be held accountable for their crimes like any other civilian. But much like the debate between an American soldier versus civilian crimes and how they are handled differently in different criminal justice systems because of the nature of confidentiality and impact to the military establishments, how and should parties of these torture crimes be handled, when torture was a core value of the governing administration, where no checks and balances were upheld? Do we charge Congress as accomplices because they did nothing to prevent the tortures? I think the issue here is that the more the American public protests about torture and seeing torture pictures, it is only a product of the media that drives the public opinion and the need to see these pictures. And once revealed it will be the media who will spin the pictures to demonize and generate a nihilistic cynicism in America towards elected officials.

[lesnouveauxpauvre]

12:45 AM on 06/02/2009

Carter was the target of an orchestrated destabilization of the progressive left of this country. They effectively wiped out the political opposition in this country, that had existed up until the election of Reagan. This is the truth, whether you want to believe it or not. History will bear this out. It doesnt matter what you think. You must know, and someone must speak out that this has been going on for a long time. There are people still alive in this country who remember what it was like pre-Reagan. We dont have amnsesia or are too young to not remember! We are the survivors and some of us will go to our graves with this burden. We were around when they assassinated JFK, RFK, Martin Luther King, etc..and noone said anything! noone stood up, and demanded justice for these murders! they knew what they were doing, they were preparing for the future fascist state. We have now entered this future state. Future is now. Its been a long time coming dont think this is just a phase.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

01:29 AM on 06/02/2009

Carter was a target of the newly morphed Dixiecrats, children
of Nixon's Southern Strategy---the new Republican party..(satans new children)
To say he was a target of the left makes absolutely no sense.
And since you've stated that you are new to this country,
and a gay male...what do you really 'feel' from the 'gut'
about how things 'were' . You don't know
because you weren't 'here'!

[MemoryAlpha]

01:34 AM on 06/02/2009

Recommendation:
Re-read his statements. He is saying the progressive left WAS destabilized, not that they were doing the destabilization.

[Montgriz]

03:58 AM on 06/02/2009

HUH? I remember many crying for investigations about thsoe deaths and being given a white wash...Carter inherited a govt destroyed and polarized because of Nixon and his incompetent good old boy pardoner, Ford.....and Reagan and his cohorts worked overtime to destroy the American system as we knew it....it has been downhill ever since....

[veritasor]

12:43 AM on 06/02/2009

Carter is a wise man and he should have made a strong stance, in the long term interest of US.

[SouthPrairie]

12:40 AM on 06/02/2009

Prosecution is NOT too strong of a word.