How readers see Jimmy Carter

Re “How I see Palestine,” Opinion, Dec. 8

I served under President Carter in Washington and am ashamed of him now. To speak of the security barrier between Israel and the West Bank without acknowledging that it was constructed in response to a flood of suicide bombings that killed hundreds of innocent civilians is obscene. The Israeli government constructed the barrier to protect its people. Jimmy Carter adds the obligatory disclaimer that he “obviously ... [condemns] any acts of terrorism or violence against innocent civilians.” But he never acknowledges that the two are linked.

It has long been recognized that the Carter administration was a failed presidency. His efforts to intrude on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not change that judgment.

WILLIAM S. COMANOR

Los Angeles

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Yes, an open and full debate on the Israeli-Palestinian situation can be beneficial, but it must include all the facts. A crucial one is that anti-Israel Palestinians and the Arab groups that support them are committed to the eradication of Israel. If Carter does not include that fact, one that clearly explains most of the “oppression” of Palestinians, he cannot join the debate. Any failure to address it is clear evidence of conscious or unconscious anti-Israel bias.

ROGER RUSSELL

Claremont

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Carter has the courage to tell the truth at great risk and without a self-serving agenda. James A. Baker III and Lee Hamilton are also courageous in their stark analysis of the Iraq war. All are facing scathing criticism and assaults on their reputations. Name-calling (like “surrender monkeys” and “anti-Semite”) is -- or should be -- beneath us. If we set our moral compass on truth, even when it makes us emotionally uncomfortable, we’ll advance as a nation. If we just want to hear what we agree with, then we’re sure to repeat the kind of disasters we’re seeing in the Middle East.

CAROLE MYERS

Los Angeles

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My commendation to The Times for having the backbone to publish Carter’s article. I too have observed that there is almost total silence in terms of the coverage of his book. As a democracy, we extol the virtues of a free press, but the reality is that our press is not really free. Special-interest groups ensure that no criticism of Israel can ever be brought into the public forum for debate. I admire Carter for having the moral courage to stand up for what he believes is right and to encourage a public debate.

SYED HUSSAINI

Anaheim Hills

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Carter makes the extraordinary point that Israel receives preferences through its lobbying efforts to benefit “a minority of Israelis to confiscate and colonize choice sites in Palestine.” I would hope that, as an oasis of relative freedom in the Middle East besieged by savage terrorists, Israel would receive the support of U.S. citizens and our former president. If it is true that we are only supporting a handful of tyrannical land grabbers, then we should realign our policies. But even if that is true, it does not mean the Islamic totalitarians deserve our sympathy.

BILL DECKER

San Diego