I was going to write something about this, but then I received this email which put my thoughts into words far more eloquently than I could have.

Today, the world has witnessed the actions of a former president of the United States acting in an unspeakable manner: Former president Jimmy Carter EMBRACED (literally and figuratively) sworn enemies of the United States and Israel. By embracing Nasser Shaer in Ramallah Tuesday, as reported by AP and by laying a wreath on the grave of arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat, Carter proved his true colors and allegiance. By stating that Arafat fought for a "just cause" he openly showed the entire free world his feelings about Israel, Jews and their rights (or lack thereof)! on Earth.

As the AP reported, Carter greeted this arch-terrorist "with a smile and laugh, kissed him on each cheek, a Palestinian security official said." Not only that, but Carter plans to meet with Hamas Chief Khaled Mashaal in Damascus later this week. (Rep. Mark Kirk [R-Illinois] pleaded with Carter from the floor of the US House of Representatives not to meet with Mashaal, who he said was responsible for the murders of at least 26 Americans.)

So, let's step back and think about this for a minute. Let's say--hypothetically speaking--that instead of Nasser Shaer or Khaled Mashaal, he had been embracing Osama bin Laden. And, again, hypothetically speaking, let's say he had laid a wreath at the grave of Saddam Hussein. Do you realize what would happen? The average American citizen would call for the arrest of the former president of the United States! Why? Because with his actions he is justifying and condoning the actions of those in front of whom he genuflects. If he had met with bin Laden with a "smile" and had "laughed and kissed him," he would be spitting on the grave of every soldier who had lost his life in Iraq and Kuwait. He would be arrested for acts of treason. If you think that sounds a bit over the top, consider the definition of "treason" from Black's Law Dictionary: "Treason: A breach of allegiance to one's government, usually committed through levying war against such government or by giving aid or comfort to the enemy. " What greater gesture of "aid or comfort" could be afforded to our enemy than embracing them, smiling with them and laying wreaths at the graves their very own so-called "martyrs" ?

Against the advice of his very own government, the very one that Carter swore an allegiance to as he became president, he has chosen to saunter down the path with murderers, who will stop at nothing to destroy Israel and any "infidel" who gets in their way. In his meetings, he hopes to broker a peace between Hamas and Fatah. That is like trying to bring a peace between Hitler and Chmelnicki. The only thing that can be expected from such a truce between two murdering organizations is more murder and mayhem. And it is former president Carter who is looking to bring this to fruition.

The old adage is so true: "Know Thine Enemy." Our enemies do not always have an Arabic name. Sometimes, a foe can even have a very American name...like JIMMY.

Zev M Shandalov