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Jimmy Carter did not take Northern Ireland Troubles seriously, new papers show

PATRICK ROBERTS,

IrishCentral.com

Published Thursday, December 31, 2009, 11:33 AM

Updated Thursday, December 31, 2009, 1:32 PM

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Unwilling to work on North: Jimmy Carter served as U.S. president from 1977-1981.

President Jimmy Carter's administration did not take the North of Ireland seriously according to new papers released in Ireland.

Former ambassador Sean Donlon had reported back to Ireland that top White House staff in the were unwilling to study the issue or even to take it seriously.

The confidential document, released under the 30-year rule, said that Carter “is, incidentally, the first Democratic president in many years who has no close Irish links, either personally or through senior staff or cabinet members.

“It is clear that his senior advisers have little understanding not just of Ireland but even of Irish America.

“Casual conversations which I have had with a number of them over the last year reveal a complete ignorance of the facts and an apparent unwillingness to acquire a basic knowledge or to take the issue seriously.”

Nster.com

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chesapeake | Jan 03, 2010, 12:19 PM EST

He has a lot in common with a long line of British PM's. Seriously, Carter was too busy micromanaging the unimportant aspects of government to look at the big picture. Definitely ranks in the bottom five of all U.S. presidents; but could move up a notch when Obama is done.

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IrishAndProud | Jan 02, 2010, 06:47 PM EST

The only one to come along since Carter who is truly giving him a run for the money as the worst ever is Barack Obama. He's been a MASSIVE disappointment. Like Carter, some might say he's intelligent, but totally inept.

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michaelOgCollin | Jan 02, 2010, 10:26 AM EST

Jimmy Carter is the prime example that intelligence is far from the most important trait qualifying one to be an effective President. President Carter was trained in nuclear engineering so he had to be a very bright fella. As President, he was an unmitigated disaster; a micro manager of such extreme that he had to personally approve the use of the White House tennis courts (Tales of the Secret Service). The most important quality for an effective President is leadership and as Old Maggie Thatcher once said: being a leader is alot like being a lady, if you have to tell someone that you are one, then you probably are NOT!

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rosks304 | Jan 01, 2010, 07:18 PM EST

Jimmy Carter in many ways was considered by many as the most honest and had the most intellect of all the US Presidents ,taking that into account it is not surprising he would not take Northern Ireland seriously,in modern times I do not beleive he would take Zimbabwe seiously both these countries are run by Terrorist style governments and those in power are backward. smarock10@yahoo.com

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saoirse02 | Jan 01, 2010, 07:05 PM EST

Jimmy Carter certainly had a great understanding the RUC, much to the dismay of Thatcher. This is from the 12/31/09 Irish Independent: A snapshot of the tension between Britain and the US over the supply of guns to the police in the North was disclosed in the State papers. Mrs Thatcher pulled no punches in her dealings with US President Jimmy Carter after the US government refused to grant an export licence for Ruger revolvers intended for use by the RUC in July 1979. Despite British anger, Mr Carter remained firm on the arms ban.

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hooliganfrancis | Jan 01, 2010, 05:27 PM EST

Jimmy Carter is the WORST PRESIDENT we have had in American history. He absolutely destroyed our faith in government. His actions alone are the reasons American began its downward trend. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton (personal life is his business) made us proud to be Americans again. Jimmy Carter need to retreat into the hills of Georgia and keep his activities out of the our domestic and FOREIGN affairs. He is an EMBARASSMENT!

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mandokeith | Jan 01, 2010, 01:24 PM EST

Oh say it can't be so! Jimmy Carter is SO concerned with the affairs of the world, as is the current leader. Too little, too late........

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jbfurey | Jan 01, 2010, 10:13 AM EST

Carter is a prime example of the Peter Principle - he was elevated to a position well beyond his incompetence. Without doubt the worst president of the last 150 years.

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IrishAndProud | Dec 31, 2009, 06:19 PM EST

This is no surprise, to those of us who remember the Carter years. He came into office as a promising, young, new face to the national scene, and as a refreshing new change from the corruption and business-as-usual of the previous administrations. Instead he turned out to be a major, MAJOR disappointment -- totally inept, and hamstrung by crises -- and helped to pave the way for the conservative tide that followed him and then lasted a generation. Barack Hussein Obama is turning out exactly the same as Carter, having had exactly the same kinds of expectations, following exactly the same course, with exactly the same disappointments...and, by all indications, ushering in the EXACT same future.

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