DISGRACEFUL - AT 6:59 P.M. ET:  Will Jimmy Carter ever shut up?  The man has no self-respect, no dignity, and no understanding of the office he held.  Here is his latest stroking of his own ego, as reported by AFP: 

The United States knew about an abortive coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2002, and may even have taken part, former US president Jimmy Carter has told a Colombian newspaper.

"I think there is no doubt that in 2002, the United States had at the very least full knowledge about the coup, and could even have been directly involved," Carter said in an interview with El Tiempo published Sunday.

The former US leader said it is understandable that Chavez continues to blame the United States for the failed overthrow attempt.

The Venezuelan president, considered a bulwark of leftism in Latin America, was overthrown by a civilian-military junta for about 48 hours in April 2002, before returning to power.

Then-president George W. Bush denied any US involvement in the abortive coup and called on Chavez, a fierce US critic, to "learn a lesson" from the attempted overthrow.

COMMENT:  I have no idea whether the U.S. knew about the coup, but it is completely improper for a former president to speculate about it.  It does damage to the country that he may or may not consider his own, and aids the growing power of left-wing thugs in Latin America.

I have never seen or known of a president who is so in love with America's enemies.  I'm not a psychiatrist and make no claim to expertise in mental health, but I suspect there's something seriously wrong with this man.

By the way, reader Tom Wharton refers us to an excellent, devasting piece on Jimmy Carter, by Christopher Hitchens, published at Slate in 2007.  It's here.

September 20, 2009