Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 39, July - August 1999

Carter Criticises US Approach to Dictatorships

In a speech in Washington on 17 June, former American President Jimmy Carter voiced strong criticism of the US inclination to adopt draconian measures - including severe, general sanctions, embargoes, and the use of major military force - to seek to displace hostile, dictatorial regimes. According to Carter:

"It has become unpopular in our country to talk about even humanitarian aid, and we concentrate maybe too much on resolving conflicts by imposing punishment on people of a nation who already are suffering under an oppressive dictator... The Superpowers of the world should be the ones with our great wealth to use our enormous economic and military and political influence for the alleviation of suffering in the Third World..."

Report: Carter criticizes foreign policy, Associated Press, 17 June.

Return to top of page

Return to List of Contents

Return to Acronym Main Page