I consider the man to be something of a joke when it comes to his intervention on behalf of repressive regimes and his support for terrorists against Israel, but former US President Jimmy Carter got one right here.

Former President Jimmy Carter confronted Sudanese security services on a visit to Darfur Wednesday, shouting "You don't have the power to stop me!" at some who blocked him from meeting refugees of the conflict.

The 83-year-old Carter wanted to visit a refugee camp in South Darfur but the U.N. mission in Sudan deemed that too dangerous. Instead, he agreed to fly to the World Food Program compound in the North Darfur town of Kabkabiya, where he was supposed to meet with refugees, many of whom were chased from their homes by militias and government forces.

But none of the refugees showed up and Carter decided to walk into the town, a volatile stronghold of the pro-government janjaweed militia, to meet refugees too frightened to attend the meeting at the compound.

He was able to make it to a school where he met with one tribal representative and was preparing to go further into town when Sudanese security officers stopped him.

"You can't go. It's not on the program!" the local security chief, who only gave his first name as Omar, yelled at Carter, who is in Darfur as part of a delegation of respected international figures known as "The Elders."

"We're going to anyway!" an angry Carter retorted as a crowd began to gather. "You don't have the power to stop me."

Actually, Carter was wrong there -- they had the power to stop him, but not the moral authority to do so. I'm sure that the Secret Service would have done its damnedest to protect him from these thugs.

Frankly, I remain appalled by the weak response to Darfur by the world community. Hopefully this incident will spur some to action.

But I wonder -- if this were George W. Bush after his presidency, would the Left be so willing to praise him, or would we hear complaints about arrogance and potentially sparking international incidents.?

Posted by: Greg at 10:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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