Jimmy Carter wants (another) meeting with Hamas

 
Barack Obama's church isn't the only unlikely American institution to grant a forum to Hamas terrorists.

Jimmy Carter still intends to meet with Hamas leaders in Syria.

Former President Jimmy Carter is reportedly preparing an unprecedented meeting with the leader of Hamas, an organization that the U.S. government considers one of the leading terrorist threats in the world. ...Deanna Congileo, Carter’s press secretary... did not deny that the former president is considering visiting Meshal.

...“It’s about par for the course from President Carter, demonstrating a lack of judgment typical of what he does," said John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. "To go to Syria to visit Hamas at this point is just an ill-timed, ill-advised decision on his part... When you put the prestige of a former president of the United States in a meeting with one of its terrorist leaders, you’re giving it a legitimacy and currency it never had,” said Bolton.

But Ibrahim Hooper, communications director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a non-profit advocacy group, said Carter's efforts demonstrate he's a true partner in peace.

Not to worry. It turns out such a meeting really isn't unprecedented. Carter admits to ABC News that he's been visiting with Hamas leaders -- in secret -- for quite some time.

I've been meeting with Hamas leaders for years," Carter said...

"I think that it's very important that at least someone meet with the Hamas leaders to express their views...

The State Department says it has twice advised Carter against meeting with Hamas, which has ruthlessly murdered scores of Israeli and American civilians.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government has officially told Carter to go pound sand.

[Olmert says] his schedule won't permit a meeting with the notorious terrorist apologist. An aide says "Draw your own conclusions."

Carter must be stopped -- by threat of prosecution, if necessary -- from granting "Presidential credibility" to an organization of murderous thugs who have a single goal for the Middle East. That goal is stated quite clearly in their charter: genocide -- out-and-out ethnic cleansing.

This time Carter has gone too far.

Update: Carter indicates he will not endorse a candidate until the Democratic National Convention. This begs the question: will Hamas leaders get seats to the Presidential Box similar to the ones Michael Moore received in 2004?