In many ways, Carter shares a lot with Dwight D. Eisenhower in his approach to the Middle East. In particular, both men were wary of too firm an embrace of Israel and both men emphasized that fundamental tenets of international law apply to all states, including our friends and allies. I suspect that Ike would have shared Carter's view here that Israel's war on Lebanon was excessive and disproportionate.
SPIEGEL Interview with Jimmy Carter: "The US and Israel Stand Alone" - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
SPIEGEL: Now even President Bush appears to have learned something from the catastrophe in Iraq. During his second term he has taken a more multilateral approach and has seemed to return to international cooperation.
Carter: I think the administration learned a lesson, but I don't see any indication that the administration would ever admit that it did make a mistake and needed to learn a lesson. I haven't seen much indication, by the way, of your premise that this administration is now reconciling itself to other countries. I think that at this moment the United States and Israel probably stand more alone than our country has in generations.
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